DTC Community Specialist, MS NOW

Job description

Company Description VERSANT is a leading force in news, sports and entertainment - home to iconic and trusted brands that inspire, inform, and delight audiences. Our unique combination of content, technology and services enriches the cultural fabric, igniting passions, sparking conversations, and connecting people to what they love most. As an independent, publicly traded company, VERSANT brings together powerhouse cable networks - including USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel - with dynamic digital and direct-to-consumer brands such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. Together, these businesses reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across every screen and service. VERSANT is an industry-changing media company fueled by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. With a strong foundation and a forward-looking vision, VERSANT empowers creativity, embraces change, and drives connection in an ever-evolving world. Job Description Reporting to the Director of Community, the Community Specialist will oversee community engagement strategy and day-to-day operations across the MS NOW platform. This role requires substantial independent judgment and discretion in managing member interactions, interpreting and applying community standards, and shaping the overall member experience. The Community Specialist will play a key role in establishing the tone, culture, and engagement approach for the MS NOW membership community. This position serves as a strategic partner across editorial, audience, and product functions by identifying engagement trends, informing community best practices, and helping guide platform and programming decisions. The Community Specialist will independently manage community initiatives, oversee moderation workflows, support live programming, and recommend operational improvements that strengthen member engagement and community health. The ideal candidate is thoughtful, highly organized, and exercises strong judgment when engaging with members during live news cycles and politically sensitive conversations. This role requires the ability to assess nuanced situations, make sound decisions independently, and determine when escalation or cross-functional coordination is appropriate. Responsibilities Oversee daily community engagement strategy across comments, discussions, and member groups to foster a constructive and inclusive environment Independently manage member interactions, facilitate thoughtful discussion, and maintain a consistent community voice aligned with brand standards Develop and execute community programming initiatives, including prompts, discussions, AMAs, watch events, and live engagement experiences Lead real-time community engagement efforts during major news events and high-visibility moments, exercising discretion in sensitive situations Interpret and apply community guidelines to complex or ambiguous moderation issues, making independent decisions and escalating matters when appropriate Manage moderation workflows and partner with third-party vendors to optimize tools, processes, and enforcement standards Identify emerging community trends, sentiment patterns, and engagement opportunities, and provide recommendations to editorial, product, and audience teams Develop strategies to identify, cultivate, and retain highly engaged members and community advocates Analyze engagement metrics and prepare summaries, insights, and recommendations for the Director of Community and broader DTC leadership Recommend and implement improvements to community operations, workflows, onboarding materials, and governance practices Collaborate cross-functionally with editorial, product, audience, and customer support teams to support broader membership and engagement goals Qualifications 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in community management, audience engagement, moderation strategy, digital media, or related fields Demonstrated ability to exercise sound independent judgment and discretion in fast-moving or sensitive situations Strong written communication skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences in a thoughtful, professional, and brand-aligned manner Experience developing and managing community engagement initiatives, live programming, or operational workflows within a digital or membership-based environment Ability to analyze engagement trends, synthesize community feedback, and provide actionable recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders and leadership Proven ability to operate independently, manage competing priorities, and adapt in a dynamic, real-time news environment Experience interpreting and applying community guidelines, policies, or moderation standards in nuanced situations Desired Qualifications: Experience with community platforms, moderation systems, analytics tools, or audience engagement technologies preferred Interest in news, media, politics, and civic engagement strongly preferred Additional Job Requirements: Must be willing to work in New York, NY. Must have unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States. This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Salary Range: $90,000 - $115,000 Additional Information As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to candidateaccessibility@versantmedia.com . VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc. VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.