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Social Media Specialist - Hybrid position

Grand Canyon Education
Full-time
On-site
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
🌐 Digital Marketing

πŸ“Œ Core Information

πŸ”Ή Job Title: Social Media Specialist - Hybrid position

πŸ”Ή Company: Grand Canyon Education

πŸ”Ή Location: Phoenix, Arizona, United States

πŸ”Ή Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid

πŸ”Ή Category: Marketing & Communications

πŸ”Ή Date Posted: May 21, 2025

πŸ”Ή Experience Level: 2-5 years

πŸ”Ή Remote Status: On-site with remote flexibility

πŸš€ Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

  • Managing social media communities for university partners
  • Developing and implementing social media strategies
  • Creating engaging content and collaborating with multimedia teams
  • Monitoring online conversations and protecting the university's image
  • Mentoring student workers and providing regular feedback

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a balance of creativity, strategic thinking, and community management skills. The hybrid nature of the role allows for both collaborative on-site work and remote flexibility.

πŸ“‹ Key Responsibilities

βœ… Manage various university partner-owned social media communities

βœ… Assist with developing social media strategies for content and account management

βœ… Write, edit, and input messaging and content to various profiles and applications

βœ… Mentor student workers contributing to social media sites

βœ… Work closely with video and photo teams to develop content specific to social media

βœ… Engage with assigned communities to keep the university visible and protect its image

βœ… Monitor online conversation about the university partners and report trends

βœ… Create and monitor event pages, announcements, messages, reviews, and conversations

βœ… Assist with managing reports reflecting meaningful social metrics for decision-making

βœ… Track influencers and trending topics from online conversation about the university

βœ… Other duties as assigned

ASSUMPTION: The role involves a mix of strategic planning, creative content development, community management, and analytics. It requires strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with various teams.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, or communications

Experience: Minimum of 2-3 years of related professional work experience

Required Skills:

  • Proficiency in social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc.)
  • Experience with social media management platforms (Hootsuite, Talkwalker, Sprout, etc.)
  • Proficiency in social media reporting and analytics
  • Photoshop, multimedia platforms, and basic computer processing
  • Microsoft Office suite (Word, Outlook, Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher)

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience in higher education or related industry
  • Fluency in additional languages

ASSUMPTION: The required skills reflect the need for a well-rounded social media specialist with strong technical, creative, and analytical abilities. Preferred skills indicate a desire for candidates with industry-specific experience and language proficiency.

πŸ’° Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $45,000 - $60,000 per year (Based on industry standards for the role, experience level, and location)

Benefits:

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match
  • Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
  • Employee assistance program
  • Tuition reimbursement

Working Hours: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (with flexibility for evening, weekend, and holiday work as needed)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range is based on industry standards for a social media specialist with 2-5 years of experience in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Benefits are based on the company's standard benefits package for full-time employees.

πŸ“Œ Applicant Insights

πŸ” Company Context

Industry: Education Administration Programs

Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees

Founded: 1983

Company Description:

  • Grand Canyon Education (GCE) is an educational service company that provides support services to the post-secondary education sector
  • GCE designs and develops educational programs for Grand Canyon University (GCU) and other traditional campus institutions, as well as online partner institutions at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels
  • GCE values its employees and supports a unique and diverse workplace culture designed to help employees thrive

Company Specialties:

  • Educational program design and development
  • Support services for post-secondary education
  • Online learning and technology solutions

Company Website: https://www.gce.com

ASSUMPTION: GCE is a well-established company in the education sector, focusing on providing support services and educational programs to various institutions. Their unique workplace culture emphasizes employee growth and diversity.

πŸ“Š Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Social Media Manager

Work Arrangement: Hybrid - on-site and remote work

Growth Opportunities:

  • Potential advancement to Senior Social Media Specialist or Social Media Manager roles
  • Opportunities to work on diverse projects and campaigns
  • Chance to mentor and develop student workers

ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth within the social media team and the broader organization. GCE values employee development and provides opportunities for professional advancement.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid - on-site and remote work

Office Location(s): 2600 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, Arizona, US

Geographic Context:

  • Phoenix, Arizona, is the fifth-most populous city in the United States
  • The city offers a mix of urban and suburban living, with a variety of cultural attractions and outdoor activities
  • Phoenix has a hot desert climate, with mild winters and very hot summers

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (with flexibility for evening, weekend, and holiday work as needed)

ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement allows for both collaborative on-site work and remote flexibility. The Phoenix, Arizona location offers a mix of urban and suburban living, with a variety of cultural attractions and outdoor activities.

