Senior Social Media Specialist

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

Job Profile Summary:

The Senior Social Media Strategist will lead and coordinate the university’s social media strategies aimed at building the reputations of the university, the WGU system, and our leaders among key target audiences. The incumbent will work closely with all members of the public relations, marketing, and student experience team, supporting all WGU departments by providing social media consultation, strategy, and content development support. 

The Senior Social Media Strategist will serve as the team lead for Communications and Public Relations social media efforts, including planning and calendaring, content creation and review, and monitoring. He/she will also develop and review social media content that supports WGU’s reputation as a thought leader in innovation and education. 

The Social Media Strategist will work with the WGU colleges, state affiliates, practices, and WGU system entities and state/regional affiliates to promote the awareness and positive reputation of WGU among key target audiences through effective use of social media channels.  

The primary focus of this position is to partner with Communications team members to support their work as business partners with assigned colleges, entities, or practices to plan and implement strategies and tactics to build and maintain WGU’s positive reputation through social media. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Ensure that WGU, its affiliates, colleges and systems entities have positive awareness and reputation through:  
• Social media strategic planning and implementation.  
• Proactive planning that supports reputation enhancement. 
• Content creation, including articles, web copy, press releases, social media content, speeches, presentations, and newsletters. 
• Thought leadership initiatives. 
• Agency and vendor management. 
• Social media tracking and reporting 
• Support for promotional events, campaigns, and activities that support new student acquisition. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of best practices for social media channels, including, but not limited to: Ability to work effectively with all external audiences as well as WGU staff at all levels. 
• Outstanding writing skills and ability to write effectively for different audiences. 
• Understanding of and ability to develop relationships with media. 
• Ability to work independently, conceptualize projects, and manage multiple priorities. 
• Ability to perform creative writing and related activities such as conducting interviews, research, and editing. 
• Ability to work calmly and maintain good judgment in a fast-paced, dynamic, and entrepreneurial environment. 
• Ability to understand and interpret information accurately. 
• Ability to communicate accurately and concisely. 
• Ability to influence others positively. 
• Ability to initiate creative and innovative promotional ideas. 
• Demonstrated skill and ability in the use of social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn 
• Demonstrated skill and ability in the effective use of equipment, computers and other resources for completion of projects such as posters, displays, PowerPoints, etc. 
• Self-direction and reliability. 
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and customer service skills. 

Competencies: 

Organizational Impact:

• Works to achieve operational targets with significant to major impact on department, Function, or Office results. May be responsible for managing large projects or processes within the department, function, or office.​