Associate Director, Social Media, Marketing and Communication, Wharton School

University of Pennsylvania•Philadelphia, PA

18d•$77,330 - $77,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director, Social Media leads the development and distribution of social media content related to Wharton scholarship, faculty thought leadership, and knowledge dissemination, translating complex academic content into high-impact digital storytelling. This primarily involves management of the social media channels (LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, etc.) for Knowledge at Wharton, the School's online business journal, promoting business insights and educational programming to an audience of nearly 300,000 followers. The Associate Director serves as a key partner to faculty and cross-functional Marketing & Communications staff, both within the central Marketing & Communications office and within research initiatives. The Associate Director proactively identifies opportunities to elevate research and shape integrated distribution plans across owned channels aimed at key target audiences (industry professionals, prospective students/learners, alumni, etc.) as well as the general public. The role works to understand and advance Dean's Office priorities related to faculty research and insights, influencing how Wharton makes its intellectual capital accessible globally. It also provides performance measurement and optimization, leveraging analytics, social listening, and industry trends to inform strategy and continuously improve outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of work experience in social or digital media, marketing, communications, public relations or journalism, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Excellent writing skills; proven ability to represent a brand on social media
Expertise in a wide range of social and digital media platforms, including LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, Bluesky, and Threads; deep knowledge of platform features, optimization strategy, and trends
Expertise in social media analytics, with demonstrated ability to translate them into actionable insights to inform strategy
Expertise in social media content creation, including short-form video editing
Strong news judgement and ability to originate social media content ideas and tailor them to each platform
Strong interpersonal skills; ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with various stakeholders
Strong organizational and time-management skills; ability to juggle many projects/tasks and work under tight deadlines
Proactive self-starter who can work both independently and as part of a team

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Media or similar field
Knowledge of/interest in business topics such as AI and analytics, finance, entrepreneurship, management, marketing, public policy and social impact
Experience in education or research communications and/or with high-profile corporate brand(s), particularly working with faculty, academics, researchers, or executives
Expertise in graphic design, photography, and/or video editing
Experience with paid social media advertising and digital analytics platforms

Responsibilities

Lead planning and execution of social media initiatives for Knowledge at Wharton and related channels.
Translate and promote Wharton faculty research/thought leadership through digestible social media content, working hand-in-hand with web, content, and creative teams.
Handle day-to-day management of Knowledge at Wharton's social media channels, including content ideation, development, and publishing.
Lead community management efforts to engage with audiences in real-time.
Contribute to how Wharton highlights faculty research as at a school level, as well, managing special content projects (e.g. the Wharton LinkedIn newsletter) and collaborating with teammates to plan content for the school's flagship channels.
Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external staff to identify research storytelling opportunities on owned and earned channels.
Collaborate with MarComm colleagues to assess existing faculty research and help determine content development and distribution plans.
Work with Content team to plan Knowledge at Wharton editorial calendar and Media Relations team to promote faculty insights tied to current events.
Oversee social media support Wharton research pillars as part of MarComm's faculty working group, working to highlight their research, insights, and events while optimizing their own channels.
Develop working relationship with Director of Paid Media to ensure organic and paid efforts are aligned and boost priority posts.
Network with staff across Penn to collaborate on promotion cross-disciplinary research initiatives.
Support faculty with establishing and/or developing their personal social media presences.
Facilitate cross-promotion of content on their platforms, advising them or drafting posts on their behalf as needed.
Consult on how to optimize their profile and share content to maximize their impact as a researcher and thought leader.
Own social media analytics and reporting related to research and insights promotion, aligning efforts with department's overall strategic goals.
Develop metrics reports for internal and external groups to analyze performance and measure success, tailoring communications based on audience.
Leverage social listening tools to track audience sentiment, identify conversation trends, and inform strategy.
Research social media industry trends, updates, and best practices to inform content strategy on an ongoing basis.
Promote events organized by faculty and research centers, as well as Institutional Events created and managed by Wharton Marketing and Communications through coordinated social media planning, timely posting, and alignment with established messaging and branding guidelines.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Benefits

excellent healthcare
tuition benefits for employees and their families
generous retirement benefits
wide variety of professional development opportunities
supportive work and family benefits
wealth of health and wellness programs and resources
comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
flexible spending accounts
tuition assistance here at Penn for employee, spouse, and dependent children
tuition assistance at other institutions for dependent children
generous retirement plans
pre-tax or Roth basis retirement savings
substantial amount of time away from work
long-term care insurance
wellness and work-life resources
resources to help advance yourself personally and professionally
access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities
free or discounted admission and memberships to Penn arts and cultural centers and museums
savings on other goods and services
flexible work options
forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia
adoption assistance