Public Communications Specialist

Work experience or education that is NOT included on the application will NOT be considered when screening your application. Please include ALL work experience and education on the application to ensure that you receive the appropriate credit toward qualification for this position.

Position Details
Classification Title: Public Communications Specialist

Working Title: Director of Social & Digital Media

Location: Boone, North Carolina

Job Category: 5

Position Number: 091031

Not Eligible for Visa Sponsorship: VISA sponsorship is not available for this position. All candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S.

Department: Special Projects-120010

Primary Purpose Of Position
The Director of Social and Digital Media is responsible for developing and implementing social media strategies for App State Athletics’ official accounts. Reporting to the Senior Associate AD for Strategic Communications, the Director works with the department’s external units and sports teams to increase brand visibility, drive engagement and generate revenue using a consistent, compelling voice. The Director develops content, manages campaigns and analyzes performance data across App State Athletics’ social media channels, and serves as the primary strategic communications contact for men’s basketball and other assigned sports, as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
Education/Experience: Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Note: This is a generalized representation of positions in this class and is not intended to reflect essential functions per ADA. Examples of competencies are typical of the majority of positions but may not be applicable to all positions.

Essential Job Functions

Manage Official Social Platforms – Serve as the primary manager of App State Athletics’ official social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube and emerging platforms)

Develop Department-Wide Strategy – Create and execute comprehensive, data-driven social media strategies that elevate the App State Athletics brand and support departmental goals

Align Sport-Specific Messaging – Work with individual sport programs and internal units to ensure consistent, coordinated and brand-aligned messaging across all digital channels

Monitor Trends and Adapt – Track platform trends, audience behavior and industry best practices to proactively adjust content strategy

Lead Digital Campaigns – Plan and execute multi-platform campaigns designed to grow brand awareness, increase engagement and support revenue-generating initiatives

Use Analytics for Decisions – Analyze performance metrics and produce regular reports to inform content decisions, optimize strategy, and support ticketing, sponsorship and marketing objectives

Engage Online Communities – Monitor, respond to, and engage with followers across platforms to foster a positive and active digital community

Coordinate Cross-Department Content – Collaborate with marketing, sponsorships, ticketing, broadcast operations, development and other units to ensure cohesive and strategic content flow

Produce High-Impact Content – Utilize video, photo and graphic editing tools to create compelling digital content that adheres to brand standards and resonates with target audiences

Oversee Student Assistants – Supervise students who will assist with social & digital media campaigns, content creation and performance metrics analyses

Support Website Operations – Assist in managing App State Athletics’ official website (appstatesports.com), including multimedia integration such as videos, galleries and social embeds

Lead Non-Sport Digital Comms – Play a key role in digital communication efforts for non-sport-specific departmental units and initiatives

Strategic Comms Contact – Act as the primary strategic communications contact for men’s basketball and other assigned sports, providing digital coverage, storytelling and media relations support

Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

The Director of Social and Digital Media is responsible for developing and implementing social media strategies for App State Athletics’ official accounts.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in an athletics setting

2+ years of experience in social media management

Excellent writing and communication skills

Understanding of social media trends, best practices, analytics, and metrics

Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite and other design and editing tools

Additional Information
Type of Position: Permanent Full-Time

Staff/Non-Faculty: Staff/Non-Faculty

Appointment Type: 1.0

Work Schedule/Hours: Varies (includes nights, weekends and travel)

Number of Hours Per Week: 40

Number of Months Per Year: 12

Mandatory Staff: No

Physical Demands: Viewing a computer terminal and sitting for extended periods

Salary: Anticipated Hiring Range $45,000-$50,000 (Commensurate with experience). Pay will be commensurate with applicant competencies, budget, equity and market considerations.

Posting Dates
Posting Date: 06/24/2026

Closing Date: 07/03/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants: Please attach required documents: Cover Letter, Current Resume. List a minimum of 3 professional references in the application or attach a List of References with Contact Information.

Contact & Application
Search Chair Name: Joey Jones

Search Chair Email: jonesj7@appstate.edu

Posting Number: 201502994P

Posting Details Information and related administrative text not directly describing duties, requirements, or benefits have been removed for clarity and compliance with formatting standards.

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