American City Business Journals (ACBJ) is hiring an Associate Research Director to lead the development of our data infrastructure. You will be responsible for building and maintaining the pipelines and tools that power data-driven journalism across our network.

What You'll Do

Identify and evaluate large federal and state databases for integration into ACBJ’s data infrastructure.
Develop and maintain data pipelines for importing, cleaning, and storing datasets optimized for newsroom use.
Transition legacy datasets into structured, searchable formats.
Create tools and documentation for localizing national datasets for our local markets.
Provide training and support on data sourcing and ethical usage to the newsroom.
Establish and enforce standards for data quality, sourcing transparency, and version control.
Align data operations with strategic editorial goals and publishing calendar.
Contribute to the development of AI-assisted tools and automation strategies.

What We're Looking For

Proven ability to identify, evaluate, and integrate complex public datasets.
Significant experience designing and building robust data pipelines.
Strong background in data cleaning, transformation, and structuring for end-user accessibility.
Experience creating tools and documentation for non-technical users.
Ability to train and support colleagues in data sourcing and best practices.
Deep commitment to data ethics, sourcing transparency, and quality control.
Strategic mindset to align technical work with business and editorial objectives.
Experience or strong interest in contributing to AI-assisted workflows.