Manager, Social Media Marketing and Growth

Details•Troy, NY

4d•$85,000 - $95,000

About The Position

The Manager, Social Media Marketing and Growth will help bring the Institute’s discoveries, people, and real-world impact to life across social platforms in ways that are clear, credible, and compelling. Working within Brand, Marketing & Communications, the Manager will lead social media as a storytelling and engagement channel, not just a broadcast tool. The Manager will connect RPI’s research, education, innovation, and leadership to external audiences through content that builds trust, sharpens RPI’s identity, and supports long-term goals around enrollment, advancement, and research. Additionally, the Manager will work closely with students, faculty, and teams across campus to shape strategy, set standards, and tell RPI’s story to the world through social media. Who we are: Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. Explore the RPI Forward plan. ↗︎ Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world. With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Digital Media, Communications, Social Media Management or related field
Five (5) or more years of professional experience managing social media strategy and content for a brand, institution, or organization
Experience developing and enforcing social media policies or guidelines.
Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.
Strong, hands-on understanding of how social media works today, including content strategy, platform algorithms, paid amplification, and audience targeting
Comfort working across social media management and analytics tools such as Sprout, Hootsuite, Google Analytics, and content creation tools like Adobe Creative Suite or Canva
Proven experience listening to audiences, engaging communities, and using paid and organic social to extend reach and impact
A sharp eye for visual storytelling, paired with strong writing and editing skills that translate complex ideas into clear, compelling social content
Experience working in higher education or similarly complex, multi-stakeholder environments, with the ability to navigate multiple voices while maintaining clarity and consistency

Responsibilities

Own RPI’s day-to-day social presence with a high degree of autonomy, exercising sound judgment and creative ownership in how stories are told across platforms
Create original, high-quality social content that brings RPI’s people, research, ideas, and culture to life in ways that feel authentic and relevant
Write, film, edit, and publish content across platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, and emerging channels, with a strong instinct for what works where and why
Turn complex research, academic work, and institutional ideas into clear, engaging social storytelling using short-form video, visuals, carousels, threads, and timely formats
Work directly with students, faculty, and staff across campus to surface stories, capture real moments, and highlight the people behind RPI’s impact
Make thoughtful, independent decisions in fast-moving moments, balancing speed and creativity with accuracy, credibility, and brand responsibility
Set and uphold standards for voice, tone, and quality, while enabling others across campus to create stronger, more consistent social content
Track performance and audience behavior, using insight rather than vanity metrics to refine content, test new formats, and evolve RPI’s social presence
Experiment with new tools, formats, and platforms to keep RPI’s social storytelling fresh, forward-thinking, and trusted