Director, News

Nexstar Media Group•Utica, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

WXFV/WUTR-TV is hiring a full-time News Director to oversee the News operation at its station in downtown Utica, New York. The News Director leads and supervises all aspects of news, weather, and sports programming production and manages all aspects of the News Department. The role includes planning and managing staffing, training, and performance evaluations, as well as making decisions about hiring, evaluation, promotion, and termination. The News Director develops news coverage strategy for the station and its website, critiques newscasts to improve coverage and correct errors, and mentors news staff. The position also assigns projects, ensures deadlines are met and viewer rating goals are achieved, evaluates programming and equipment needs, responds to coverage questions, and works with senior station leaders to establish and reach station goals. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.
Fluency in English.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
At least five years of experience in news programming production, with at least two years of experience in a leadership role; experience requirements may vary depending on market size.
Experience guiding, directing, and motivating subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Experience establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Ability to identify others’ developmental needs and coach, mentor, or otherwise help them improve their knowledge or skills.
Experience preparing and maintaining departmental budgets.
Proficiency with computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, fax machines, and other office equipment.
Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assignments, and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Ability to listen effectively to understand employee needs and communicate with a team to shape a solution.

Responsibilities

Lead and supervise all aspects of news, weather, and sports programming production.
Manage all aspects of the News Department.
Plan and manage departmental staffing, training, and performance evaluations.
Make decisions regarding employee hiring, evaluation, promotion, and termination.
Develop news coverage strategy for the station and its website.
Critique newscasts daily to improve coverage, correct errors, and provide mentoring feedback to news staff.
Assign projects to staff and verify that deadlines are met.
Ensure achievement of viewer rating goals.
Determine programming needs and evaluate equipment needs to produce quality programming.
Respond to coverage questions.
Work with other senior station leaders to establish and reach station goals.
Perform other duties as assigned.