DTC Community Lead, MS NOW

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 Sr. Director, DTC Business Operations, the DTC Community Lead will build and steward the MS NOW member community as part of MS NOW’s direct-to-consumer product.

This role will work closely with editorial, product, and customer care and will lead community programming, culture, and engagement. This Community Lead will be responsible for shaping a safe, mission-aligned, and participatory community that deepens member connection to MS NOW’s journalism, talent, and values.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on builder who thrives in fast-moving environments, exercises strong judgment, and is comfortable working closely with editorial teams during live and sensitive moments. This role will help define how community functions as a core pillar of the MS NOW product.

Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain a community programming strategy that drives participation, habit, and belonging across the MS NOW platform
• Own the community programming calendar, including prompts, discussions, AMAs, live Q&As, and event-driven moments
• Work closely with editorial and production teams to align community activity with coverage priorities and live programming
• Define, maintain, and evolve community guidelines to support safe, productive political conversation
• Own moderation strategy, including vendor tooling, configuration, and escalation workflows
• Serve as the primary point of contact for community-related questions originating from product, lifecycle, editorial, legal, and standards teams
• Act as the voice of the member by synthesizing community sentiment, themes, and feedback into clear insights
• Deliver regular reporting on community health, engagement, and emerging risks
• Manage and mentor Community Specialists and help scale the team as the community grows
• Provide leadership and judgment during live, breaking, or sensitive news moments

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in community, audience engagement, or editorial-adjacent roles
• Experience working closely with editorial teams in media, news, or mission-driven organizations
• Strong judgment and comfort operating in sensitive or high-visibility environments
• Proven ability to build programs, processes, and workflows in new or evolving products
• Clear communicator who works effectively across highly matrixed teams
• Experience with community platforms, moderation tools, or audience engagement systems
• Familiarity with subscription or membership-based products 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: $150,000 - $185,000, bonus eligible.

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