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VERSANT (Nasdaq: VSNT) is an industry-changing media and entertainment business and home to trusted brands that shape culture, inform audiences, and build lasting connections. It operates across four core markets: political news and opinion, business news and personal finance, golf, and sports and genre entertainment. These markets are served through a powerful portfolio of iconic and innovative brands, including CNBC, MS NOW, USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Versant's sports division USA Sports, along with complementary digital assets including Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and GolfPass.

The Opportunity

Rotten Tomatoes is seeking a highly organized, collaborative, and detail-oriented Critic Relations Specialist to help strengthen and grow the Tomatometer-approved critics and publications community. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Critics Community, you will serve as a trusted partner to critics, publications, and internal stakeholders while supporting the operational excellence, integrity, and continued evolution of the Tomatometer program.

Why This Role Matters

The credibility of Rotten Tomatoes is rooted in the strength and diversity of its critics community. In this role, you will help ensure that critics and publications receive exceptional support, application reviews are conducted consistently and thoughtfully, and community programs continue to foster transparency, representation, and trust across the entertainment industry.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a primary relationship manager for Tomatometer-approved critics and publications, delivering responsive support while building trusted partnerships across the critics community.
• Evaluate critic and publication applications by conducting research, assessing eligibility against program standards, and providing thoughtful recommendations that uphold the integrity of the Tomatometer.
• Manage day-to-day operations supporting the Critics Community, including onboarding, account maintenance, community initiatives, data reviews, documentation, and continuous process improvements.
• Partner cross-functionally with Product, Editorial, Social, and other teams to resolve issues, improve critic-facing tools, advocate for community needs, and enhance the overall critic experience.
• Develop and manage communications for the critics community, including newsletters, educational resources, onboarding materials, and outreach initiatives that promote greater awareness, representation, and engagement.
• Analyze community and operational metrics, identify trends and opportunities for improvement, and contribute recommendations that support strategic decision-making and long-term program growth.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years of experience in project management, journalism, media operations, creator relations, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of film and television criticism, journalism, digital publishing, or adjacent media industries.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated analytical thinking, research capabilities, sound judgment, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with databases, spreadsheets, project management platforms, and collaboration tools such as Airtable, Jira, Slack, Microsoft Office, or similar technologies.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and representative critics community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with critics, journalists, editors, publishers, creators, or professional media organizations.
• Familiarity with journalism ethics, editorial standards, and conflict-of-interest best practices.
• Experience evaluating applications, credentials, or professional qualifications.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive stakeholder relationships with professionalism and discretion.
• Willingness to travel several times per year, including occasional weekends.
   

Additional Requirements:

• Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week. 
• 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: $65,000-$75,000

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.

For LA County and City Residents Only: VERSANT Media will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

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.