Communications Specialist I, Social Media

Agency

Department

About Texas A&M AgriLife

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Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

• Texas A&M AgriLife Research

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University

• Texas A&M Forest Service

• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world!

Position Information

The Communications Specialist I plays a key role supporting Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communication’s social media strategy, bridging creative and communications efforts by planning, producing and publishing content that strengthens the visibility and reputation of Texas A&M AgriLife through engaging, timely and brand-aligned social media content. This position, reporting to the social media coordinator, assists with daily social media operations, creates content from visual media and editorial content and manages assigned unit channels.

Responsibilities:
 

Brand Social Media Channel Support
• Support the social media coordinator in the day-to-day management of AgriLife’s main social media accounts.
• Write engaging, platform-optimized captions and suggest visuals that reflect the voice, tone and priorities of the brand.
• Share and repurpose content from key websites including AgriLife Today, identifying opportunities to extend the reach of research, Extension and teaching-related stories.
• Assist with real-time content capture, posting and community management during events or crisis communications moments.

Short-Form Social Storytelling
• Act as a key liaison between the Visual Media and Social Media teams to translate raw photo and video assets into engaging social content (e.g., Reels, Shorts, Stories).
• Edit vertical-format videos and images into social-first pieces, incorporating captions and calls to action.
• Repurpose editorial headlines, quotes and visuals into short-form formats that support storytelling goals and drive engagement.
• Work alongside the team to test, iterate and refine content strategies based on performance data and emerging trends.

Unit-Level Social Media Management
• Manage and maintain social media accounts for assigned AgriLife units, ensuring posts reflect unit goals while staying aligned with voice and brand standards.
• Plan content calendars around key academic, research and outreach milestones.
• Participate in unit marketing or leadership meetings to surface upcoming priorities.
• Engage with followers by moderating comments, answering questions and escalating sensitive issues when necessary.

Analytics & Reporting
• Assist in gathering and interpreting social media metrics from platforms like Sprout Social and native dashboards.
• Suggest adjustments to posting cadence, content types or formats based on engagement performance.

Student Staff Supervision
• Provide feedback and mentorship to student social media assistants and interns.
• Ensure that student-created content meets brand standards and contributes meaningfully to team priorities.
• Track and communicate weekly assignments and learning goals.

Other Duties as Assigned

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• No prior experience required.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications.

• Knowledge of project management.

• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

• Ability to present information clearly and concisely.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Pay Grade 8. Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate’s qualifications.

Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexible work schedules and remote work options may be available for this position, depending on the nature of the role and employee eligibility, in accordance with AgriLife Alternate Work Location Procedures.

Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.

In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums 

• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays  

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month

• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas  

• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

Applicant Instructions

A cover letter and resumé are requested. You may upload these documents on the application under CV/Resume.  

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.