Social Media Specialist

Position: Social Media Specialist

Department: The Office of Marketing and Communications

Report to: Director of Communications

Appointment: Full-time, 40 hours per week (12-month on campus position)

Status: Exempt

The Office of Marketing and Communications team shapes how people experience Bradley University. The marketing and communications team leads the University's flagship social media platforms and helps tell the stories, share the moments, and communicate the Bradley experience.


If you enjoy fast-moving work, creative collaboration, and digital storytelling that reaches a vast audience, this role offers the chance to help shape the voice of the University.


The Opportunity
Bradley is seeking a creative and strategic Social Media Specialist to lead the University's flagship social media presence. Reporting to the Director of Communications, this role will help shape content strategy, creative direction, and day-to-day storytelling across both established and emerging platforms.


In addition to managing accounts, this role helps find meaningful stories, creates content people want to engage with, manages our student influencer program, and captures the energy and spirit of Bradley in real time. The Social Media Specialist will work closely with photographers, videographers, designers, and communicators across campus to develop social-first content that is engaging, timely, and authentic to the University's brand and mission.


The person in this role will also help monitor trends, identify opportunities for engagement, and support communications during high-profile or sensitive moments. Success requires creativity, good judgment, adaptability, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.


What You'll Do

• Lead content strategy and creative storytelling across Bradley's flagship social media channels.
• Develop and maintain a monthly social media content calendar aligned with University events, priorities, and campaigns, while incorporating engaging day-to-day content opportunities.
• Lead and expand the Bradley Influencer program by recruiting, managing, and mentoring student influencers each semester.
• Collaborate with photographers, videographers, designers, and project managers to create engaging, platform-specific content.
• Engage with audiences across social platforms in a timely and professional manner, helping build community and strengthen Bradley's digital presence.
• Ensure social media content aligns with University brand standards and voice.
• Monitor social conversations and digital trends to identify opportunities, emerging issues, and audience insights.
• Partner with communicators across campus to surface and amplify stories that reflect the breadth and impact of the University.
• Explore new platforms, storytelling formats, and social trends to keep Bradley's digital presence innovative and engaging.
• Support reputation management and crisis communications efforts with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Provide occasional evening and weekend social media coverage for University events, emergencies, and special initiatives.

What Will Make You Successful
The ideal candidate is creative, collaborative, curious, and highly attuned to digital culture. You understand how audiences engage with content online and know how to turn ideas into compelling storytelling. You're comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, balancing creativity with sound judgment, and collaborating across teams. Most importantly, you're excited by the opportunity to help shape how Bradley connects with audiences.


Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 1-4 years of experience managing social media accounts for a brand or employer.
• Experience with a breadth of social media platforms.
• Experience in real-time social monitoring and sentiment analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

TO APPLY:

Qualified candidates MUST submit the following:

• A cover letter that addresses the qualifications of the position,
• Current resume
• Complete contact information for three professional references.

Please upload all documents at the time of initial application .

Employment with Bradley University is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a criminal background check. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.

Bradley University is a top-ranked, private university in Peoria, Illinois, offering nearly 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students' opportunities, choices, and resources to build their futures. Innovation, action, and collaboration drive Bradley students to generate ideas and create solutions that remake the world around them. Our comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate academic programs includes business, communications, education, engineering, fine arts, health sciences, liberal arts and sciences, and technology.

Bradley University offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life and disability coverages, FSA, HSA and retirement plan options. Bradley also offers significant higher education cost savings for employees and dependents through the Tuition Remission program. More information regarding our benefits is available here:

Bradley University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The administration, faculty and staff are committed to attracting qualified candidates from underrepresented groups.