Data Analytics Manager, Elections

Versant•New York, NY

35d•$130,000 - $185,000•Onsite

About The Position

Versant Media is seeking a Data Analytics Manager, Elections to help power industry-leading political coverage across MSNBC and CNBC platforms. This role will spearhead the analysis, interpretation, and distribution of polling insights and election data across television, digital, and streaming platforms while helping audiences better understand voting behavior, electoral trends, and the forces shaping U.S. elections. Reporting to the Director of Elections and working closely with editorial leadership, newsroom teams, operations, and technology partners, this individual will combine editorial judgment with advanced analytical and technical expertise to support real-time election coverage and long-form explanatory journalism. The ideal candidate has a strong background in data science, elections, polling, and statistical analysis, along with the ability to transform raw data into compelling insights and storytelling. This role will also help drive innovative uses of AI and emerging technologies in election analysis, newsroom workflows, and audience-facing insights.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Political Science, Economics, Journalism, or a related field
5+ years of experience in political data analysis, polling, elections coverage, journalism, data science, or related fields.
Strong understanding of the U.S. electoral system, election administration, polling methodologies, and voting trends, including familiarity with key states, districts, and counties in recent U.S. elections.
Background in data science, statistics, quantitative analysis, or computational journalism strongly preferred.
Experience in processing and analyzing raw datasets to generate original editorial insights and reporting.
Proficiency with analytical and visualization tools such as Python, R, SQL, Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms.
Experience with statistical modeling, survey analysis, and large-scale data interpretation preferred.
Familiarity with AI, machine learning, automation tools, or generative AI applications in media or analytics environments is a plus.
Strong editorial judgment and the ability to communicate complex findings clearly to non-technical audiences.
Excellent collaboration and communication skills with experience working across editorial and technical teams.
Ability to work effectively in high-pressure, deadline-driven news environments.
Experience supporting election-night operations or real-time news coverage preferred.
Must be willing to work in New York, NY.
Must have unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States.
Must be willing and able to work flexible hours, under tight deadline pressure, including breaking news.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Data Science, Political Science, or a related discipline
Background in election data, polling analysis, or political reporting
Experience applying AI/ML techniques to data analysis or newsroom workflows
Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, D3.js)
Experience working in a newsroom or media organization
Passion for political journalism, public opinion, democracy, and public affairs.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and ethical standards.
Innovative and solutions-oriented mindset with curiosity around emerging technologies and storytelling formats.
Ability to balance technical rigor with audience-friendly storytelling.
Calm, organized, and decisive during breaking news and election coverage.

Responsibilities

Analyze vote count, polling, voter survey, and demographic data to identify and report on trends, voting patterns, and actionable editorial insights.
Process and interpret raw election and polling datasets to produce original analysis for newsroom and audience consumption.
Spearhead the distribution of polling insights and election guidance across broadcast, streaming, and digital news platforms.
Monitor real-time election results and provide rapid analysis during breaking news and election-night coverage.
Assist in evaluating race projections, statistical models, and forecasting methodologies from external vendors and partners.
Create dashboards, data visualizations, and reporting tools that support editorial decision-making and audience engagement.
Rigorously test election systems, including graphical, data visualization, and touchscreen software.
Contribute to original explanatory journalism focused on voter behavior, turnout trends, demographic shifts, and electoral outcomes.
Help audiences understand not only how people voted, but why they voted the way they did through data-driven storytelling and analysis.
Translate complex statistical findings into clear, compelling talking points, graphics, and editorial guidance.
Collaborate with producers, reporters, and editors to integrate analytics into daily and long-form political coverage.
Support newsroom teams with polling interpretation and best practices for reporting election data responsibly and accurately.
Explore and implement innovative uses of AI and automation to enhance election analysis, newsroom workflows, data processing, and audience insights.
Partner with technical and product teams to improve newsroom tools, data accessibility, and real-time analytics capabilities.
Help identify emerging technologies and analytical approaches that strengthen elections coverage and storytelling.
Work closely with vote count and polling vendors to ensure data accuracy, integrity, and quality assurance.
Collaborate with editorial, research, operations, graphics, and engineering teams across platforms.
Assist in maintaining standards and workflows for election data ingestion, validation, and presentation.
Support future partnerships and initiatives related to elections, polling, and audience analytics.
Additional requirements as needed by the business.