Lead Data Analyst

The Philadelphia Inquirer; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Philadelphia Inquirer is seeking a Lead Data Analyst to transform data usage across teams, enhancing digital subscriptions and audience engagement. This role involves utilizing SQL and AI-enabled analytics to identify retention opportunities and develop actionable audience segments.

Candidates should have 5+ years in analytics, proficiency in SQL, and experience with tools like Google Analytics and Python. The ideal candidate will bring strong communication skills and a collaborative approach in a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in product analytics or business intelligence.
• Proficient in SQL for large dataset analysis.
• Strong background in A/B testing methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Analyze user engagement and retention patterns using data.
• Develop audience segments for targeted marketing.
• Build AI-enabled self-service analytics workflows.

Skills

SQL

Statistical analysis

Audience segmentation

Communication skills

Experience with A/B testing

Tools

BigQuery

dbt

Python or R

Google Analytics

Mixpanel

Job description

We are seeking an analytically rigorous and business-oriented Lead Data Analyst to help transform how our newsroom, product, marketing, and advertising teams use data to grow digital subscriptions and audience engagement. This role combines SQL, statistical analysis, audience segmentation, and AI‑enabled analytics to uncover retention and conversion opportunities, develop actionable audience segments for testing and personalization, and enable stakeholders to explore trusted data through conversational and self‑service analytics tools built on BigQuery, dbt, and modern AI workflows.

What You’ll Do

• Analyze user engagement and retention patterns using behavioral data in BigQuery, applying lightweight statistical models (e.g., logistic regression, survival analysis) to identify drivers of conversion, churn risk, and lifetime value.
• Develop and operationalize audience segments using clustering and propensity modeling (e.g., k‑means, logistic regression) within dbt/SQL workflows, enabling targeted activation and personalization across marketing and product channels.
• Help business users effectively explore data using AI tools – translate stakeholder questions into structured data models and AI‑ready datasets, ensuring alignment with standardized metrics and business logic.
• Build and maintain AI‑enabled self‑service analytics workflows (e.g., NLQ in Hex using BigQuery/dbt models) that allow stakeholders to answer business questions without using SQL.
• Develop and document curated datasets and semantic definitions that improve the accuracy and usability of AI‑generated insights.
• Iterate on data models and documentation based on stakeholder usage patterns and feedback from AI‑assisted analysis.
• Consult with Product Managers on digital product performance measurement.
• Partner with engineering to ensure AI tools are properly connected to governed data sources (e.g., dbt models in BigQuery), improving trust and adoption.
• Present new capabilities and analyses to senior leaders and less technical audiences inside The Inquirer, and serve as a trusted partner for stakeholder outreach.
• Contribute to an inclusive and positive work environment.

Who We Are Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in product analytics, business intelligence, or a similar analytical role.
• Proficiency in SQL for querying and analyzing large datasets.
• Experience with Python or R for statistical analysis and data manipulation.
• Strong background in A/B testing methodologies and experimentation.
• Experience with event tracking and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, Adobe Analytics).
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills to consult with stakeholders and translate complex data into actionable insights.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally and influence product roadmaps through data.

The Inquirer is an equal opportunity employer for all regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, and any other category protected by federal, state and/or local law.