Digital & Social Media Intern (Graphic Design)
Southeastern Conference – Birmingham, AL
Internship – Paid (Hourly) · Year-Round (July 2026 – June 2027)
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is a leader in collegiate athletics, dedicated to providing high-quality competition and promoting the student-athlete experience. The SEC is seeking a creative, motivated Digital & Social Media Intern with a strong foundation in graphic design to join its Communications team for a year-long, paid internship running July 2026 through June 2027. This is a rare hands-on opportunity to produce real, high-impact creative for one of the most recognized brands in collegiate athletics — from championship graphics to social campaigns that reach millions of fans. The intern will work closely alongside the full-time Digital & Social Media staff, contributing original design work and content across SEC platforms while building professional skills in a fast-paced sports media environment.
Reporting Lines
The Digital & Social Media Intern reports to the Director of Digital & Social Media and collaborates with SEC Creative Services and Communications teams.
Primary Responsibilities
Graphic Design & Visual Storytelling
- Design graphics and visual content for SEC social media channels, SECsports.com, email, and emerging platforms
- Create visual creative for major SEC moments — championships, awards, rankings, announcements, and signature events
- Produce both static and animated graphics that align with SEC brand standards
- Collaborate with Creative Services and Digital & Social teams to ensure visual consistency across all sports and platforms
- Assist in maintaining SEC digital creative templates, design systems, and visual standards
Secondary Responsibilities
Digital Strategy & Content Creation
- Collaborate with the Director of Digital & Social Media to support execution of the SEC’s digital and social media strategy.
- Create and publish content that drives fan engagement, highlights the student-athlete experience, and advances Conference initiatives.
- Contribute to ideation and creative planning for campaigns, announcements, and storytelling initiatives.
Content Management & Copywriting
- Assist in maintaining and executing the SEC content calendar across sports and platforms.
- Write clear, engaging, and brand-consistent copy for social media and digital platforms.
Video & Multimedia Support
- Opportunity to assist with shooting, editing, and producing video content for digital platforms.
- Incorporate motion graphics and animation to enhance storytelling.
Marketing & Campaign Support
- Help design promotional assets and campaign creative in collaboration with the Marketing team
Event Coverage
- Travel to selected SEC Championships, Media Days, and Conference events to capture content and produce real-time creative.
Growth & Innovation
- Stay current on design trends, sports creative, and emerging digital storytelling techniques
- Identify new ideas to elevate SEC digital creative alongside full-time staff
Qualifications
Required
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a bachelor’s degree program (graphic design, visual communications, marketing, journalism, or related field preferred)
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud — Photoshop, Illustrator, and/or After Effects
- Experience with motion graphics or animation
- A portfolio or sample work demonstrating graphic design skills and visual storytelling
- Familiarity with social media platforms, including Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok
- Ability to work in-person in Birmingham, AL, and travel to select SEC events
Preferred
- Photography or video editing experience, or a desire to learn, is a plus
- Previous work in collegiate athletics, sports media, or a creative agency environment
- Familiarity with collaboration tools such as Slack, Trello, and Google Workspace
You’ll thrive here if you…
- Have strong creative instincts and a sharp eye for visual storytelling
- Are highly organized and can juggle multiple projects under a deadline
- Communicate clearly and work well within a collaborative team
- Are comfortable working evenings, weekends, and non-traditional hours around the sports calendar
Compensation & Details
This is a paid, hourly internship. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. The internship runs from July 2026 to June 2027.
The Southeastern Conference is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment.