Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development is a top-ranked college that focuses on cross-disciplinary research, experiential learning, and community engagement. We seek to empower our students, faculty, and staff to reshape the systems that impact learning and human development, more firmly centering them in justice, diversity, and belonging. To learn more about our college, visit www.bu.edu/wheelock.

BU Wheelock is one of the 17 schools and colleges that are part of Boston University, one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world today. With more than 37,000 students from all 50 states and 145+ countries, BU is among the largest independent universities in the United States. To learn more about Boston University, visit www.bu.edu.

Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development seeks a full-time Digital Communications Specialist to join the Marketing & Communications Office. The Digital Communications Specialist is a storyteller who produces persuasive, engaging content to promote BU Wheelock’s research, faculty, graduate admissions, student life, and events, with a focus on creative and compelling content for the college’s website and social media channels. The specialist collaborates closely and proactively with team members, and contributes to maintaining and updating the BU Wheelock website. Must be an excellent writer with a strong ability to conceptualize content across channels, and to take initiative and work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, this is a full-time position and is eligible for the University’s comprehensive benefits program for staff. The Digital Communications Specialist is a hybrid position with an office on the Boston University campus.  

To receive full consideration, applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and samples of written work.

Essential Functions:

Content Development (35%)

• Serve as primary writer for BU Wheelock website, contributing news and marketing content. 
• Independently identify content ideas, monitoring news sources, social media, and other channels to stay informed and source ideas. 
• Conduct interviews with faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
• Maintain best practices for search engine optimization.
• Use analytics tools to track engagement and optimize content creation.
• Plan, build, and send monthly e-newsletter.
• Serve as primary writer for other marketing and communications materials.
• Support development of annual alumni magazine.

Social Media and Media Relations (30%)

• Working with assistant director, support strategic implementation of social media plan and content creation for BU Wheelock channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, YouTube, and Tiktok).
• Identify content ideas and serve as primary writer developing social media content.
• Post and schedule content based on channel performance, best practices, and trends.
• Monitor engagement on all channels and share relevant third-party content.
• Identify story ideas to pitch to BU publications.
• Monitor and track faculty and staff media engagement, and support responding to media inquiries.

Website Maintenance (20%)

• Contribute to maintaining and updating the BU Wheelock website, including building and publishing posts, pages, and multimedia content.
• Research, source, gather, and prepare media assets to upload. 
• Respond to faculty and staff requests for updates and corrections.

Editorial (10%)

• Copy edit and proofread content, reviewing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other errors.
• Fact-check content to ensure accuracy.

Other duties (5%)

• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or a related subject or equivalent professional experience

• 2+ years related work experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to plan, test, and create compelling written and social media content 
• Experience using analytics tools and reporting metrics
• Experience copy editing and proofreading content
• Experience pitching stories to media outlets and responding to inquiries from reporters (preferred)
• Strong ability to work independently and to initiate and successfully manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and functions
• Excellent attention to detail
• Proven experience and proficiency using a content management system (WordPress preferred)
• Familiarity with social media management platforms (Sprinklr preferred)
• HT/HTML5 knowledge and proficiency in Adobe Suite (Dreamweaver, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) and Canva preferred
• Hands on search engine optimization experience and knowledge of current SEO best practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Photography / videography skills highly desirable

Confidential Data:

All information (written, verbal, electronic, etc.) that an employee encounters while working at Boston University is considered confidential.  Employees must adhere to University and departmental policies, guidelines and procedures; and all applicable laws and regulations at all times.