Graduate Intern – Social Media and Content (0258-26) – Derby, DE22 1GB
About the University
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
About the College/Department
The External Relations Department is responsible for enhancing the University of Derby's reputation and profile, driving student recruitment and supporting the University's strategic ambitions. Through specialist teams spanning marketing, communications, digital, social media, events and student recruitment, the department delivers impactful campaigns, engaging events and outstanding customer experiences that connect prospective students and stakeholders with the University, both nationally and internationally.
About the Role
This internship offers an excellent opportunity to gain 24-months of hands-on experience in social media and content creation within the University of Derby's External Relations Team. Supporting the University's marketing, recruitment, and engagement activities, you will work closely with the Social Media Manager to help deliver day-to-day social media activity across a range of channels.
You will assist with content creation, scheduling posts, monitoring engagement, and supporting the promotion of key campaigns, events, and University initiatives. The role will also involve capturing content at events and sourcing stories that showcase the student experience and wider University community.
Working within a supportive environment, you will develop practical skills in social media management, content creation, digital communications, and audience engagement, gaining valuable experience and insight into how social media supports the University's marketing and recruitment objectives.
About You
We're looking for a creative and enthusiastic graduate with a genuine interest in social media, content creation, and digital communications. You will have a good understanding of major social media platforms and enjoy creating engaging content that connects with different audiences.
You will be an excellent communicator, with strong written skills and the ability to adapt your style to suit different channels while maintaining a consistent brand tone of voice. You'll have a keen eye for detail, be highly organised, and able to manage multiple tasks effectively.
Confident using digital tools and Microsoft Office applications, you will be comfortable creating basic content such as social media posts, photography, graphics, and short-form video. You should also be curious about social media performance and interested in using engagement data and insights to improve content.
A proactive and collaborative approach is essential, as you'll be working closely with colleagues across the University and supporting content capture at events. Most importantly, you'll be eager to learn, contribute new ideas, and develop your skills within a fast-paced communications environment while demonstrating the University's Core Values and Behaviours.
Benefits
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
- Discounted onsite gym
- Cycle to Work scheme
- A flexible working environment
- A commitment to personal and professional development
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Leanne Faben, Social Media Manager via L.Faben@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk
Important Information
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Please visit our website for more information.
The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.
Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy here.
Closing Date: 26 Oct 2026
Area: Administrative Support
Salary: £27,547 to £28,381 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £32,638.15 per annum)
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