Social Media Manager

Posting Number: 0603022

Recruitment Type: Open to All Applicants

Position Title: Social Media Manager

Position Type: Staff

Benefits Status: Benefits Eligible

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Hiring Range: $22.50-$25.42 per hour, plus excellent benefits.

Location Tacoma, WA 98447.

Department: Marketing and Communications Office

Posting Date: 01/09/2026

Closing Date When a sufficient number of qualified applicants have been identified.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

Availability to work flexible hours, including many evenings and weekends, is required. Some remote work may be available.

General Description: We are seeking a curious, self-motivated influencer and content producer who embraces opportunities and appreciates diverse perspectives. The ideal candidate is an early adopter with a passion for social media, who finds ways to boost the PLU brand through trending topics and has a workflow that reflects the pace of a vibrant college campus. This role calls for a big-picture understanding of the digital landscape and the creativity to develop strategies and campaigns across social media, video, and other online platforms.

This role requires a natural go-getter who can identify content opportunities without having to wait for an assignment. The ideal candidate will have an outgoing personality and enjoy meeting new people and sharing ideas. This individual should possess instincts for content that appreciate and celebrate PLU’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including the ability to build authentic relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members from a wide range of backgrounds.

This position is responsible for managing the University’s official social media presence across various platforms. The individual in the role contributes significantly to the mission of advancing the brand and achieving institutional goals. Reports to the Director of Digital Communications.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be a collaborator within Marketing and Communications, supporting departments and divisions across campus, with a focus on content that supports University goals, such as new student enrollment, student retention, brand awareness, alumni support, and fundraising.

Content Creation & Strategy (Primary Focus)* Video Production: Lead the creation of engaging, accurate, innovative, and fun content, with a high volume of video work that can be completed on tight deadlines.

• Creative Short-Form Video: Focus on producing high-quality, platform-native short-form video content for primary platforms (Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts).
• Trend Implementation: Identify, propose, and implement new social media opportunities, staying current with the latest industry trends and applying new media technology and best practices.
• Holistic Content View: Approach all projects with the understanding that content will be used across multiple channels (ie: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn) and span diverse audiences.
• Live Coverage: Attend and provide live digital coverage of University events (such as graduation, orientation, and occasional conferences & events). Availability to work flexible hours, including many evenings and weekends, is required.

Social Media & Brand Management* Channel Management: Manage official university social media channels.

• Community Engagement: Monitor online conversations about the university and respond, when appropriate, to foster a positive community.
• Brand Integrity: Monitor social media accounts to assure that university brand assets are not improperly used and generally work to protect the PLU brand.

Crisis Communication: Support institutional crisis communication by monitoring social media mentions and providing timely insights or responses.

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Team Leadership & Analytics* Student Team Management: Recruit, train, and manage a team of student workers creating and contributing social content.

• Data Analytics: Collect, review, and report social media analytics and monitoring to the Content Team and campus partners.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Short-Form Video Filming & Editing: Demonstrated expertise in creating various videos and proficiency in video editing software (e.g.,Adobe Premiere Pro, Davinci Resolve, or CapCut) and content creation platforms (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva).
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication, writing, editing, and post production skills, with strong attention to audience, voice, tone, and nuance.
• Technical Skills: Demonstrated experience with current social media channels, management software (e.g., Sprout Social, Meta Business Suite, HootSuite), and an understanding of platform trends, algorithms, and audience behavior.
• Work Style: Self-motivated and flexible, with the ability to self-manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with the ability to work across departments and levels.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree AND at least one (1) year of managing or contributing to social media for a professional brand, non-profit organization, or comparable official entity, OR
• Some college experience, providing an insider’s perspective on campus life and an understanding of the higher education environment AND three (3) years of job related experience with at least one year of managing or contributing to social media for a professional brand, non-profit organization, or comparable official entity.
• A portfolio of existing social media content is required, with an emphasis on short-form video examples.
• Finalist applicants must satisfactorily complete pre-employment background checks.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Involvement in college or university student life, clubs & organizations, athletics, and/or campus recreation.
• Familiarity with social media management and analytics tools.
• Photography, videography, illustration, and graphic design skills.

Work Conditions:

Physical Requirements:

Special Instructions to Applicants: Applicants must submit a portfolio of social media work, which may include links to accounts currently managed by the applicant, an online portfolio, a PDF portfolio, or any combination of these options.

Other Information: PLU is a small, private university where caring means more than kindness and consideration — it means a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice. Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and minoritized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities.

PLU offers an excellent benefits package including tuition remission for employees and their dependents, generous retirement plan, medical, dental, paid vacation and sick leave, major holidays off (including Christmas/New Year’s break and extra time off during the summer), and many other great university benefits. PLU is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program as a 501©(3) tax-exempt organization.

For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 or humr@plu.edu.