ArtCenter College of Design is searching for an experienced Social Media Manager to join our team.
The salary range for this position: $75,000.00 - 85,000.00 Exempt
Final salary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.
About ArtCenter
Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education and has had an international reputation for its rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strong ties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. ArtCenter is a private nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Every position at ArtCenter plays an important part in carrying out the cultural values, goals, strategic vision, and mission of the College. This includes upholding and cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
Reporting to the AVP, Communications and Media, the social media manager collaborates with campus partners to maintain a consistent institutional presence across social platforms while supporting governance standards, workflows, and performance optimization. The incumbent will support the strategy and execution of institutional social media operations for Marketing and Communications. The role manages the college’s primary social media channels, develops engaging audience-centered content, and supports brand visibility, recruitment, and community engagement goals.
This is a full-time in-region position. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or as defined by the department. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and can be performed hybrid with the expectation of at least 3 days in the office or required as a condition of employment. The demands of this work may include weekends or evenings. The college reserves the right to modify schedules as needed to meet the business needs with appropriate notice.
Social Media Management and Content Creation — 60%
- Develop and manage day-to-day social media content planning and calendar, publishing, scheduling, monitoring, and community engagement across institutional social media channels
- Prioritize and execute social media strategies aligned with institutional marketing, enrollment, and engagement goals
- Serve as a strategic partner to Admissions, Advancement, academic divisions, student affairs and other campus stakeholders by guiding social media strategies in support of recruitment objectives, key initiatives/events, and engagement opportunities; translating needs into timely content
- Create, curate, and publish written, graphic, photographic, and video content optimized for platform audiences
- Maintain a consistent institutional brand voice and visual identity across social platforms
- Coordinate social media coverage for campus events, exhibitions, academic initiatives, student showcases, and institutional announcements
- Develop content that showcases ArtCenter, student work, faculty expertise, staff and executive leadership accomplishments, alumni achievements, exhibitions, events and industry partnerships while supporting enrollment, engagement and institutional visibility goals.
- Collaborate with marketing, admissions, academic departments, student affairs, advancement, and other campus partners to support integrated campaigns and storytelling efforts
- Monitor social media trends, audience behavior, and emerging platforms to identify opportunities for engagement and growth
- Monitor institutional mentions, audience sentiment/chatter, and emerging issues across social platforms
- Manage student and freelance/contract content creators
Governance, Collaboration and Operations — 25%
- Support institutional social media governance, including account standards, workflows, and operational guidelines
- Maintain alignment with institutional branding, accessibility, and digital communication standards
- Conduct periodic reviews of affiliated social media accounts to support consistency and best practices
- Provide guidance and training to campus partners managing social media channels
- Support workflow coordination, content planning, and publishing schedules across platforms
- Assist with social media risk management and escalation procedures related to reputation or crisis communications
Analytics and Optimization — 10%
- Track, analyze, and report on social media performance metrics, audience growth, engagement trends, and campaign effectiveness
- Use performance insights to support content optimization and strategic recommendations
- Maintain reporting dashboards and summaries for leadership and campus stakeholders
Non-Essential Duties — 5%
- Maintain memberships and active involvement in applicable professional organizations
- Serve on educational or college-wide committees, work groups, task forces and/or councils
- Enforce and follow ArtCenter policies, including safety protocols and implement policies as needed for the role,
- Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, digital media, or related field from an accredited college or university or any equivalent combination of training and experience
- 4 or more years of professional experience in social media management, digital communications, or content marketing
- Experience managing organizational social media channels and content strategy across major platforms
- Strong writing, storytelling, and visual communication skills with experience pitching ideas, creating multimedia content for social media platforms
- Understanding of creative industries, visual storytelling, and artist-centered content development
- Familiarity with social media management, scheduling, and analytics tools
- Knowledge of social media best practices, audience engagement strategies, accessibility standards, and digital communication trends
- Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Strong collaboration and relationship building skills across cross-functional teams
- Ability to maintain brand standards while identifying opportunities for innovation and process improvement
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with project management tools preferred
- Ability to handle confidential information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of ArtCenter business
- Demonstrated experience in cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment into workplace practices within ArtCenter’s diverse communities of faculty, staff, students and visitors
- Ability to enforce, follow, and implement policies and procedures
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in higher education, arts and culture, nonprofit, or creative organizations
- Experience supporting enrollment marketing or student recruitment communications
- Experience with photography, videography, and short-form video content creation
- Familiarity with reputation management and crisis communication practices
- Exposure to paid social campaigns and performance reporting
Physical Demands and Working Environment
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
This is a full-time in-region position. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or as defined by the department. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and can be performed hybrid with the expectation of at least 3 days in the office or required as a condition of employment. The demands of this work may include weekends or evenings. The college reserves the right to modify schedules as needed to meet the business needs with appropriate notice.
Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; extended periods of time viewing computer monitor; interactions with other individuals. Due to the nature of the work environment, there is regular exposure to fumes, chemicals, dust and noise.
Physical: The position is generally performed in an office setting and Events. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting or attend/work events; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to 20 pounds); to operate modern office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Regular and consistent attendance is required for most positions.
Vision: Must be able to have the visual capacity to perform activities such as preparing and reading reports, viewing a computer terminal and other normal office work with or without correction.
Hearing: Must be able to communicate effectively in the course of normal office communication or exchange ideas with or without correction
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this job; they do not purport to describe all functions. Employees may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions may be changed from time to time as necessary.
Diversity Statement
ArtCenter is fully committed to fostering a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging not only in vision but in practice. Our path forward is predicated on our belief that multiple points of view, life experiences, ethnicities, cultures and belief systems are essential to academic and creative excellence. We strive to learn more about difference while respecting the rich diversity in our world, attending to important questions about racial injustice and decolonizing our curriculum. Our campus environment must be vigilant in supporting the full participation of students, faculty, and staff of every race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, socioeconomic status and political viewpoint.
Equal Opportunity Employer
ArtCenter is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants on the basis of race (including hair texture and protective hairstyle), color, religion (includes religious dress and grooming practices), sex/gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and/or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (genetic characteristics, cancer, or a record or history of cancer), military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, and genetic characteristics), genetic information, request for family care or medical leave, age (over 40), criminal background (Fair Chance Act), reproductive health decision-making, off-duty and off-premises cannabis use, or any other actual or perceived characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity is extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including without limitation, recruitment, hiring, upgrading, learning and professional development, promotion, compensation, benefits, leave of absence, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall and termination. This commitment applies to all persons involved in the operations of ArtCenter and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of ArtCenter. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation for a disability may contact the Office of Employee Experience and Engagement at (626) 396-2470.
Applicant Rights (Prior Cannabis Use)
ArtCenter will not request information from an applicant relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis. ArtCenter will not use information obtained from a criminal history about an applicant or employee’s prior cannabis use, unless ArtCenter is permitted to consider that information under applicable law.
Employment At-Will
All employment with ArtCenter is for an unspecified term and is “at-will.” Employees are free to resign at any time, with or without reason, and with or without prior notice. Similarly, ArtCenter has the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. This “at-will” employment, which includes the College’s right to transfer, discipline, demote, or change the conditions of employment with or without cause and with or without prior notice, cannot be modified, amended or waived by any oral or implied agreement, and may be modified or altered only by an express individualized written employment agreement signed by both the employee and the College president
ArtCenter Employees have a Mandatory Duty to Report
All employees who know or have reason to know of allegations or acts that violate ArtCenter’s Title IX Policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking shall promptly inform the , Title IX Coordinator or designee, or the Associate Dean of Students or designee. Faculty, who have a mandatory duty to report, are required to disclose all information including the names of the parties, even where the person has requested their name remain confidential.
Pursuant to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), all employees who know of or have reason to suspect child abuse or neglect involving alleged victims under age 18 shall promptly inform local law enforcement or the county welfare department.
