📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Social Media Manager
🔹 Company: Seattle University
🔹 Location: Seattle, WA
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid Eligible*
🔹 Category: Marketing & Communications
🔹 Date Posted: May 28, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with hybrid eligibility
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading social storytelling efforts across SU's digital platforms
- Supporting integrated marketing campaigns to advance institutional goals
- Developing and implementing social media strategies
- Creating original content and managing social media accounts
- Serving as a crisis communications partner and leading a team of student interns
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of social media platforms, content creation, and digital marketing strategies. It also involves working closely with various stakeholders across the university.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead social storytelling efforts across SU's digital platforms by developing and curating compelling content that reflects SU's mission, impact, and distinctive voice.
✅ Support the execution of integrated marketing and social media campaigns to advance institutional goals including enrollment, academic reputation, engagement, and awareness.
✅ Develop and implement social media strategies and promotions that align with Seattle University's strategic priorities.
✅ Create original content-photography, short-form video, graphics, and copy-for a range of digital channels, ensuring high-quality, authentic representation of the SU brand.
✅ Support the president and university leaders on social media by offering guidance, brand integration, content support, and best practices.
✅ Foster a network of social media managers and contributors across the university by offering consultation, training, and a centralized editorial strategy.
✅ Serve as a key crisis communications partner, monitoring social media for emerging issues and managing real-time response in coordination with senior leadership.
✅ Lead a team of student interns and work-study employees, mentoring them in content development, storytelling, digital etiquette, and SU brand standards.
✅ Ensure consistent voice and brand alignment across all SU-affiliated social media accounts. Use social listening and analytics tools to assess performance, optimize campaigns, and provide reports that inform university leadership and stakeholders.
✅ Maintain SU's social media toolkit, including standards, platform guidelines, editorial calendars, and brand-aligned templates.
✅ Stay informed of platform changes and industry trends, adjusting tactics and advising the university community accordingly.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong leadership, collaboration, and project management skills, as well as proficiency in photography, video editing, and basic graphic design.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, journalism, or related field.
Experience: 3-5 years of professional experience in social media, content creation, or digital marketing.
Required Skills:
- Demonstrated success in storytelling across visual and written formats
- Proven ability to plan and execute digital content strategies that engage diverse audiences
- Strong leadership, collaboration, and project management skills
- Ability to work effectively across departments and with multiple stakeholders
- Photography, video editing, and basic graphic design skills
- Experience with social media performance tools (e.g., Sprout Social, native analytics)
- Comfort with fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
- Strong interpersonal, writing, and editing skills
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in higher education or mission-driven organizations
- Familiarity with AP style and accessibility standards
- Experience using Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar design tools
- Knowledge of HTML and content management systems
- Passion for Jesuit education and student-centered storytelling
ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace may also be beneficial for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $78,500 (This is the provided salary range, which represents the University's good faith estimate at the time of posting. The actual salary offered may vary based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.)
