Publishing Jobs in Philadelphia, PA

Social Media Specialist

Haverford College invites applications for our full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt, benefits-eligible Social Media Specialist opportunity.

Total Compensation

• Salary: Salary range begins at $57,900
• Benefits: The College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes possible work-from-home opportunities, automatic 10% retirement contribution to your retirement account upon eligibility (no match required), a 50% tuition benefit for dependent children upon eligibility, 14 paid holidays (including the week before New Year's Day), affordable medical plans, Health Savings Account contribution of $700 for individuals and $1400 for families (no match required, available to employees enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan), and a beautiful arboretum campus with walking trail and easy public transportation access. Please visit the Benefits page for more information.
• Work Location: This position will be eligible for a hybrid work schedule, pursuant to the College's Work Location Policy.

About the Position The Social Media Specialist (SMS) is a hands-on content creator and channel manager responsible for leading the day-to-day management of the College's institutional social media presence.

The SMS is responsible for developing platform-specific approaches, creating compelling content, managing the social media editorial calendar (in partnership with the Editorial Director), monitoring and analyzing performance, and supporting effective social media best practices across the College. The SMS also monitors the College's social media channels to help identify emerging issues and opportunities.

Working within the College's Marketing and Communications team, the SMS collaborates with colleagues and campus partners to identify story ideas, coordinate content, engage audiences, and strengthen Haverford's voice and presence in the digital space.

Primary Responsibilities

Content Creation and Channel Management (60%)

• Manage the day-to-day operation of Haverford College's institutional social media accounts, including scheduling, publishing, monitoring, and community engagement
• Create engaging, audience-centered content that brings Haverford's people, academic experience, programs, values, and community to life
• Produce social-first content across formats, including short-form video, photography, graphics, written copy, stories, reels, and emerging formats
• Write and edit compelling social copy that reflects Haverford's institutional voice while adapting appropriately to individual platforms and audiences
• Proactively identify stories, voices, events, and moments from across campus and translate them into relevant social content
• Attend and cover College events, programs, and campus activities as appropriate, including occasional evening and weekend assignments
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team and other campus partners to develop high-quality multimedia content
• Cultivate engagement with Haverford's social media audiences by identifying opportunities to participate in relevant conversations and build meaningful interactions around College-produced content
• Manage routine community engagement on institutional channels, responding to or routing questions and comments as appropriate
• Ensure social content reflects Haverford's brand standards and commitment to accessibility and inclusive communications

Editorial Planning and Platform Strategy (20%)

• In partnership with the Editorial Director, manage an integrated social media editorial calendar that balances College priorities, campus storytelling, audience interests, and timely opportunities
• Recommend platform-specific approaches based on audience needs, content performance, platform capabilities, and emerging trends
• Translate College communications priorities and content strategy into platform-specific social media plans, goals, and approaches, in partnership with communications leadership
• Recommend opportunities to strengthen, evolve, or adjust Haverford's presence on individual social platforms
• Coordinate social content with broader College communications and marketing campaigns, initiatives, events, and announcements
• Stay current on changes in social platforms, algorithms, audience behaviors, content trends, and higher education social media practices and recommend appropriate adjustments

Measurement, Insights, and Optimization (10%)

• Track and evaluate social media performance using platform analytics, social media management tools, and other available data sources
• Share regular insights with Marketing and Communications colleagues to help inform editorial planning and content development
• Establish and maintain practical KPIs and benchmarks for institutional social channels and campaigns in consultation with communications leadership
• Monitor measures such as engagement, reach, audience growth, video performance, referral traffic, and other indicators appropriate to College communications goals
• Analyze performance across platforms, campaigns, and content types to understand what is resonating with priority audiences
• Prepare regular social media performance reports that identify key results, trends, successes, and opportunities for improvement
• Translate analytics into actionable recommendations for content, publishing practices, platform strategy, and future campaigns
• Collaborate with marketing and communications colleagues to test new content formats, publishing approaches, and creative concepts and use results to inform future work

Monitoring (5%)

• Use social listening and audience insights, when available, to identify emerging trends, conversations, and opportunities relevant to the College
• Monitor institutional social channels and relevant online conversations for emerging issues, reputational concerns, misinformation, significant community sentiment, and other matters that may require attention
• Recognize and promptly escalate sensitive, high-visibility, or potentially significant issues to communications leadership

Social Media Best Practices and Campus Collaboration (5%)

• Help implement and reinforce the College's established social media policy, standards, and best practices
• Maintain an inventory of official and affiliated Haverford College social media accounts, including account ownership and administrative access information
• Support sound account security and continuity practices, including appropriate administrative access, credential management, and adherence to College security protocols
• Serve as a resource for departments, programs, and offices managing College-affiliated social media accounts, providing practical guidance on content, platform practices, accessibility, brand standards, and account management
• Build relationships with social media contributors across campus to improve coordination, surface content opportunities, and encourage adoption of College social media best practices
• Identify opportunities to engage students and other members of the Haverford community as content contributors and authentic voices in the College's social storytelling

Line of Report: The Social Media Specialist reports to the Editorial Director and has no direct reports but manages up to three student workers who provide content for social media.

Minimum Qualifications

• One of the following:
• Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of relevant professional experience in social media, digital communications, content marketing, or a related field, OR
• Six (6) years of relevant professional experience in social media, digital communications, content marketing, or a related field

Professional Competencies

• Demonstrated experience managing social media channels for an organization, institution, brand, or comparable entity
• Strong working knowledge of major social media platforms, their audiences, content formats, conventions, analytics, and evolving best practices; including content optimization
• Excellent storytelling skills; demonstrated ability to create engaging visual and multimedia social content, particularly photography and short-form video
• Experience developing and managing editorial calendars and coordinating multiple content priorities
• Experience using social media analytics to assess performance and inform content decisions
• Experience with Canva, Instagram edits, CapCut, in-app editing, and comparable creative tools
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and adapt to changing priorities
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills and the ability to build productive relationships with colleagues and partners across an organization
• Sound editorial judgment, discretion, and the ability to recognize when a social media interaction or emerging issue requires escalation
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support significant College events and activities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or other mission-driven communications
• Experience with social media management, listening, analytics, and reporting tools
• Experience contributing to social media governance, account management standards, or organizational social media guidelines
• Experience in Adobe Creative Cloud
• Knowledge of digital accessibility and inclusive content practices