📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Social Content Specialist - University of Illinois
🔹 Company: LEARFIELD
🔹 Location: Champaign, IL
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing & Communications
🔹 Date Posted: May 16, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: Entry/Mid-Level
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Creating branded social media content for corporate partners
- Collaborating with athletic department and local sales teams
- Managing various social media accounts and producing content
- Evaluating performance analytics and improving engagement strategies
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a creative and strategic mindset, with a strong understanding of social media platforms and college sports.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead creation of branded social media content, including NIL content, for local property sales staff to drive revenue opportunities for Learfield
✅ Assist in daily management of various social media accounts, including scheduling of postings for photo galleries, motion graphics, video production, events, event promotion, fan interaction, and promotional activities
✅ Assist in the creation of content for various social media platforms including but not limited to multimedia audio/video, animation, graphics, and sponsorable content
✅ Act as a liaison between athletic department content team, Learfield local sales teams and national sales
✅ Collaborate closely with athletic department content teams to create branded content in the defined voice and tone of each social media account
✅ Evaluate, interpret, and decode performance analytics for the purposes evaluating content performance, fan/follower growth strategies, and improving community engagement
✅ Expected to attend live events and produce social content in-game
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a proactive approach to content creation and management, with a strong focus on collaboration and stakeholder communication.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field of study (preferred)
Experience: Minimum 1-year experience successfully working in a creative production environment
Required Skills:
- Creative storytelling and content creation
- Video shooting, editing, graphic, and motion design
- Photography
- Social media management and platform understanding
- Performance analytics evaluation
- Collaboration and stakeholder communication
- Integrity and trustworthiness
Preferred Skills:
- Advanced knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud
- Previous experience in sports industry and college athletics
- Previous experience working with a sales team
- Knowledge of the NIL landscape
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with relevant experience and a strong portfolio showcasing their creative skills will be highly competitive for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: The approximate base pay range for this position is $21.63 per hour. Actual compensation may vary based on factors including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience as well as geographic location.
Benefits:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account
- Life Insurance and Other Insurance Plans
- Flexible Paid Time Off (including Parental Leave)
- Paid Holidays
- 401(k)
- Short/Long Term Disability
Working Hours: Full-time position, with a standard workweek of 40 hours. May require working evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed to cover events.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is a good faith estimate and may vary based on the factors mentioned. Benefits are subject to change and may be contingent upon employment status.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: LEARFIELD operates in the Spectator Sports industry, focusing on college sports and live events. The company powers the connection of fans to the brands and experiences they love through media, data, and technology services.
Company Size: LEARFIELD is a mid-sized company with 1,001-5,000 employees, providing a diverse and dynamic work environment.
Founded: LEARFIELD was founded in 1972 and has since grown to become a leading provider of media, data, and technology services in college sports and live events.
Company Description:
- LEARFIELD offers a full spectrum of benefits for eligible employees, including medical, dental, vision, health savings account, life insurance, flexible paid time off, paid holidays, 401(k), and short/long term disability.
- The company provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious practices and observances, national origin, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran, or disability.
Company Specialties:
- Media, data, and technology services
- College sports and live events
- Brand management and marketing programs
- Multimedia rights strategies
- NIL expertise
- Ticketing/fundraising services
Company Website: https://www.learfield.com/
ASSUMPTION: LEARFIELD's focus on college sports and live events provides unique opportunities for candidates passionate about sports and fan engagement.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is an entry/mid-level position, offering opportunities for growth and development within the company.
Reporting Structure: The Social Content Specialist will report to the local property sales staff embedded within the athletic department's digital, marketing, and/or creative team(s).
Work Arrangement: This is an on-site position, with a standard workweek of 40 hours. The role may require working evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed to cover events.
