News Director

This is a Full Time Job

Reporting into the SVP of News for WNBC and WNJU, this is your opportunity to set a groundbreaking editorial vision, champion story-centric content, and drive innovation that redefines how news connects with communities. This role requires a decisive leader who understands the NBC and Telemundo Owned Stations culture, excels in high stakes decision-making, cross-platform innovation, cultural leadership, and developing top-tier journalists in a fast-paced, highly competitive environment.

What You’ll Do:

Editorial Leadership & Vision
• Set and execute a bold, market-leading editorial vision for WNBC and WNJU across broadcast, streaming, digital, OTT, FAST channels, and social platforms.
• Maintain the highest standards of accuracy, integrity, ethics, and production quality.
• Champion story-centric, enterprise-driven journalism that reflects and meaningfully serves the diverse communities of the New York DMA.

Operational & Strategic Leadership
• Oversee all aspects of duopoly newsroom operations including daily coverage, breaking news, investigative, weather, consumer, and community impact reporting.
• Lead multiplatform strategy in partnership with Digital, Creative Services, Technology, and Sales to expand reach and deepen audience engagement.
• Drive adoption of innovative technologies, data-driven decision-making, and workflows that improve efficiency, collaboration, and execution.
• Maintain strong labor relations and support a healthy, inclusive, and high-performance culture.

People Leadership & Talent Development
• Lead, inspire, and grow a diverse, high-performing team of journalists, producers, managers, and content creators.
• Recruit top talent, mentor staff at all levels, and design development pathways that build next-generation newsroom leaders.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, creativity, and respect.

Content Excellence & Community Connection
• Develop and manage a robust pipeline of enterprise, investigative, and tentpole projects that reinforce the duopoly’s brand values.
• Oversee sweeping coverage strategies, including elections, weather emergencies, breaking news, cultural events, and community initiatives.
• Serve as a public-facing ambassador for both stations in community partnerships, events, and civic engagement initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Collaborate closely with Sales leadership to support revenue opportunities that do not compromise editorial independence.
• Partner with Marketing to build brand-defining, multiplatform promotional strategies.
• Strengthen relationships across all NBCU Local groups and contribute to national initiatives, pilots, and newsroom innovation efforts.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 7–10 years of newsroom leadership experience, with proven success in a top market or large duopoly environment.
• Previous News Director experience in Spanish television market
• Previous News Director Experience in General television market preferred. (Should this go in desired characteristics?)
• Demonstrated success leading teams through breaking news, crisis situations, and complex editorial decision-making.
• Deep expertise in broadcast, digital publishing, streaming platforms, and social media strategy.
• Experience managing unionized teams.

Desired Characteristics
• A creative, inspirational leader with strong editorial judgment and a hands-on, collaborative approach.
• Passionate about developing talent, coaching, and building high-performing teams.
• Fierce competitor who thrives under pressure, thinks strategically, and embraces innovation.
• Strong understanding of the New York DMA, including regional dynamics, diverse communities, and competitive landscape.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
• Strong technical fluency with emerging tools, workflows, and newsroom technologies.