About You

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience managing social media channels for a brand or organisation, including platforms such as but not limited to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.
• Strong content creation skills, with hands-on experience filming, editing and producing social-first content (video, photography and simple design) in line with brand guidelines.
• Experience creating short-form video content optimised for different platforms, with a clear understanding of what drives engagement.
• Ability to identify and respond to social media trends, cultural moments and online conversations, creating timely and relevant content.
• Experience working with contributors (e.g. students, creators or colleagues) to capture authentic content, with confidence directing people with varying levels of on-camera experience.
• Experience working with contributor permissions, including content release forms and usage rights, ensuring content is captured and shared responsibly.
• Demonstrable experience building engagement and growing audiences through organic social activity.
• Experience managing social media communities, including monitoring and responding to comments, with a strong awareness of reputational risk and duty of care to contributors.
• Experience monitoring performance and using insights to optimise content, including familiarity with social media management, scheduling and analytics tools.
• Strong understanding of social media formats and best practice.
• Excellent copywriting skills, with the ability to write clear, engaging and platform-appropriate content.
• Proficiency in creative tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, CapCut, Photoshop/Illustrator (or similar), and Canva.
• Contribute to a high-performing, inclusive culture, with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.

Desirable Requirements

• Confidence appearing on camera, including self-filming, presenting and creating live content as a visible voice to represent the OU brand.
• Experience working with paid social media teams and media agencies in an integrated way to promote content and amplify campaigns.
• Experience working in a large or complex organisation.
• Experience in the higher education sector or working with younger audiences.
• Experience of working independently, hybrid and as part of a team, taking lead responsibility for tasks.
• Experience collaborating across teams and with stakeholders of varying seniority.
• Experience working in fast-paced or reactive content environments, with the ability to develop new ideas and social-first content formats.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Work location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that you will attend the office at least once per week (Tuesdays) and with additional travel to scheduled shoots and graduation ceremonies in response to business needs.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.
If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please submit the following document(s):

• CV
• Supporting Statement (Your Supporting Statement should be no more than 1000 words and you should set out in your supporting statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role as detailed above)

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.