Deputy Director of Platforms, Weekends, NBC News Digital

NBCUniversal•New York, NY

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

NBC News Digital is seeking a Deputy Director of Owned Platforms to lead weekend coverage. This role is crucial for a 24/7 operation that delivers NBC News' journalism to audiences and subscribers across various platforms, including the homepage, app, alerts, social media, newsletters, and partner sites. As one of three deputy directors, this individual will oversee weekend platform coverage, managing all aspects from planning for free and paid audiences to covering breaking news and major events. The goal is to ensure NBC News' platforms are timely, competitive, and aligned with newsroom priorities and audience needs. The role requires the ability to switch between curating fast-paced breaking news and in-depth subscriber content. The Deputy Director will assign tasks, write and edit copy (headlines, alerts, social posts), and ensure content is distributed effectively across all platforms to maximize reach. Collaboration with the Director of Owned Platforms and fellow deputies is key to executing platform strategy, maintaining consistent standards, and improving journalism presentation and distribution. This role involves partnering with newsroom editors to keep platforms updated and stories clearly and competitively framed, as well as working with various teams across the newsroom and network, including news and politics editors, photo and video desks, and TV producers. The ideal candidate is an experienced editor passionate about storytelling and strategic audience engagement across platforms. They should be a deft communicator and multitasker, calm and decisive under pressure, with strong editorial instincts and the confidence to make independent decisions. This management role fosters a collaborative culture and focuses on elevating direct reports through clear coaching and feedback. The position is based in New York and requires a five-day work week, Thursday through Monday, starting at 8 a.m. ET.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

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.