Social Media Specialist

Social Media Specialist

The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) provides an integrated approach to safety and security across the University of Michigan. DPSS includes police, security, emergency management, and other public safety functions serving the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, with Michigan Medicine included in the division portfolio. Our work supports a safe, secure, and respectful environment for students, faculty, staff, patients, visitors, and community members.

DPSS is seeking a Social Media Specialist with working knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manage day-to-day social media content and create digital storytelling that helps the UM community understand safety information, DPSS services, preparedness resources, events, and programs.

The work starts with DPSS operations, programs, incidents, services, and subject-matter priorities. This position turns those priorities and approved information into clear, accessible, and engaging social media and multimedia content. It supports units such as Community Engagement and Emergency Management, as well as police and security operations, Clery/compliance, recruitment, and other DPSS departments, in meeting their social media and digital communication needs.

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Communications, you serve as a primary digital content producer for DPSS social channels, and you help ensure public-facing content answers a practical question: what does the community need to know or do to be safe?

Responsibilities*

• Manage the DPSS social media editorial calendar and day-to-day publishing across division social channels, with content driven by DPSS priorities, unit work, safety campaigns, events, and approved communications needs.
• Create and edit platform-specific content, including captions, graphics, photography, short-form video, reels, stories, campaign posts, alerts, and event coverage.
• Support Community Engagement, Emergency Management, and other DPSS units by translating their programs, services, preparedness information, outreach priorities, and approved messages into effective social media and multimedia content
• Plan and produce digital campaign content on topics including emergency preparedness, crime prevention, personal safety, compliance awareness, recruitment, event safety, and the visibility of DPSS services
• Support incident and high-visibility communications when assigned by adapting verified, approved information for social channels without changing operational meaning or protective-action guidance.
• Monitor comments, messages, mentions, and community questions; respond within established guidance and escalate safety, operational, legal, or reputational issues to the appropriate subject-matter owner.
• Use analytics to evaluate reach, engagement, and campaign performance and provide recommendations that improve content and channel effectiveness.
• Coordinate with DPSS subject-matter experts, UM communications partners, designers, photographers, videographers, vendors, freelancers, and interns to complete assigned projects and expand the reach of safety information.
• Maintain organized digital assets, templates, and production materials; supervise interns supporting social media and multimedia work when assigned.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in communications, digital media, journalism, public relations, marketing, graphic design, information, film/video production, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least three years of professional experience in organizational social media, multimedia production, digital communications, marketing, journalism, or closely related communications work.
• Demonstrated professional experience managing organizational social media content, including planning, creating or editing, scheduling, publishing, and monitoring content across multiple platforms.
• Demonstrated professional experience producing digital multimedia content such as photography, short-form video, graphics, reels, stories, event coverage, or campaign assets.
• Hands-on proficiency with digital content production tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, Final Cut, After Effects, or comparable platforms.
• Experience using social media publishing, scheduling, or analytics tools and using performance data to inform content decisions.
• A valid driver's license and a driving record of fewer than six points, as required for the operation of a university vehicle.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Onsite; periodic hybrid schedule may be available with unit approval

This role is primarily onsite. Some evening, weekend, or holiday work will be required to support public safety events, major campus events, emergency communications, campaigns, or urgent operational needs.

Underfill Statement

This job may be underfilled at the Social Media Intermediate level depending on experience.

Additional Information

The selected candidate must successfully complete the public safety background investigation and drug screening required by DPSS.

DPSS employees are considered Campus Security Authorities under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and must meet applicable reporting and training requirements.

Standard University of Michigan posting language regarding benefits, application deadlines, equal employment opportunity, and other employment terms may be added by Human Resources in the Careers system.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.