Benefits:
- Medical Plans
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Short & Long-Term Disability Coverage
- Retirement Benefits
- Tuition Benefits
- Subsidized Transportation Benefit
- Wellness Program
- Paid Holiday Schedule
- Vacation Leave
- Paid Sick Leave
- Paid Community Service Leave
Working Hours: Full-time, with hybrid eligibility after successful completion of an introductory work period of 3-6 months.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate and may vary based on the factors mentioned above. The hybrid work arrangement is subject to periodic review and may be changed or terminated at any time at the university's discretion.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Higher Education
Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees
Founded: 1891
Company Description:
- Seattle University is a private, Jesuit Catholic university located in Seattle, Washington
- Offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs
- Committed to providing a relevant, hands-on education with a focus on STEM fields
- Encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving
Company Specialties:
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Computer Engineering
- and Software Engineering
Company Website: https://www.seattleu.edu/
ASSUMPTION: Seattle University is a comprehensive university with a strong focus on STEM education and research. Its Jesuit Catholic mission emphasizes student-centered learning and community engagement.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level professional
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Senior Director of Strategic Communications and works closely with the Chief Marketing Officer
Work Arrangement: Hybrid eligible, with an introductory on-campus work period of 3-6 months
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential advancement to a senior-level role within the Strategic Communications department
- Expansion of responsibilities to include management of additional team members
- Opportunities to contribute to university-wide initiatives and strategic planning
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the university's Strategic Communications department and across the institution.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: On-campus with hybrid eligibility
Office Location(s): 901 12th Ave, Seattle, Washington 98122, US
Geographic Context:
- Seattle is a major city in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
- Known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, outdoor recreation opportunities, and tech industry
- Home to several major universities and research institutions
Work Schedule: Full-time, with hybrid eligibility after successful completion of an introductory on-campus work period of 3-6 months
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement allows for a balance between on-campus collaboration and remote work, fostering a flexible and adaptable work environment.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening
- On-campus or virtual interview with the hiring manager
- Final on-campus or virtual interview with senior leadership
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Social media and content creation skills
- Strategic planning and campaign development
- Collaboration and communication skills
- Adaptability and problem-solving skills
- Alignment with the university's mission and values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Demonstrate your understanding of Seattle University's mission, values, and unique selling points
- Showcase your portfolio or examples of your social media and content creation work
- Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview, demonstrating your interest in the role and the university
ATS Keywords: Social media management, content creation, digital marketing, storytelling, leadership, collaboration, project management, photography, video editing, graphic design, social media performance tools, interpersonal skills, writing skills, editing skills, crisis communications, training, analytics
ASSUMPTION: Including relevant keywords in your resume and application materials can help ensure that your application is successfully screened by the university's Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Sprout Social
- Native social media analytics tools
- Canva
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Google Workspace
- Content management systems
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in these tools and technologies is preferred for this role, as they are commonly used in social media management and digital marketing.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Excellence
- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Faith that does justice
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and flexible
- Data-driven and analytical
- Creative and innovative
- Committed to the university's mission and values
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do your personal values align with Seattle University's mission and values?
- Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
- Can you provide an example of a successful social media campaign you've led or contributed to? What was your role, and what were the results?
ASSUMPTION: Assessing cultural fit is crucial for ensuring a successful and fulfilling work experience at Seattle University.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple social media platforms and content creation tasks simultaneously
- Balancing the needs of various stakeholders across the university
- Adapting to changes in social media trends and platform algorithms
- Working within a large, complex organization with multiple departments and priorities
- Managing a team of student interns and work-study employees
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong leadership, effective communication, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other social media manager roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to work within a higher education setting, with a focus on Jesuit Catholic education and student-centered storytelling
- Seattle University's size and resources provide opportunities for growth and development not typically available in smaller organizations
- Career paths in higher education often include opportunities for advancement to senior-level roles and leadership positions
ASSUMPTION: Understanding the unique aspects of this role and the higher education industry can help applicants determine if this position is the right fit for their career goals and personal values.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a social media campaign to promote a university-wide event, such as a commencement ceremony or homecoming weekend
- Creating a series of engaging, informative, and visually appealing social media posts to highlight a specific academic program or research project
- Managing a team of student interns to produce a weekly social media newsletter, featuring campus news, events, and student spotlights
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and initiatives that the Social Media Manager may be involved in at Seattle University.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the overall strategic communications plan for the university?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the social media team currently, and how can this role help address them?
- How does the university support the professional development and growth of its employees?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30-60-90 days?
- How does the university measure the success of its social media efforts, and how can this role contribute to improving those metrics?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, informed questions during the interview can help applicants better understand the role, the team, and the university, and demonstrate their interest and engagement.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences for this role
- Prepare a portfolio or examples of your social media and content creation work, showcasing your creativity, strategic thinking, and technical proficiency
- Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview, demonstrating your interest in the role and the university
- Follow up with the hiring manager within one week of your interview to express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the position
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
