Deputy Director of Platforms, Weekends, NBC News Digital

Job Description

NBC News Digital is looking for a deputy director of owned platforms to lead weekends, overseeing a critical part of a 24/7 operation that brings NBC News’ journalism to our audience and subscribers across the homepage, app, alerts, social, newsletters and partner platforms.

This role is one of three deputy directors responsible for leading platforms coverage across mornings, evenings and weekends. The deputy director will own all aspects of weekend coverage for the platforms team, including planning coverage for free and paid audiences and coverage of breaking news and events, ensuring NBC News’ platforms are timely, competitive and aligned with newsroom priorities and audience needs. The person should be able to switch between curating fast-paced breaking news and engaging, deep reads for our subscribers.

The deputy director will assign tasks to the weekend platforms team, write and edit copy – headlines, alerts and social posts – and ensure news goes out on all of NBC News’ platforms and finds as many readers and subscribers as possible. 

Working closely with the director of owned platforms and fellow deputies, this editor will help execute platform strategy, maintain consistent standards across shifts, and contribute to ongoing improvements in how we present and distribute our journalism. They will partner with newsroom editors to ensure NBC News’ platforms are always up to date and stories are framed clearly and competitively. They’ll also work hand in hand with teams across the newsroom and network, including news and politics editors, the photo and video desks, and TV producers.

The ideal candidate is an experienced editor who loves telling stories and has experience thinking strategically about engaging audiences across different platforms. The role is best suited for a deft communicator and multitasker who is calm and decisive under pressure, with strong editorial instincts and the confidence to make critical decisions independently. It requires a manager and team leader who fosters a collaborative culture and who can elevate the work of their direct reports with clear and consistent coaching and feedback.

This is a management role, based in New York. The role is five days a week, Thurs-Mon, starting at 8 a.m. ET.

About the team:

The platforms team is a 24/7 team with editors in NBC News’ bureaus in New York, Los Angeles and London, and remote locations around the U.S. Platforms editors are responsible for curating the NBC News homepage and app, sending app and newsletter alerts, writing the Morning Rundown newsletter, and distributing stories to partners like Apple News and Flipboard. They work closely with section editors to plan the rollout of stories and write headlines and social copy.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee NBC News’ platforms during weekends, operating as a key editorial decision-maker during Saturdays and Sundays, making real-time decisions on coverage, placement and alerts.
• Manage a team of editors who publish NBC News’ owned and social platforms, including its homepage, app, newsletters, and flagship social channels.
• Direct the platforms team’s coverage of high-profile news events, including breaking news, elections and marquee weekend events like the Oscars and Super Bowl.
• Lead weekend planning for the platforms team, including delegating and prioritizing assignments for weekend platforms editors.
• Manage and coach editors on the platform team, setting clear expectations and elevating performance through feedback and development.
• Write and edit eye-catching copy for NBC News’ homepage, app, social platforms, newsletters, alerts, and more.
• Develop distribution strategies and playbooks for breaking news, original reporting, subscription content and enterprise reporting with the aim to grow our weekend audience.
• Analyze traffic data and audience behavior and engagement; review rollout efforts and continually iterate on best practices.
• Be an advocate and thought leader on the newsroom’s best practices, from headlines to social and SEO copy to planning and distribution practices.

Qualifications

• 8 years in a digital newsroom.
• A strong understanding of the social ecosystem and SEO best practices.
• Experience using newsroom tools such as Chartbeat, Parse.ly, Google Trends, Google Analytics, Taboola Newsroom and SocialFlow.
• Experience writing for different audiences.

Desired Characteristics

• Excellent communication skills and diplomacy. The ideal candidate feels comfortable giving feedback to peers and can delicately navigate the dynamics of a large newsroom.
• Flexibility and creativity: The ideal candidate is a problem-solver who can roll with the punches and adjust when the newscycle upends the most carefully laid plans.
• Experience news editing and managing is preferred.
• An insatiable curiosity for digital audiences and how they consume content across different platforms.
• An understanding that not all stories will be successful on every platform, but that appropriate framing for different spaces can make all the difference.

Additional Requirements

• Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of four days per week. The company reserves the right to change the in office requirement 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: $110,000 - $130,000 (bonus eligible)

Additional Information

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].