What are the responsibilities and job description for the Social Media Specialist position at Manhattan University?
About The University
Manhattan University is nestled in the historic neighborhood or Riverdale , close to dozens of restaurants and shops as well as Van Cortlandt Park , and is only 35 minutes from midtown Manhattan. Manhattan University is nationally ranked and offers degree programs in the arts, business, education, engineering, and science. The University has approximately 3,000 full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in over 50 fields of study. It is committed to excellence in teaching a diverse student body and preparing students for successful careers and fulfilling lives. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees and faculty members can thrive personally and professionally.
Position Description
Reporting to the Executive Director of Marketing, the Social Media Specialist is responsible for supporting the development and execution of Manhattan University’s social media presence across its institutional channels. This position is well-suited to an early-career marketing or communications professional with one to three years of relevant experience who has demonstrated proficiency in digital storytelling and who seeks further to develop their expertise within a higher education environment. The Social Media Specialist contributes to day-to-day content creation, community management, and performance reporting across platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, X/Twitter, and Threads. Working in close coordination with the marketing team and campus partners, the Social Media Manager assists in executing the University’s social media strategy, documenting campus life, and cultivating engagement with prospective students, current students, alumni, and the broader University community.
Job Responsibilities
Required Qualifications:
Founded in 1853, Manhattan University is an independent Catholic Lasallian institution located in Riverdale, NY that embraces students of all faiths, cultures, and traditions. The mission of the University is to provide a dynamic student-centered educational experience that prepares graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings. We expect our faculty, administration, and staff to be knowledgeable about our mission and to make a positive contribution to the mission.
Manhattan University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, marital status, partnership status, pregnancy, caregiver status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity or expression, arrest or conviction record, criminal history, credit history, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, unemployment status and salary history. Manhattan University values and celebrates diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees. All interested, qualified persons are encouraged to apply.
Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Manhattan University is nestled in the historic neighborhood or Riverdale , close to dozens of restaurants and shops as well as Van Cortlandt Park , and is only 35 minutes from midtown Manhattan. Manhattan University is nationally ranked and offers degree programs in the arts, business, education, engineering, and science. The University has approximately 3,000 full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in over 50 fields of study. It is committed to excellence in teaching a diverse student body and preparing students for successful careers and fulfilling lives. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees and faculty members can thrive personally and professionally.
Position Description
Reporting to the Executive Director of Marketing, the Social Media Specialist is responsible for supporting the development and execution of Manhattan University’s social media presence across its institutional channels. This position is well-suited to an early-career marketing or communications professional with one to three years of relevant experience who has demonstrated proficiency in digital storytelling and who seeks further to develop their expertise within a higher education environment. The Social Media Specialist contributes to day-to-day content creation, community management, and performance reporting across platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, X/Twitter, and Threads. Working in close coordination with the marketing team and campus partners, the Social Media Manager assists in executing the University’s social media strategy, documenting campus life, and cultivating engagement with prospective students, current students, alumni, and the broader University community.
Job Responsibilities
- Create, schedule, and publish content across Manhattan University’s official social media channels, including Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, X/Twitter, and Threads.
- Develop short-form video content, including Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts, that reflects current platform trends and resonates with prospective students, current students, and alumni.
- Capture photographic and video content at campus events, student activities, athletic competitions, academic milestones, and other institutional functions.
- Compose clear, on-brand captions, headlines, and copy that align with the University’s voice, tone, and messaging guidelines.
- Maintain and update the shared social media content calendar in coordination with campus partners.
- Monitor comments, direct messages, mentions, and tags daily; respond to routine community inquiries and escalate sensitive or time-sensitive matters to the Executive Director of Marketing as appropriate.
- Identify trends, cultural moments, and campus stories that present opportunities for timely engagement and creative content.
- Support the execution of paid social campaigns through the development of creative assets, copy, audience research, and post-campaign reporting.
- Track performance using native analytics and tools such as Sprout Social, and contribute to weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports on reach, engagement, and audience growth.
- Collaborate with student workers, photographers, videographers, designers, and campus departments to source, produce, and gather content.
- Organize and maintain the digital asset library, ensuring that photographs, videos, and graphics are properly tagged, archived, and accessible to the marketing team.
- Assist with special projects and campaigns supporting enrollment, alumni relations, athletics, and other University initiatives.
- Evening and weekend hours may be required.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, digital media, or a related field.
- One to three years of relevant experience, which may include internships, student leadership roles, freelance work, or full-time employment managing social media for a brand, organization, or campus group.
- Strong working knowledge of major social media platforms, particularly Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn, and a clear understanding of how content performs on each.
- Demonstrated ability to produce short-form video content, including shooting, editing, and publishing.
- Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with strong attention to detail and brand voice.
- Foundational photography and videography skills, with proficiency in editing tools such as CapCut and Adobe Creative Suite.
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and adapt within a fast-paced content environment.
- A collaborative disposition and a demonstrated commitment to professional growth.
- Prior experience creating content in a higher education, nonprofit, or mission-driven setting.
- Experience supporting paid social advertising on Meta, LinkedIn, or TikTok.
Founded in 1853, Manhattan University is an independent Catholic Lasallian institution located in Riverdale, NY that embraces students of all faiths, cultures, and traditions. The mission of the University is to provide a dynamic student-centered educational experience that prepares graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings. We expect our faculty, administration, and staff to be knowledgeable about our mission and to make a positive contribution to the mission.
Manhattan University provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, marital status, partnership status, pregnancy, caregiver status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity or expression, arrest or conviction record, criminal history, credit history, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, unemployment status and salary history. Manhattan University values and celebrates diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees. All interested, qualified persons are encouraged to apply.
Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.