πŸ’Ό Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

  • Online application and resume screening
  • Phone or video screening interview
  • In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and/or team members
  • Background check and reference check
  • Job offer

Key Assessment Areas:

  • Social media strategy and planning
  • Content creation and curation
  • Community management and engagement
  • Analytics and reporting
  • Communication and collaboration skills

Application Tips:

  • Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant social media experience and skills
  • Showcase your understanding of the role and the company by demonstrating your familiarity with GCE's mission and values
  • Prepare examples of your social media content and campaigns to discuss during the interview
  • Be ready to discuss your experience with social media management platforms and analytics tools

ATS Keywords: Social Media Management, Content Development, Brand Management, Social Media Strategies, Analytics, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Community Engagement, Mentoring, Reporting, Online Monitoring, Event Management, Influencer Tracking

ASSUMPTION: The application process involves several stages, including an online application, phone or video screening, and in-person or virtual interviews. Key assessment areas focus on the candidate's social media skills, strategic thinking, and communication abilities.

πŸ› οΈ Tools & Technologies

  • Hootsuite, Talkwalker, or Sprout Social (social media management platforms)
  • Photoshop (graphic design and image editing)
  • Microsoft Office suite (Word, Outlook, Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher)
  • Google Analytics or other analytics tools

ASSUMPTION: The role requires proficiency in social media management platforms, Photoshop, and the Microsoft Office suite. Familiarity with analytics tools is also beneficial.

πŸ‘” Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

  • Integrity
  • Excellence
  • Teamwork
  • Innovation
  • Student Focus

Work Style:

  • Collaborative
  • Adaptable
  • Results-driven
  • Creative
  • Analytical

Self-Assessment Questions:

  • Do you align with GCE's core values, particularly integrity and student focus?
  • Are you comfortable working in a hybrid environment, balancing on-site collaboration and remote work?
  • Do you have a proven track record of creating engaging content and managing social media communities?

ASSUMPTION: GCE values employees who embody their core values and can thrive in a collaborative, hybrid work environment. Candidates should assess their fit with the company's values and work style before applying.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

  • Managing multiple social media accounts and communities simultaneously
  • Keeping up with the fast-paced nature of social media trends and algorithms
  • Balancing creative content development with data-driven decision-making
  • Protecting the university's image in the face of negative online discussions
  • Mentoring and managing student workers effectively

ASSUMPTION: The role presents several challenges, including managing multiple accounts, staying current with social media trends, balancing creativity and data, protecting the university's image, and mentoring student workers.

πŸ“ˆ Similar Roles Comparison

  • Unlike other social media specialist roles, this position focuses on managing social media communities for university partners rather than a single brand
  • GCE's focus on education administration programs sets this role apart from other social media positions in different industries
  • Career progression in this role could lead to senior-level or management positions within the social media team or broader organization

ASSUMPTION: This role differs from other social media specialist positions in its focus on managing university partner-owned social media communities and GCE's unique industry context. Career progression opportunities are available within the social media team and the broader organization.

πŸ“ Sample Projects

  • Developing and implementing a social media strategy for a new university partner
  • Creating engaging content and managing social media communities for multiple university partners
  • Monitoring online conversations and addressing negative discussions to protect the university's image
  • Mentoring student workers and providing regular feedback to improve their social media skills

ASSUMPTION: Sample projects reflect the role's key responsibilities, including strategy development, content creation, community management, online monitoring, and mentoring student workers.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

  • How does this role fit into the broader social media team and the organization's goals?
  • What are the most significant challenges facing the social media team currently, and how can this role help address them?
  • How does GCE support the professional development and growth of its employees?
  • What is the expected timeline for onboarding and ramping up in this role?
  • How does the hybrid work arrangement work in practice, and what are the expectations for on-site and remote work?

ASSUMPTION: Interview questions should focus on understanding the role's context within the organization, the team's challenges, professional development opportunities, onboarding expectations, and the hybrid work arrangement.

πŸ“Œ 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 social media experience and skills
  • Prepare examples of your social media content and campaigns to discuss during the interview
  • Be ready to discuss your experience with social media management platforms and analytics tools
  • Follow up with the hiring manager within one week of submitting your application to express your interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.