Job Summary

The Social Media Specialist position will play a pivotal role on the award-winning Purdue Brand Studio team, Purdue’s in-house brand agency, by supporting content publishing and engagement on all flagship channels (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube). This role reports to the Director of Social Media while working closely with all members of the social team – as well as their cross-functional teams – to promote channel-specific storytelling across all platforms. This position focuses on enhancing Purdue’s presence on social media, supporting university-wide strategic initiatives and fostering an environment of Boilermaker pride online. The role demands a collaborative spirit, attention to detail and cross-channel social media expertise.

The Social Media Strategist will serve as social media expert on their respective cross-functional teams, building channel-specific distribution plans, reporting on performance insights and communicating platform-specific nuances. This position will collaborate with strategists, creative team, communications team and campus partners to deliver engaging storytelling and compelling content to Purdue University’s key audiences.

This is a hybrid (remote/on-campus) position. You must live within driving distance to the West Lafayette campus.

At Purdue, you’ll join a community where unrivaled pride and unlimited potential are more than just words—they’re the foundation of how we work and grow, together. If you’re ready to help build a better world through research that matters, take the next step and join us on this path.

About Us:

When you join Purdue University, you join a community that keeps moving forward. For more than 150 years, we’ve been known for not only our groundbreaking work in STEM research, but also for our collective imagination, ingenuity and innovation. 

The award-winning Purdue Brand Studio team serves as the university’s central storytelling engine—bringing to life the bold ideas, global impact and people of Purdue. As the chief storytellers and stewards of Purdue’s brand, our team creates campaigns and content that inspire pride, elevate visibility and position the university as a leader in higher education and beyond. Follow our stories and stay connected:

X: @LifeAtPurdue
Instagram: @LifeAtPurdue
Facebook: Purdue University
LinkedIn: Purdue University
YouTube: Purdue University
TikTok: @PurdueUniversity

What We’re Looking For:

Education and Experience
Qualified candidates will need:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Publications, or related field
• Two (2) years of professional experience managing brand social media channels 

Skills:

• Experience using Sprout Social or another social media planning and listening platform  
• Excellent time management, adaptability in a fast-paced environment, and strong cross-functional communication skills
• Organizational skills and understanding of how to manage the priorities of multiple stakeholders in a complex environment  
• Willingness to work outside of “standard” business hours 
• Comfortable learning new software and platforms for social media
• Demonstrated examples of self-awareness and a can-do attitude
• Attention to detail and ability to prioritize work
• Customer service orientation with a "can-do" attitude  
• Ability to assess systems and processes for continuous improvement  

Additional Information:

• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contribution Waiting Period

Who We Are:

Purdue is a community built on collaboration, with global perspectives, Boilermaker pride and endless opportunity to live, learn and grow. Join us and contribute to our culture.

Career Stream

Compensation Information:

Professional 2

Pay Band S065

Job Code # 20003617

The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $58,000 - $61,000. The final salary offer will be determined based on various factors, including internal equity, available budget, and relevant experience. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access university