Senior Social Media Strategist

OverviewDescription:About us:University of Toronto Communications (UTC) is focused on promoting, enhancing and protecting the U of T’s reputation through broader stakeholder engagement with the University’s mission, both internally and externally. Our award-winning team consists of best-in-class experts in media relations, news and magazine writing, video production, social media, digital design and development, communications planning and brand marketing.Your opportunityAre you a creative, collaborative, experienced social media professional passionate about digital content strategy and storytelling? As Senior Social Media Strategist, you’ll design forward-thinking strategies and digital experiences that advance U of T’s institutional priorities and shape how the University connects with its diverse audiences across social media.Reporting to the Digital Engagement Manager, the Senior Social Media Strategist will translate content, audience and platform insights into actionable strategic frameworks and recommendations that strengthen U of T’s social media presence (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, Threads, YouTube and Bluesky). This includes guiding the tactical roll out of campaigns, helping establish annual benchmarks, monitoring and analyzing social media metrics, generating detailed performance reports and identifying emerging social media opportunities.This is a highly cross-functional role, working closely with UTC’s news, video, advancement and brand marketing teams. With their strong strategic mindset, the incumbent will advise other members of UTC on how best to promote their content on social media, and on how social media – using organic and paid tactics – can contribute to communications campaigns. The Senior Social Media Strategist also liaises with communications staff across the University to facilitate collaboration and provides counsel on social media approaches, brand alignment and quality of content. The incumbent acts as a key resource on social media for the leadership group at UTC and for colleagues across the University, advising on best practices, and strategies for engaging with target audiences via social media.As a member of UTC’s Social Media team, the Senior Social Media Strategist will leverage their strong skill sets in content writing and creation to produce best-in-class outputs for social media. The incumbent will also support social media listening activities and issues tracking.ResponsibilitiesDeveloping and implementing social media operational procedures and best practices that support strategic objectivesDeveloping and implementing content marketing plans and best practices that support strategic objectivesAdvising on paid and organic strategies to maximize social media presence and channel growthLiaising with colleagues across the University to ensure consistent, high-quality and integrated messaging shared to social mediaAdvising on content and marketing ideas that support brand communicationsImplementing social media campaigns that are part of larger UTC or university initiatives, including content recommendations and tactical executionCreating and maintaining presence across UTC’s social media channels, ensuring alignment with platform strategyWriting and editing digital communications, including snappy, short- and long-form social media copyGenerating creative pre-production social media content ideas and concepts aligned with the department content strategyConducting photography and/or video shoots for social mediaDetermining key performance indicators to measure success of social media channels and campaignsAnalyzing social media performance data to ensure effectiveness and ongoing ROI for marketing efforts and initiatives to support strategic objectives and platform successGenerating detailed social media reports and making evidence-based recommendations to support strategic decision-makingAdvising on social media trends and platforms to enhance social media strategies and keep pace with the evolving digital landscapeBuilding and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance in the coordination of social media communications activitiesTracking and monitoring digital communications activities, including performing social media listening and monitoring emerging issues using tools such as Meltwater and Sprout SocialDeveloping project schedules including milestones, critical path, timelines, deliverables and reporting; implementing publishing workflow improvements for social media projectsResearching and evaluating emerging social media platforms and partnerships to drive innovation and support audience development tacticsDelivering presentations to promote programs, opportunities, and/or initiatives, including leading community of practice workshopsServing as a resource on specific issues to a group of specialists in the divisions on social media platforms and strategyEssential qualificationsEducation & Certification: Bachelor’s Degree in communications, digital media, marketing or a related field.Experience: You must be a platform-native thinker with minimum five (5) years’ experience, preferably in a higher education or public sector context, leading:The development of multi-channel social media strategies (organic and paid), content briefs and tactical plans within a large organizationCreative digital storytelling – both visual and written – to produce compelling stories that engage audiencesThe analysis and synthesis of social media data to make insights-based recommendations that inform strategyComplex social media projects from end-to-endCore SkillsDeep expertise in developing social media strategies and campaigns that drive resultsExpert knowledge of social media platforms, channel roles, trends and how audiences navigate across digital ecosystemsHighly organized with a demonstrated ability to multitask and deliver on time to meet deadlinesMust possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to organize complex information into effective strategies and persuasive presentationsMust have ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with all levels of staff, with meticulous attention to detail and accuracyMust have ability to balance creativity with accuracy while exercising good content judgementHigh proficiency with social media management, listening and reporting tools such as Sprout Social and MeltwaterTo be successful in this role, you will beCreativeAnalyticalCollaborativeOrganizedHighly MotivatedCommunicativeEmpatheticClosing Date: 02/17/2026, 11:59PM ETEmployee Group: USWAppointment Type: Budget - ContinuingSchedule: Full-TimePay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:USW Pay Band 13 -- $86,340. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $110,415. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.Job Category: Communication/Media/Public RelationsRecruiter: Blythe CampbellLived Experience StatementCandidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position. #J-18808-Ljbffr