Senior Content Researcher Jobs

Departmental Summary:

Stats & Info produces world-class data, insights and storytelling to ensure sports fans trust ESPN for depth and perspective.

Position Summary:

Based in Bristol, CT, a Senior Content Researcher will use broad and deep sports knowledge to ensure the accuracy of live news-and-information for studio, event and digital coverage and/or ESPN’s BottomLine. Responsibilities will include researching original content for full-screen graphics, anchor lead-ins and original pieces, as well as creating and dispersing information to other areas of ESPN, such as Studio Production, Event Production, ESPN Audio, all digital platforms and ESPN International. BottomLine work requires news judgment, broad sports knowledge and, a high comfort level with giving and receiving feedback.

The Senior Researcher will be a leader in the department and across Stats & Information in terms of content, mentoring, recognizing and suggesting solutions for long-term issues, and generating ideas related to the future of the department. This person will consider the broader ESPN-wide perspective and will demonstrate leadership competencies in leading themselves and colleagues.

The Senior Researcher will think globally about content, from planning and projects to shows across all ESPN platforms – including notably ESPN’s BottomLine.

Responsibilities:

• Mentors Researchers and demonstrates leadership capabilities, including overseeing the work of colleagues. Assignments will include offering feedback in the moment and in reviewing content produced by others.
• Approaches job from a larger ESPN-wide perspective and takes into account various company initiatives and priorities
• Writes anchor lead-ins and original pieces
• Researches original content for full-screen graphics
• Takes a proactive approach to working with managers to address issues and offer suggestions on solving problems.
• Creates and disperses information to other areas of ESPN, such as Studio Production, Event Production, ESPN Audio, all digital platforms and ESPN International.
• Flexes storytelling muscles by developing interesting segments, and help your Stats & Information Group team members flesh out their own ideas;
• Night, weekend and holiday work will be required.

Qualifications:

• Expert-level sports knowledge across multiple sports including knowledge of analytic metrics and trends
• Must have demonstrated the ability to do all the work required of a Researcher at an elite level.
• Must be able to identify appropriate statistical tools, advanced statistics to support storylines across all platforms.
• Deep and broad knowledge across multiple sports.
• Awareness of how the use of advanced metrics affects the way fans assess performance across sports
• Meticulous attention to detail in striving for 100 percent accuracy
• A self-starter, able to manage and prioritize working time on the fly and adapt to rapidly changing work conditions.
• Demonstrated ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• The ability to provide full availability for this position which will include nights, weekends and holidays.
• Strong news/content judgment
• Elite writing and grammar skills. Must have demonstrated ability to research and to write air-ready scripts and edit and improve anchors’ scripts or put content on BottomLine and lead breaking news scenarios.
• Demonstrated ability to follow all company policies (including social media) and to adhere to department guidelines including but not limited to filing weekly shift reports

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will have 3+ years’ experience working with statistics, covering sports, or analyzing sports events, news and issues.
• College degree preferred.
• Fluency in reading, speaking and writing Spanish preferred.

Required Education:

• High School diploma or equivalent

Preferred Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Statistics, Business, or a related field