Social Media Manager (Job Number: 25000749)
Communications Office
Grade 7: - £38,249 - £45,413 per annum
Fixed Term - Full Time
Contract Duration: 52 weeks
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 02-Jul-2025, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DEMONSTRATE WHEN YOU APPLY/PERSON SPECIFICATION

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.
Your application should cover the following criteria:

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
• Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise in the delivery and development of social media management and marketing within the organisation.
• Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements.
• Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
• Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.
• Experience of managing and developing a team or teams and/or line management qualification.
• Experienced in developing, managing, and delivering a comprehensive social media strategy, including developing KPIs and key objectives.
• Experienced in planning, undertaking, and reporting on social media monitoring activities.
• Experienced in planning and reporting on audience research and horizon scanning activities.
• Develop, launch, and manage actionable social media plans and contribute to campaigns.
• Experience of interpreting and analysing social media engagement data and reporting to a variety of stakeholders.
• Managing paid social media advertising
• Experience of developing, monitoring, and managing content for social media channels in a professional capacity.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/KNOWLEDGE

1. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
2. Excellent working knowledge of common social media platforms (such as Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok etc.) and their application for marketing purposes.
3. Using social media management software to monitor and manage channels (such as Hootsuite, Social Bakers, Sprout Social, Brandwatch).
4. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including Microsoft 365 applications, digital communications tools, and business systems.
5. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
6. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
7. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
8. Using both quantitative and qualitative research as a basis for strategic advice and decision making.

Durham University has an ambitious ten-year strategy (2017-2027) to achieve its objectives of becoming world-leading in research, teaching and the wider student experience. Successful implementation of the strategy is in part dependent on our approach to promoting the University in respect of:

• Prospective applicants to our programmes of study;
• Potential partners in teaching and research;
• Current and potential collaborators in business and industry;
• Current and future alumni;
• Potential employers of our graduates;
• National and international policymakers and influencers

THE ROLE AND DEPARTMENT

Durham University has an ambitious ten-year strategy (2017-2027) to achieve its objectives of becoming world-leading in research, teaching and the wider student experience. Successful implementation of the strategy is in part dependent on our approach to promoting the University in respect of:

• Prospective applicants to our programmes of study;
• Potential partners in teaching and research;
• Current and potential collaborators in business and industry;
• Current and future alumni;
• Potential employers of our graduates;
• National and international policymakers and influencers.

The over-arching ambition is to achieve a step-change in awareness and reputation of Durham University globally.
Working alongside the Web and Digital Senior Manager and Head of Marketing, the Social Media Manager will be responsible for using insight and data to develop a social media strategy which supports our objectives of targeted recruitment and enhancing reputation. The purpose of this role is to plan, manage, monitor, report on, analyse and optimise our corporate social media channels, whilst increasing brand awareness and developing positive social interactions. The successful candidate will also have to be both proactive and responsive in terms of content creation and engagement with our social media audiences, as well as developing communities of good practice across social media accounts outside of the marketing team remit.

The role will sit within the Marketing and Communications Office (Web & Digital team) and report directly to the Senior Marketing Manager (Web & Digital). The responsibility of the Marketing and Communications Office is to develop and deliver, amongst others:

• Marketing our programmes to and assisting with the recruitment of home and international students;
• Promotion of the University to and managing engagement with multiple stakeholders and influencers locally, nationally and internationally;

• Promotion of the University’s brand and proactive management of its global reputation.

  The successful candidate will work within the Marketing and Communications Office in collaboration with:

• Other colleagues within the Marketing and Communications function.

• Other colleagues within Faculties/Institutes/Professional Services and Colleges.
• Other colleagues working in overseas offices.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

SPECIFIC ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• The role is based in Durham but travel in the UK and, where appropriate, overseas, will be required to deliver projects, take part in training and to build and maintain networks.
• We operate a flexible (hybrid) working environment, with a balance between remote and office working.
• Will be required to provide support for the University’s Major Incident Response Plan and major reputational incidents during and out of office hours, including participating in a 24/7 on call rota arrangement.
• Some out of hours / evening and weekend work will be required to deliver projects and build and maintain networks.
  Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.