Growth Opportunities:
- Developing expertise in social media management and content creation
- Building relationships with athletic department staff, local sales teams, and national sales
- Expanding knowledge of the NIL landscape and its implications for branded content
- Potential opportunities to work on high-profile events and campaigns
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to gain experience in the sports industry and develop skills in social media management, content creation, and stakeholder communication.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: LEARFIELD's Champaign, IL office is located within the University of Illinois athletic department's facilities, providing a dynamic and engaging work environment.
Office Location(s): 2400 Dallas Parkway, Suite 500, Plano, TX 75093 (HQ); Champaign, IL (University of Illinois)
Geographic Context:
- Champaign, IL is a mid-sized city with a population of approximately 85,000 people
- The city is home to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a major research university with a strong athletic program
- Champaign offers a mix of urban and rural environments, with easy access to outdoor recreation and cultural attractions
Work Schedule: The standard workweek is 40 hours, with the possibility of working evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed to cover events.
ASSUMPTION: The University of Illinois campus provides a vibrant and engaging work environment, with ample opportunities for collaboration and professional development.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application review
- Phone or video screen
- In-person or virtual interview with hiring manager and/or team members
- Background check and reference verification
- Job offer and onboarding
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative portfolio and storytelling abilities
- Social media management and content creation skills
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Understanding of college sports and the NIL landscape
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Include a portfolio showcasing your creative work, with a focus on social media content
- Prepare for interview questions related to your understanding of college sports, social media platforms, and content creation strategies
- Research LEARFIELD and the University of Illinois to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role and organization
ATS Keywords: Social media management, content creation, college sports, NIL, branding, collaboration, stakeholder communication, performance analytics
ASSUMPTION: LEARFIELD's application process is designed to assess candidates' creative skills, industry knowledge, and cultural fit within the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Cloud (preferred)
- Social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social)
- Performance analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Sprout Social, Hootsuite Insights)
- Video editing and production software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro)
- Graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with industry-standard tools and technologies is essential for success in this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Build trust
- Be fans of one another
- Power tomorrow
- Create & connect communities
- Have fun
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Creative and innovative
- Data-driven and analytical
- Adaptable and responsive to change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do your personal values align with LEARFIELD's company values?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully collaborated with a team to create engaging content?
- How do you stay organized and manage your time when working on multiple projects simultaneously?
ASSUMPTION: LEARFIELD's company culture emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and a passion for college sports and live events.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple social media accounts and content creation deadlines
- Adapting to the unique voice and tone of each social media account
- Balancing the needs of athletic department content teams, local sales teams, and national sales
- Keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of social media platforms and trends
ASSUMPTION: Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, adaptability, and a proactive approach to content creation and management.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike traditional social media manager roles, this position focuses specifically on branded content for corporate partners in the college sports industry
- This role offers unique opportunities to work closely with athletic department content teams and local sales teams
- Career progression may include opportunities to work on high-profile events and campaigns, or to specialize in specific aspects of social media management or content creation
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of creative and strategic responsibilities, with a strong focus on collaboration and stakeholder communication.
📝 Sample Projects
- Creating a social media campaign to promote an upcoming athletic event, including video, graphic, and motion design elements
- Developing a series of branded social media posts to highlight a corporate partner's products or services
- Analyzing performance analytics to identify trends and opportunities for improving fan engagement and follower growth
ASSUMPTION: Sample projects should demonstrate the candidate's ability to create engaging content, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and analyze performance data to inform content strategy.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the typical workflow for creating and scheduling social media content for an upcoming event?
- How does LEARFIELD collaborate with athletic department content teams and local sales teams to create branded content?
- What opportunities exist for professional development and growth within the company?
- How does LEARFIELD support employees in balancing work-life responsibilities, especially when working on-site at athletic events?
ASSUMPTION: Interview questions should focus on understanding the role's day-to-day responsibilities, the company's culture and values, and opportunities for professional growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a portfolio showcasing your creative work, with a focus on social media content
- Research LEARFIELD and the University of Illinois to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role and organization
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest in the position
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
