📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Social Media Manager
🔹 Company: Smith College
🔹 Location: Smith College, Northampton, MA
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Marketing & Communications
🔹 Date Posted: July 11, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and implementing strategic social media communications plans
- Creating and managing engaging content for various social media platforms
- Collaborating with teams across the college to align content with broader communication goals
- Monitoring engagement, responding to comments, and fostering meaningful interactions
- Managing paid advertising campaigns to support strategic goals
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, strong communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with various teams to achieve common goals.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Direct and implement strategic social media communications plans (60%)
✅ Support, Mentor, Direct and Supervise (20%)
✅ Monitor and Research (10%)
✅ Analytics and Reporting (10%)
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, creative content development, and data-driven analysis to ensure effective social media management.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, or related Field
Experience: 5+ years of experience with Social Media
Required Skills:
- Proven experience in planning and executing successful social media campaigns
- Expertise in social platform management tools (e.g., Sprout Social)
- Strong understanding of marketing and branding principles
- Experience managing paid social media campaigns and tracking performance
- Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and Canva for content creation
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in higher education or non-profit sector
- Fluency in Spanish or other languages
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in higher education or non-profit sectors may have a better understanding of the unique communication challenges and opportunities in these environments.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $65,000 - $80,000 per year (based on industry standards for a Social Media Manager role in the Northampton, MA area)
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement plans
- Tuition assistance
- Generous time off policies
Working Hours: Full-time, Monday-Friday, with occasional evening and weekend work for event coverage
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a Social Media Manager role in the Northampton, MA area, with consideration for the experience level and work arrangement.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Higher Education
Company Size: 11-50 employees
Founded: 1871 (as part of the Five Colleges consortium)
Company Description:
- Smith College is a private liberal arts college for women, located in Northampton, MA
- Part of the Five Colleges consortium, which includes Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Offers a faculty of outstanding scholars who interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects
Company Specialties:
- Liberal arts education
- Women's college
- Consortium collaboration
Company Website: Smith College
ASSUMPTION: Smith College is a well-established institution with a strong reputation in higher education, offering a unique learning environment for its students.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Director of Digital Strategy and Creative Services
Work Arrangement: On-site, with occasional evening and weekend work for event coverage
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to advance to a management or leadership role within the College Relations and Communications team
- Opportunities to collaborate with various teams across the college, gaining exposure to different aspects of the institution
- Possibility to mentor and supervise student workers, developing leadership skills
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within the context of a supportive and collaborative work environment.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: On-site, with a mix of collaborative and independent workspaces
Office Location(s): Smith College, Northampton, MA
Geographic Context:
- Northampton is a vibrant college town with a rich cultural scene and a strong sense of community
- Located in the beautiful Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, offering easy access to outdoor recreation and natural beauty
- Conveniently situated between Boston and Albany, with easy access to major highways and public transportation
Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, with occasional evening and weekend work for event coverage
ASSUMPTION: The on-site work arrangement and geographic location offer a unique blend of professional and personal benefits, with opportunities for collaboration, networking, and work-life balance.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Initial phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-depth interview with the hiring manager and potential colleagues
- Final interview with the Director of Digital Strategy and Creative Services
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creativity and strategic thinking
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Technical proficiency in social media management tools and content creation software
- Alignment with Smith College's mission and values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Provide specific examples of your social media campaign successes and challenges
- Demonstrate your understanding of Smith College's mission and values in your application materials
ATS Keywords: Social Media Management, Content Creation, Strategic Planning, Collaboration, Analytics, Graphic Design, Photography, Video Production, Communication, Editing, Mentoring, Leadership, Data Analysis, Marketing, Branding, Paid Advertising
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to be competitive, with a focus on assessing candidates' creativity, strategic thinking, and alignment with Smith College's mission and values.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Sprout Social
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Canva
- Meta (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)
- YouTube
- LinkedIn
- TikTok
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these tools and platforms is essential for success in this role, as they are commonly used in social media management and content creation.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Excellence in teaching and research
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Collaboration and community
Work Style:
- Creative and innovative
- Data-driven and analytical
- Collaborative and team-oriented
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a creative and collaborative work environment?
- Are you comfortable working with data and using it to inform your decision-making?
- Do you value diversity, equity, and inclusion, and are you committed to promoting these principles in your work?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who are a strong fit for Smith College's values and work style will be most successful in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple social media platforms and content creation tasks simultaneously
- Balancing the need for strategic planning with the demands of real-time content creation and engagement
- Occasional evening and weekend work for event coverage
- Navigating the unique communication challenges and opportunities of the higher education and non-profit sectors
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong organizational skills, effective time management, and a commitment to continuous learning and adaptation.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Unlike other social media manager roles, this position requires a strong understanding of higher education and non-profit communication strategies
- This role offers the opportunity to work in a unique and collaborative consortium environment, with access to resources and expertise from five distinct institutions
- Career progression in this role may involve moving into a management or leadership position within the College Relations and Communications team, or exploring opportunities within the broader Five Colleges consortium
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider the unique aspects of this role and how they align with their career goals and interests.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a social media campaign to promote a major college event, with measurable engagement and attendance goals
- Creating and managing a content calendar that aligns with the college's academic calendar and key events
- Analyzing social media performance data to inform strategic decision-making and improve campaign effectiveness
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and skills required for success in this role, from creative content development to data-driven analysis and strategic planning.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader College Relations and Communications team, and how do its responsibilities align with those of other team members?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the College Relations and Communications team, and how can this role help address them?
- How does Smith College's mission and values inform the work of the College Relations and Communications team, and how can this role contribute to their promotion and advancement?
- What opportunities exist for professional growth and development within this role and the broader College Relations and Communications team?
- How does the Five Colleges consortium structure impact the work of the College Relations and Communications team, and what unique opportunities and challenges does it present?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions demonstrates a strong interest in the role and a commitment to understanding the broader context in which it operates.
📌 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 experience and skills for this role
- Provide specific examples of your social media campaign successes and challenges
- Demonstrate your understanding of Smith College's mission and values in your application materials
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
