News Director

Position: News Director

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Salary: DOE Signing Bonus

Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am - 6 pm​​

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About this role: A News Director is very much like a Head Football Coach. You have to hire the right coordinators. You have to design the offense and defense around our strategic objectives (mostly: we want to win). And you have to make the occasional call about when to go for it on fourth down. And perhaps above all, you need to understand how to get the best performance out of your team. This is a future-focused company. Change is the one constant in our crazy world. The News Director is the change agent and the leader who can adapt accordingly.

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What you'll do:

• Owns and leads all aspects of news, weather and sports programming production while providing strategic and logistics support.
• Lead a culture that owns enterprise reporting and storytelling as well as breaking news across all platforms.
• Ensure high-quality, relevant, local content that sets the operation apart from competitors.
• Inspire and coach superior, unique and engaging storytelling, and implement leadership development opportunities for our future leaders.
• Removes barriers to success for every member of the team.
• Critique product daily to correct errors, improve coverage and provide mentoring feedback to news staff.
• Serve as primary leader during crisis response.
• Adhere to deadlines and make timely and effective decisions in situations requiring prompt attention.
• Work with Marketing Team to set and achieve viewer impression goals and other KPI's.
• Make decisions regarding hiring, evaluation, promotion, and termination of employees.
• Manage the news department budget — including annual planning, monthly monitoring and routine handling.
• Work with Station Manager and Chief Engineer to plan and manage the TV News operating and capital budgets.
• Seeks opportunities to promote public contact to help ascertain public needs, build community engagement and bolster station success.
• Work with other senior station leaders to establish and reach station goals.

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What you contribute to our team:

• Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to identify the developmental needs of others and to coach, mentor or otherwise help others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assignments and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to effectively listen to fully understand employee needs and communicate with a team to shape a solution.
• Solid journalistic and content judgment that emphasizes accurate, fair and unique local content that is representative of the community we serve.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, calm demeanor under stress.
• Must be knowledgeable in broadcast law.
• Must understand digital production and all current digital platforms.
• Active social media participant and strong social media skills.
• Experience preparing and maintaining departmental budgets and the willingness to fight for what your team needs.
• Proficiency with computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, fax machines and other office equipment.

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What we offer:

We are a family-owned and operated multi-business organization with a heart for the community we serve and our employees. We set you up for success by providing the necessary tools and training needed to succeed in your position! We provide:

• A friendly, supportive, and professional team atmosphere
• Competitive wages and benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K matching, Employee Assistance Programs, and so much more!
• We believe work/life balance is key to continued success, we offer Vacation days, Sick Time, Paid Holidays, and Floating Holidays!

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For detailed information regarding benefits, vacation, sick, and holiday time, please copy and paste the following link into your browser: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/NonStopLocalMT

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What Next?

Create your candidate profile at https://careers.cowlesco.com - complete all required fields, and upload any supporting documents such as a resume, cover letter, references, and examples of work! At the end of your profile creation, simply pick the position(s) you would like to apply for and press "submit." It's that easy!

If you already have a company profile, log in and update your information where necessary, and apply to the open requisition. If you need assistance with creating or logging into your candidate profile, please email careers@cowlesco.com and an HR representative will respond as quickly as possible.

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At Cowles Company we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where every individual is valued and respected. We believe that diversity enriches our organization, drives innovation, and fuels our success. We are dedicated to providing equal opportunities for employment and advancement to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We actively seek to recruit, develop, and retain a talented and diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity is unwavering, and we strive to create an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. Together, we can build a brighter future for our employees and our organization.

All candidates selected for hire will be required to submit to a background check.

Drug Testing, including THC, applies to safety-sensitive positions.

Position open until filled.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Commute:

• Billings, MT 59102 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Billings, MT 59102: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $65,000 - $75,000