Social Media Specialist and Content Creator

Position Summary:

The Office of Public Affairs at Rice University seeks a creative, digitally fluent, and highly organized Social Media Specialist and Content Creator to support the university's institutional social media strategy and strengthen Rice's visibility, reputation, and engagement across digital platforms.

The Social Media Specialist and Content Creator is responsible for the day-to-day development, production, execution, and optimization of content across Rice University's primary social media channels, including Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube.

Working within a unified institutional communications and brand strategy, the Social Media Specialist and Content Creator translates university priorities into compelling, relevant, and platform-native social media content. This role requires a combination of strong editorial judgment, creative storytelling, hands-on content production, platform expertise, and analytical thinking.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applicants are required to submit a cover letter, resume, and samples of previous work.

Workplace Requirements:

Hybrid position: This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

This position is based at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and requires regular collaboration with colleagues across campus. Regular evening or weekend work is required for social media coverage, including major university events or publication deadlines.

Essential Personnel:

This position is considered essential during a campus emergency. The incumbent in this position is expected to support the campus during emergency situations and may be required to provide related essential services remotely or on-site before, during, or after a campus emergency.

Hiring Range: Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
• Two years of experience managing social media channels and developing content for an organization, brand, institution, or agency.
  • Education may not be substituted for the experience requirement.

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of major and emerging social media platforms.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize, capture, and produce engaging social media content, including short-form video, photography, graphics, and multimedia storytelling.
• Proficiency with social media management, publishing, monitoring, and analytics tools (Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Sprinklr, etc.).
• Experience with video editing applications and content creation tools (CapCut, Edits, Premiere Pro, Canva, etc.).
• Ability to interpret social media analytics, identify meaningful trends, and translate performance insights into actionable recommendations.
• Familiarity with social listening, online community management, and digital reputation monitoring.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies, including generative AI tools and their responsible application in content development, research, and workflow optimization.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask in a deadline-driven environment.
• Strong attention to detail, editorial judgment, and the ability to identify potential reputational or communications concerns.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, anticipate needs, and proactively identify opportunities.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.

Preferences:

• 4–5 years of professional experience managing social media channels and developing content for an organization, brand, institution, or agency.
• Experience using the social media monitoring and publishing tool Hootsuite.
• Experience in higher education, nonprofit organizations, or large, multifaceted consumer-facing brands.
• Experience working within established brand guidelines and communications approval processes.

Essential Functions:

Content Creation and Production

• Conceptualizes, writes, edits, and produces original social media content, including short-form video, photography, graphics, and multimedia storytelling.
• Identifies and develops opportunities for authentic, timely, and engaging content that highlights the people, programs, research, and experiences that distinguish Rice University.
• Captures on-campus content independently using available equipment and mobile production tools.
• Edits and packages content for platform-specific formats.
• Collaborates with internal creative teams, including video, photography, and graphic design, to develop and execute larger-scale social media content initiatives.

Social Media Content Strategy and Execution

• Develops and maintains the day-to-day editorial calendar that aligns content with university priorities.
• Independently identifies content opportunities and develops original ideas that support Rice's brand visibility, reputation, and engagement objectives.
• Translates institutional announcements, research, faculty expertise, student experiences, and campus activities into compelling social media storytelling.
• Adapts content, messaging, creative formats, and publishing approaches to the unique audiences, behaviors, and best practices of each platform.
• Supports the execution and ongoing refinement of Rice University's institutional social media strategy across primary university channels.

Platform Management and Community Engagement

• Monitors social media conversations and emerging issues that may affect the university's reputation.
• Prepares weekly reports for university leadership on social media activity, online conversations, and relevant trends.
• Monitors comments, messages, mentions, and relevant online conversations, providing timely, accurate, and appropriate responses consistent with Rice's brand voice and communications standards.
• Identifies opportunities to engage with university audiences, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the broader community.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.