Job Description

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 theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

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.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Job Description

NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ) seeks a visionary News Director—a bold leader and true change agent ready to transform the future of local journalism and serve audiences across broadcast, streaming, digital, and social platforms. Reporting into the SVP of News for the WMAQ and WSNS Duopoly, this is your opportunity to set a groundbreaking editorial vision, champion story-centric content, and drive innovation that redefines how news connects with communities. Leveraging our brand-new, state-of-the-art news facility, you’ll inspire teams, elevate standards, and lead cultural and technological change in one of the nation’s most competitive markets.

What You’ll Do

• Set and execute a bold editorial vision in partnership with the SVP of News and News Director for WSNS, ensuring alignment with mission, pillars, and community promise for the Duopoly.
• Lead and develop a high-performing, diverse team of journalists; oversee hiring, mentoring, and performance management.
• Drive newsroom operations, including breaking news, major events, and daily execution of content, while fostering innovation and efficiency through new technologies and training.
• Inspire and motivate others to deliver exceptional results through collaboration and accountability.
• Act as a mentor and coach, while recognizing and addressing developmental needs to foster growth.
• Champion multiplatform storytelling and cross-platform strategy in collaboration with Digital and Creative Services teams.
• Use data-driven insights to guide editorial decisions, audience engagement strategies, and resource optimization.
• Plan and deliver enterprise journalism, special projects, and tentpole content to maintain a strong pipeline across platforms.
• Partner with Sales to identify revenue opportunities without compromising editorial integrity.
• Serve as a public-facing leader, representing the brand in community partnerships and events.
• Maintain strong labor relations and participate in union negotiations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 7+ years of newsroom leadership experience in a mid-to-large market.
• Proven success in multi-platform news strategy and execution.
• Strong editorial judgment, crisis management skills, and leadership presence.
• Deep knowledge of broadcast, streaming, digital publishing, and social media platforms.

Desired Characteristics

• Creative, innovative leader with a hands-on approach and a coach/player mindset.
• Ability to foster a culture of respect, collaboration, and diversity of thought.
• Skilled in change management and inclusive leadership strategies.
• Fierce competitor with a passion for winning across platforms.
• High-level technical expertise in emerging media platforms.
• Data-driven decision-making skills.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Experience managing unionized environments.

Additional information

Required On-Site: This position is required to be performed full-time from an NBCUniversal-designated worksite.

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: $175,000 - $215,000

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 AccessibilitySupport@nbcuni.com.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs