Senior Content Strategist

|Current USA TODAY Co. Employees- Please ensure you are using our abbreviated process on the internal Careers site by logging into Dayforce through MyApps| 

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid.     To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com

The USA TODAY NETWORK is seeking a data-minded journalist with audience expertise who can help newsrooms drive audience and subscription growth, build retention by combining digital analytics and audience research with content strategy and best practices.

This position can be remote in any state except for Alaska and Hawaii, but preference will go to candidates based in the Tennessee, Carolina or Mississippi area, particularly those in Nashville. The position allows for work from home, as well as flexible in-office opportunity. This position will report to the USA TODAY Network Content Strategy/Analytics team and works primarily with the USA TODAY Co. news sites across the South region, particularly the Nashville Tennessean. The position also requires collaboration with editors across the region and company.

This is an opportunity to make a difference in USA TODAY CO.’s effort to save local news.

Responsibilities:

• Create and monitor reporting and KPI progress, including metrics for loyalty, engagement.
• Translate data points into actionable insights around coverage and how we reach audiences.
• Collaborate with journalists to develop tactics and best practices to help reporters and editors remain focused on the content our audiences seek, no matter the platform.
• Actively participate in the newsroom, monitor story selection and trends; help plan and elevate coverage decisions.
• Host trainings on best practices, data-informed decision making and use of analytics tools.
• Partner with product, consumer marketing for holistic audience growth. 

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience as a digital leader in a news operation. Prior experience in a digital, print or television news operation is required. Journalism experience is mandatory.
• 7+ years of journalism digital or leadership experience and understanding of the modern digital media landscape.
• 3-5 years of experience in analytics, with a preference for content analytics.
• Passion for helping local editors and reporters craft indispensable journalism that serves the local community.
• Aptitude for and experience validating, collecting and interpreting data.
• Pro-active leader that can manage their time and prioritization of tasks.

The right candidate deeply understands data tools and knows how to apply their analytical mindset to content. This is a hands-on data job, and digging skills are required. But it's just as important that this leader understand how insights relate to modern digital journalism, newsroom deployment and pace and audience development. 

Technical skill requirements:

• Experience using and building reports with Google Analytics and Parse.ly or similar tools.
• Advanced skill in Microsoft Excel, including creating pivot tables from complex datasets and understanding of basic Excel formulas.
• Preference will be given to journalists that have experience developing, executing and iterating on audience growth strategies.
• Proven success in collaboration and building trusting relationships.
• Experience in newsletters, social, SEO, video, sports or other specialty roles is exciting and should be outlined in your application.
• Effective communication. Must be comfortable presenting data in an accessible way to a room of inquisitive journalists.
• SQL and experience with using AI to analyze data a bonus

Help us ensure the future of journalism is strong and that our newsrooms continue to evolve to meet the needs of a growing digital audience.

Application Instructions

When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

1. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job and relevant journalism and data experience.
2. Your resume – one to two pages
3. An example or two of a project or strategy that you’re proud of and had a key hand in leading. Please include a brief description of the work, your role and any relevant results.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.  

The annualized base salary for this role will range between $68,000 and $106,250. Base compensation is reflective of many factors, including, but not limited to, the market in which one lives/works, individual education level, skills, certifications and experience. Note: variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable.