Director of Social Media, Athletics

Title: Director of Social Media

Position Summary: Duke Athletics is seeking a Director of Social Media to oversee the daily management and execution of social media content for the department. This position focuses on enhancing the Duke Athletics main accounts, supporting varsity sports, and supervising a team of five social media managers. The Director will ensure consistent, engaging content while collaborating with the Creative Services team and other departments to align with broader departmental objectives.

Essential Functions:

Reporting to the Executive Director of Creative Services, the Director of Social Media will:

• Manage and instruct a team of five employees who are responsible for the social media coverage of many of Duke Athletics’ Olympic, ensuring the creation of high-quality, innovative, and engaging content across platforms.
• Develop and execute comprehensive social media strategies for Duke Athletics’ main social media accounts and select varsity sports.
• Monitor and respond to incoming mentions, messages, and questions to foster audience engagement.
• Recruit, train, and oversee the student social media team, providing hands-on guidance and ensuring their work supports departmental objectives.
• Serve as the primary conduit for managing and executing sponsored content partnerships with Learfield, ensuring all campaigns align with Duke Athletics’ brand and social media strategy.
• Collaborate with External Affairs teammates to identify challenges, develop solutions, and streamline processes to enhance social media effectiveness and audience engagement.
• Track and analyze the performance of social media initiatives, offering recommendations to enhance strategy and impact.
• Consult with coaches and student-athletes on social media best practices, emphasizing personal branding while adhering to NCAA rules in coordination with the Compliance Office.
• Stay ahead of social media trends, tools, and best practices to ensure the Duke Athletics accounts remain cutting-edge and impactful.
• Contribute to updates for the Duke Athletics Social Media strategy guide.
• Ensure all social media content aligns with Duke Athletics’ brand standards.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in communications, media, marketing, or a related field.
• Proven experience managing high-profile social media accounts, preferably at the collegiate or professional sports level.
• Strong understanding of social media trends, analytics, and best practices.
• Exceptional organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, time management and organizational skills.

Preferred:

• 3-5 years of social media management experience, particularly with a collegiate or professional sports team.
• Demonstrated success in managing and mentoring teams, including students and entry-level professionals.
• Experience creating and managing sponsorship or branded content campaigns.
• Proficiency with video clipping tools (e.g., WSC) and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Proven ability to execute creative and engaging social media campaigns that grow audiences and enhance brand visibility.

How to Apply:

Interested Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three references online at https://hr.duke.edu/careers/apply

Duke Athletics is committed to cultivating and promoting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. Our collective success within and beyond the competitive arena depends on each community member being and feeling welcomed, respected, and valued. Through continuous education, reflection, humility, and accountability, we strive to develop leaders who embody these ideals.

Read more about Duke Athletics’ Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging by visiting this website: https://goduke.com/sports/2022/12/9/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging.aspx

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Work requires communications, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through completion of a Bachelor's degree program.

Experience

Work requires a minimum of four years direct experience managing digital and social media in a sophisticated and complex organization that has a strong external presence. Ability to both manage and create content in various formats and media.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.