This position is a leave coverage and has a term length of one year from the hire date.

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person - based at Enterprise Square, with North Campus and others as needed.

About External Relations

The External Relations portfolio brings to light the value that the U of A provides to our community and to society as a whole. Our Communications and Marketing team shines a light on the stories of our students, researchers, faculty and staff, connecting the university with partners, industry, alumni, funders, and the broader public. By leading the strategy for both internal and external initiatives, we build reputation, foster pride, and advance our mission of uplifting the whole people.

Position Summary

The Social Media Team Lead helps shape the voice of one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities. In this leadership role, you will oversee a talented and agile team, guide institution-wide strategy, and bring compelling stories to life for audiences across Alberta and beyond. You’ll collaborate with partners across the university, lead high-impact campaigns, and support reputation-building initiatives. This is an opportunity for an experienced professional to combine strategic thinking, people leadership, and creative storytelling to drive meaningful engagement and showcase the impact of the University’s research, people, and programs.

• Lead the development and execution of the University’s institutional social media strategy, ensuring alignment with brand, communications, and engagement objectives.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management for the social media team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
• Oversee institutional social media channels, including content planning, community engagement, account governance, and performance measurement.
• Develop and implement social media campaigns, storytelling initiatives, and strategic communications plans in support of organizational strategies and priorities.
• Serve as a key advisor on social media issues management and crisis communications, providing guidance and support during emerging situations.
• Manage relationships with external partners and oversee social media budgets, tools, processes, and reporting to support institutional goals.

• Bachelor’s Degree in marketing, communication, business or related field
• 10+ years of experience growing and managing cross-platform social media programs with a large follower and subscriber base, including content strategy and design, strategic audience engagement and growth, budget management, etc.
• 5+ years in a leadership role within a social team. Working for a large, complex organization is an asset.
• Strong understanding of social media as a paid advertising platform.
• Strong expertise in a range of social media platforms and channels, with a proven history of adapting tactics, metrics, innovation and outcomes in line with social trends and platform-specific nuances.
• Excellent understanding of social media KPIs, including how to prioritize them and communicate them clearly with key partners.
• Strong understanding of and experience in how social media is used to provide customer service and handle issues on a large and targeted scale.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral and the ability to work with all levels of staff and management
• Consistent record of staying on top of marketing trends and developing high-impact campaigns
• Experience using social media management tools (Hootsuite, Sprinklr, Sprout Social, etc.) would be considered an asset
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver audience-focused content and storytelling that effectively communicates key messages, builds engagement, and connects with diverse audiences across multiple channels.

Application Instructions

Click "Apply Now" to submit your cover letter and resume in ONE PDF document.

This position is excluded from the bargaining unit.

In accordance with the Handbook of Employment for Management and Professional Staff (Excluded), this position has a comprehensive benefits package and an annual salary which will be commensurate with qualifications.