Senior Social Media Specialist, Leadership Communications

Arizona State University•Tempe, AZ

1d•$72,000 - $75,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Media Relations and Strategic Communications (MRSC) team at Arizona State University seeks a senior social media writer and communicator to manage social media content for a small group of university leaders and contribute to the social media team's broader work. The role is generally divided between supporting leadership accounts and shared work across ASU News and other university social media accounts, including contributions to ASU’s central flagship accounts. The balance will shift based on university priorities, news cycles and major events. Writing is central to this position. The successful candidate will ghostwrite in the voices of university leaders, interview faculty and subject-matter experts, and turn complex research and institutional ideas into accurate, accessible social content. The work helps audiences understand ASU's research, its role in expanding access to education and its impact on communities. Strong editorial judgment is essential, including attention to accuracy, timing, audience relevance and reputational risk. The position reports to the Social Media Manager, who sets the team's overall social strategy and provides editorial oversight. The specialist will work directly with the leaders whose accounts they support, manage day-to-day planning and content development for those accounts, and bring story ideas and recommendations to team planning. This position collaborates with colleagues across MRSC, university leaders and the Enterprise Brand social team.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
Exceptional writing, editing and ghostwriting skills, including demonstrated ability to write authentically in another person's voice.
Experience working directly with executives, senior leaders, public figures, clients or subject-matter experts, including handling sensitive information with discretion and incorporating feedback with diplomacy.
Experience interviewing executives, faculty, researchers or subject-matter experts and identifying compelling ideas, quotes and narratives for digital audiences.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex, technical or research-based information into accurate and engaging content for general audiences.
Sound editorial judgment regarding accuracy, tone, timing, audience relevance, accessibility and reputational risk.
Professional experience planning, publishing and evaluating social media content across multiple platforms, with evidence of using audience insights to improve content.
Knowledge of social media accessibility practices, AP style or comparable editorial standards, and organizational brand guidelines.
Strong organizational skills, including experience maintaining editorial calendars, managing concurrent deadlines and keeping partners informed about progress.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education, journalism, a communications agency or another complex, mission-driven organization.
Experience writing for social-first formats, including short-form video scripts, carousels or other platform-native content.

Responsibilities

Ghostwrite, edit and publish approved social media content for assigned university leaders, preserving each leader's authentic voice while aligning content with university priorities and brand standards.
Build strong working relationships with assigned leaders, faculty members and subject-matter experts, conducting interviews and conversations that surface ideas, perspectives and opportunities for social content.
Identify and propose timely story opportunities through interviews, research, university news and relevant public conversations, recommending angles and formats that suit the intended audience.
Contribute writing, editing, content planning and publishing support to the social media team's broader work across ASU News and other university accounts, including content for central ASU flagship accounts.
Manage weekly planning, editorial calendars, scheduling and publishing for assigned leadership accounts, coordinating priorities and deadlines with the Social Media Manager.
Monitor audience conversations across assigned accounts, recommend or execute appropriate engagement and responses and coordinate sensitive decisions and escalations with the Social Media Manager.
Verify factual accuracy, voice, tone, timing, accessibility and brand alignment, coordinate any needed input from leaders and partners, and submit content to the Social Media Manager for approval before publication.
Adapt content across leadership, ASU News and other university accounts, tailoring the voice, format and message to each account's audience.
Collaborate with Presidential Communications, Media Relations, ASU News, Visual Communications and the Enterprise Brand social team on campaigns, major milestones and live-event coverage, including writing carousel copy, short video scripts and interview prompts as needed.
Evaluate content performance and audience engagement, recommend changes to topics and formats, and test approaches that help reach relevant audiences.
Support colleagues leading creator and influencer partnerships by drafting outreach copy and briefing materials, adapting social content and coordinating leader or expert participation as needed.
Maintain project and editorial workflows in Airtable or comparable tools and communicate progress, risks and next steps clearly across teams.
Stay current on platform changes, accessibility practices, emerging formats and audience behaviors, and recommend practical adjustments to content and team processes.