About UMass Amherst
The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.
About University Relations
University Relations tells the impressive story of UMass Amherst: their faculty and their global research, their students who are preparing to lead, the hundreds of thousands of alumni who make the world a better place every day. The broad portfolio of University Relations includes marketing and communications, media relations, government relations, community relations, event planning, economic development, and regional partnerships, and New England Public Media (NEPM)—the region’s premier public radio station. University Relations harnesses the resources and expertise of these distinct entities in a coordinated and strategic way to ensure that the powerful message of the University of Massachusetts Amherst reaches all its varied audiences, both internal and external.
Job Summary
The Social Media Writer/Strategist plays a lead role and exercises sound judgement in crafting content for the institution’s organic social media content that ladders up to the goals and content strategy for the institution. As social media writer, this position exercises sound editorial judgement in crafting thoughtful, well-researched content that elevates the reputation of UMass Amherst. Reporting to the Executive Director of Digital Communications, this role plays an essential part in amplifying the university’s triumphs, ventures and pivotal role in shaping lives on a national and international scale. It also provides perspective on student and faculty life at the University and supports and kindles student, faculty and alumni engagement.
The position requires excellent research and writing skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of audiences, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, public officials, alumni and donors. The Social Media Writer/Strategist must be able to work independently and as a team member, exercising sound judgment under deadline conditions. The job requires being available outside of normal business hours as needed, and participating in an on-call rotation on nights, weekends and holidays to monitor and post timely social media and web content.
Essential Functions
- Writes and shapes social media content that reflects and reinforces the brand's voice. Crafts compelling, fresh, scroll-stopping, platform specific content that elevates the university's reputation while ensuring every post aligns with our mission, values, and voice. Write, edit, and publish accurate, well researched, timely, platform-specific, and engaging content for the institution's social media platforms that optimize language, tone and message for our target audiences.
- Select appealing and appropriate images and videos to complement text.
- Collaborate closely with designers, video editors, writers, to develop cohesive and impactful content ensuring that messaging and visuals work seamlessly together in a fresh, creative way.
- Analyze trends through social media listening, monitoring and engagement. Track and report on social media insights.
- Ensure the delivery of accurate, timely information while understanding that some projects may contain confidential and sensitive information.
- Assist with community management.
- Implement social media standards, guidelines and policies on behalf of the university and individual departments. Stay abreast of trends in online communications and social media.
- Write on behalf of leadership with clarity and confidence, adapting to establishing voices, while navigating high levels of visibility, scrutiny and feedback.
Other Functions
- Demonstrates a multicultural awareness and contributes to cultivating an inclusive, diverse and respectful university community.
- Help copy edit content for news editors.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, Marketing or a related field.
- 3-5 years of experience in communications, journalism, public relations or a related field, including a background in social media content creation on variety of channels.
- Strong working knowledge of social media channels.
- Ability to handle issues of a confidential nature.
- Proven ability to write clear, engaging, and platform-specific content for social media, with a strong grasp of voice, tone, and storytelling across diverse audiences.
- Experience working with content management systems.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to accurately translate technical or scholarly information into common language; pay close attention to detail.
- Good judgment, discretion and the ability to think quickly and work under pressure. Strong time-management abilities.
- Ability to multi-task and work collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Experience with AP Style.
- Basic photography, video editing, graphic design skills.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
- Typical office environment.
Work Schedule
- Monday - Friday; 37.5 hours/week.
- Will require being available outside of normal business hours as needed, and participating in an on-call rotation on nights, weekends and holidays to post timely social media and web content.
- This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.
Salary Information
Level 27
Exempt Hiring Ranges
Special Instructions to Applicants
Please include a cover letter, resume and portfolio including three writing samples with your application. Candidates advancing in the search process may be asked to complete a brief writing assessment. This will help us evaluate core writing competencies relevant to the role.
References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.