Marketing and Communications - Social Media Manager

As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. 

Sacred Heart University is a contemporary Catholic university rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts that cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. SHU upholds a universal perspective, welcoming and valuing diverse faith traditions, including those from religious and nonreligious backgrounds. This catholicity, which is the basis of inclusivity, enriches dialogue, deepens understanding and strengthens our commitment to creating a more compassionate and just world.

The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 388 Colleges–2023 Edition, and Best Business Schools–2023 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu 
 
To apply

Only applications submitted through the official Careers at SHU site will be accepted for employment consideration. If you are viewing this job advertisement through a different site, please visit Careers at SHU to submit a formal application.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a complete application and resume via our online application system. A cover letter or statement of interest is also preferred for all staff positions.

Sacred Heart University complies with all federal and state employment laws and regulations. Applicants must be lawfully authorized to work for any employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for this position.

Position Summary

The Social Media Manager is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive social media strategy that enhances the reputation, engagement, and visibility of Sacred Heart University. This individual will manage all official social media accounts, work collaboratively across departments to promote key initiatives, and leverage digital content to tell the university’s story in a compelling way to a diverse audience, including prospective students, current students, alumni, and the community. 

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Coordinate, oversee, and execute SHU’s social media presence. Own every aspect of planning, posting, strategy, and policies.
• Build and execute social media strategy through competitive research, platform determination, benchmarking, messaging, and audience identification. 
• Generate, edit, publish, and share daily content that builds meaningful connections and encourages engagement with the university, its programs, activities, and events. 
• Responsible for community management and growth, including joining relevant conversations on behalf of the Institutions and responding to and/or channeling questions, comments, or concerns to relevant departments/divisions across the University. 
• Moderate all user-generated content in line with the moderation policy for each community.
• Continuously improve by capturing and analyzing the appropriate social data/metrics, insights, and best practices and then acting on the information. 
• Collaborate with MARCOMM and other departments to manage, monitor, and optimize paid social media campaigns across Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and other channels, following best practices based on campaigns’ goals, which vary from awareness, engagement, acquisitions, reach, and frequency. 
• Create and share monthly reporting and metrics.
• Oversee community accounts, assist with education and documentation to remain aware of accounts existing outside of official university accounts.
• Implement and manage a student team of social media interns. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Other Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or equivalent experience.
• 1-2 years managing social media for an organization.
• Understanding of the business applications of social media platforms, including Tik Tok, Meta/Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, etc.
• Proven experience in social media management and platforms.
• Demonstrated experience in social media management for a brand or specific campaigns.
• Ability to attend relevant events as needed for event recap/coverage.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of influencer marketing. 
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. 
• High level of self-motivation and the ability to look at how social media fits into the “bigger” picture of enrollment, retention, and awareness goals for the university.
• Familiarity with content-based photography and photo-editing software is a plus.
• Familiarity with Paid Social Media and Facebook Ad Manager, LinkedIn Ads, Twitter Ads, and Sprout Social/Bambu is a plus. 
• Bonus experience and skills include inbound marketing, SEM, & SEO.

Unusual Working Conditions

Evening and weekend hours are required. Occasional travel required. 

This job posting provides an overview of the role's general nature and expected tasks. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all duties performed. The university reserves the right to modify or reassign job responsibilities at any time. This posting description does not constitute an employment contract, either explicit or implied.