Deputy Director Of Platforms, Weekends, NBC News Digital

This is a Full Time Job

NBC News Digital is looking for a deputy director to lead its platforms team on weekends. The deputy director will drive and shape NBC News’ weekend coverage for millions of readers across its homepage, app, alerts, social platforms, newsletters and with its partner platforms, like Apple and Flipboard. 

The deputy director will own all aspects of weekend coverage for the platforms team, including weekend planning and coverage of breaking news and events. They will work closely with the weekend news editors to ensure NBC News’ platforms are always up to date and its stories always have the sharpest framing.

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 as possible. 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 affable under pressure. 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, Washington, D.C., 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: 
• 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, the 2024 election and Oscars. 
• Lead weekend planning for the platforms team, including delegating and prioritizing assignments for weekend platforms editors. 
• 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 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. Experience news editing and managing is preferred. 
• A strong understanding of the social ecosystem and SEO best practices. An insatiable curiosity for digital audiences and how they consume content across different platforms. 
• Experience using newsroom tools such as Chartbeat, Parse.ly, Google Trends, Google Analytics, Taboola Newsroom and SocialFlow.
• Experience writing for different audiences and an understanding that not all stories will be successful on every platform, but that appropriate framing for different spaces can make all the difference. 

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.

Additional Requirements
• Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week.

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)