Director, Owned Platforms, NBC News Digital - job 1 of 3

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our global theme park destinations, consumer products, and experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and the four global television studios under the Universal Studio Group banner, and operate industry-leading theme parks and experiences around the world through Universal Destinations & Experiences, including Universal Orlando Resort, home to Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Studios Hollywood. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit www.nbcuniversal.com for more information.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

NBC News Digital is hiring a director of owned platforms, a newsroom leader overseeing the team curating and distributing our industry-leading journalism on some of our most popular platforms, including NBCNews.com, the NBC News app and alerts, newsletters, news partners and beyond.

This is a leadership role with a focus on managing and producing the platforms to the highest standards that distinguishes NBC News apart from its competitors. This role is a leading storyteller, presenting the best of NBC News to our audience.

The person in this role should have excellent news judgment, a strong ability to write engaging and balanced headlines, and a keen sense of the right mix of stories for the homepage and app. The director should envision what a front page looks like hours or days ahead and plan for it, and be able to pivot when news happens. The director should be able to balance breaking coverage with long-term planning.

The role requires accuracy and speed under tight deadlines. Experience and comfort working under pressure, and an ability to remain calm, focused, respectful and organized during breaking news is essential.

The person in this role needs to deeply understand our audience — which is broad, mainstream and reflects all of America — and should be obsessive about our analytics, especially when it comes to app alert vision and strategy. The director should be a newshound, with a pulse on the major stories of the day and is on top of updates. 

The person should have a proven collaborative manner, working with newsroom editors to ensure platforms have the coverage they need to serve the audience. The director is responsible for planning and executing our presentation on tentpole news days, from elections to the Olympics.

This role liaises constantly with other stakeholders — newsroom editors, art and photo, product developers and audience development analysts, among others.

The director should be a strong manager who knows how to encourage and develop talent on the team.

This role is based in New York City or Los Angeles and reports to the Editorial Director, Curation & Operations. 

Responsibilities:

• Create an engaging, distinct and urgent feeling across our owned platforms.
• Hyperfocus on curating the News App, where most of our super users live, and driving people who are not super users to the app. 
• Work closely with the Product team to advocate for necessary changes.
• Understand, communicate and act on insights from key metrics. Work closely with the Audience team to develop insights and execute new strategies.
• Manage and coach editors, helping to develop their skills while nurturing a positive and supportive team culture.
• Oversee and develop partner relationships, such as with Apple News, Flipboard and others.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and comparable work experience.
• 10 or more years' experience in a digital newsroom, preferably with experience publishing owned platforms and sending alerts in a breaking news environment.
• A broad knowledge of current national and global affairs.
• Must be comfortable working in a hybrid role and collaborating in a creative but demanding environment under tight deadlines.

Desired Characteristics

• Demonstrates sharp editorial judgment.
• Ability to remain calm and focused while leading teams through high-pressure and breaking news scenarios.​
• Excels at motivating, mentoring, and collaborating with editors and cross-functional partners.​
• Shows strong instincts for news priorities and adapts quickly to shifting events and audience trends.​

Additional Requirements:

Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, which currently requires contributing from the office a minimum of four days per week. The Company reserves the right to change in-office requirements at any time.

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. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.

Salary range: $120,000 - $170,000. Bonus Eligible. 

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal'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.

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 [email protected].