Join to apply for the Social Media Manager role at The Open University
Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid
Department: External Communications
Closing Date: 3 November 2025
Weekly Working Hours: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
About the Role
The Social Media Manager will generate engaging creative content for the OU’s social channels, focusing on growing social channels and video content as part of delivering greater reach plans and reaching new key audiences. They will play a key creative part in contributing to OU external communications campaigns, advise on channel engagement and campaign delivery, work alongside communications professionals encouraging ‘social ready’ content, and advise key university practitioners on social media best practice.
Key Responsibilities
* Create and share organic social media content across core university accounts, supporting communications objectives.
* Daily manage the team of student content creators, ensuring timely content plans.
* Lead generation and curation of video content for TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
* Develop high impact campaigns with colleagues across Marcomms.
* Stay updated on new social media advancements and spread best practice knowledge.
* Daily community management of core university social media channels, identifying engagement opportunities.
* Support on reputational management issues.
* Collaborate with the Senior Social Media Manager to improve output and performance using metrics.
* Plan social media activity alongside another Social Media Manager, aligning with strategy.
* Feed insights into overall Marcomms evaluation processes.
* Manage delivery of campaigns and projects to time and budget.
* Ensure social media toolkits, policies and processes remain up to date.
About You
* Proven experience managing brand or large organisation social media channels including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Bluesky and X.
* Prior experience building engagement with key audiences and developing affiliated communities.
* Extensive experience planning, creating, and implementing complex communications projects and campaigns.
* Demonstrable experience monitoring social media performance and providing analytics.
* Advanced skills in Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Canva.
* Expert knowledge of core social media platforms and trends.
* Excellent copywriting skills.
* Experience developing paid social media as part of campaigns.
* Experience working in the higher education sector.
* Independently working in hybrid and teamwork, taking lead responsibility.
* Working across an organisation with a range of people of different seniority levels.
How to Apply
Submit a CV and a supporting statement (no more than 1000 words, tailored to the role).
Support with your application
If you have any questions or need support, contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk, quoting the advert reference number.
What's in it for you?
We offer a range of benefits and flexible working policies. For details, visit our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all underrepresented groups and aim to recruit, retain and develop diverse careers. We strive to provide a supportive workplace for all through policies, services and staff networks.
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