Associate Director, Social Media Marketing

Suffolk University seeks an enterprising and entrepreneurial Associate Director of Social Media Marketing to lead our University's social media strategy from the ground up. This role requires a dynamic and hands-on individual with a passion for building community and a genuine interest in promoting what’s happening across the University and driving the conversation.

THE ORGANIZATION

Suffolk’s Division of Communications, including its offices of Marketing & Communications and Public Affairs, consists of professional strategists, storytellers, writers, designers, and multimedia producers offering a depth of expertise in a variety of media. We tell the story of the University across a range of audiences and media, producing everything from news and feature pieces to long and short form videos, collateral and advertising, and web and social media content that build reputation and drive enrollment.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

This hands-on role requires a dynamic strategist and storyteller who thrives on community-building and is passionate about promoting the people, stories, and impact of the University. The Associate Director will audit our current presence, develop a cohesive strategy, deliver compelling content that deepens connections with key audiences, and measure success across platforms. Critically, the Associate Director will have significant expertise in using numerous social media platforms to drive engagement, and ideally, to support enrollment marketing and student recruitment efforts. They will have the ability and initiative to draw on members of the University community—especially students—to contribute to social media efforts. The successful candidate will be able to motivate and inspire people across the University to share and create authentic content that is engaging, purposeful, on-brand, measurable, and that helps to drive successful outcomes.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Digital Strategy & Integrated Content, the Associate Director collaborates closely with creative (design, editorial, photo, and video), interactive (web and social), and strategic colleagues in the Division of Communications, as well as students, alumni, faculty, and staff from all three schools and across the University to blend high-level storytelling across owned social channels with hands-on execution.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy Development & Leadership

• Conduct a comprehensive audit of existing social media channels across the University; identify underperforming accounts and streamline our social media presence.
• Develop and execute a unified social media strategy that drives engagement, supports institutional goals, and amplifies the University’s story.

• Collaborate closely with the communications division, admission teams, and other internal stakeholders across departments to integrate social media into larger brand, enrollment, and reputation marketing and engagement strategies.

• Stay ahead of emerging trends, platform innovations, and audience behaviors to ensure our strategy is fresh, relevant, and competitive.

Content Creation & Campaign Execution

• Meet regularly with social media creators across the University to plan content and share ideas.

• Lead the creative development of platform-specific, social-first content that reflects the university’s voice, values, and priorities.
• Manage and maintain a strategic, month-to-month content calendar that balances daily storytelling with major campaigns and marketing moments.
• Develop organic social campaigns in collaboration with admission teams, advancement, the schools, and other units ensuring alignment with broader marketing efforts.
• Craft strategic storytelling that resonates with prospective students, alumni, parents, and employers to elevate the university’s visibility and reputation.

Community Engagement

• Cultivate and engage vibrant online communities, encouraging meaningful dialogue and amplifying the voices of students, alumni, and faculty.
• Create interactive and immersive social media experiences that inspire pride, participation, and sharing.
• Engage students and influencers to act as brand ambassadors and extend the university’s reach in authentic, student-centered ways.
• Partner with department leads to elevate program- or event-specific initiatives through social.
• Regularly attend and promote campus events to capture and share real-time moments and build connection.

Platform Oversight & Innovation

• Lead platform strategy and optimization for channels such as Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other emerging social networks.
• Implement and maintain a social media management platform for scheduling, listening, engagement, and performance reporting.
• Drive a YouTube strategy that results in greater awareness of the University, its faculty expertise, and its academic excellence through the sharing of video.
• Draft and enforce a university-wide social media policy to ensure best practices and brand integrity across institutional accounts.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, testing, and innovation in content formats, platform use, and audience engagement tactics.

Performance Measurement & Optimization

• Establish and analyze performance metrics, leveraging data and insights to inform content planning and campaign refinement.
• Oversee monthly performance reporting, competitive benchmarking, and audience analytics to continuously improve engagement and reach.
• Set measurable goals (KPIs) based on campaign objectives and industry benchmarks to demonstrate value and return on investment.
• Research evolving trends and platforms to guide strategy and stay ahead of the curve.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 5–7 years proven experience in social media marketing; working with higher education portfolios and educational environments is a plus
• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Excellent storytelling and content creation abilities
• Proficiency in using social media platforms and management tools
• Ability to develop and execute strategic marketing campaigns
• Strong understanding of community building and engagement strategies
• Innovative mindset with a focus on continuous improvement