News Director, NBC 5 Chicago Job at NBCUniversal in Chicago

Job Title

News Director, NBC 5 Chicago

Company

NBCUniversal

Location

Chicago, IL

Job Summary

NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ) seeks a visionary News Director—bold leader and true change agent—to transform the future of local journalism across broadcast, streaming, digital, and social platforms. Reporting to the SVP of News for the WMAQ and WSNS Duopoly, you will set a groundbreaking editorial vision, champion story‑centric content, and drive innovation that redefines how news connects with communities.

What You’ll Do

• Set and execute a bold editorial vision in partnership with the SVP of News and the WSNS News Director, 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, 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.

Salary Range: $175,000 - $215,000

EEO Statement

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.