Director of News

The salary range for this position is $12,500 - $15,416.67 per month ($150,000 - $185,000 per year) depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable. This position is scheduled to close on 9/2/2026 at 4:00pm (PST). 

The Director of News leads the operations of the KPBS newsroom, providing strategic leadership, ensuring journalistic standards, and exhibiting editorial judgment and oversight across multiple platforms. Reporting to the Chief Content Officer, this position supervises the Managing Editor and the Newsroom Office Manager and guides a newsroom composed of editors, reporters, producers, videojournalists, anchors, and hosts. The Director of News is responsible for articulating and establishing a news vision and charting strategic efforts as well as aligning the newsroom with organizational goals, ensuring a focus on serving the public and fulfilling the organization’s mission. The incumbent will provide excellent leadership, foster an environment of belonging, and ensure quality and integrity are central to the work of the department. Responsible for the newsroom budget, strategic plans, and annual goals, this position leads the development and implementation of measurable strategies for audience growth and analyzes and responds to trends in public media and the general media landscape. The Director of News is expected to engage throughout the organization, partnering with Management Council, members of the Leadership Team, and other departments as well as directly with the community, donors, and campus partners. The following information is intended to be representative of the work performed by incumbents in this position and is not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific duty or responsibility will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical extension of position responsibilities. Job descriptions may be changed at any time based on the needs of the department.

The Director of News is responsible for but not limited to: Leadership (60%)
Manage newsroom leadership and staff to ensure quality across all platforms while establishing and integrating a unified editorial vision into all reporting and programming
Provide and set clear editorial priorities to news leaders and news staff and effectively communicate organizational goals
Develop and establish effective engagement and feedback efforts and strategies to ensure effective communication throughout all levels of the newsroom
Establish, communicate, and ensure journalistic standards are met by each member of the newsroom. Guide managers and staff on NPR Guidelines and other journalistic standards
Lead the continuous assessment and refinement of news coverage to identify growth opportunities, better serve the community, and distinctively position KPBS ahead of the competition
Lead the development of a digital-centered approach and strategy that can be developed, implemented, and refined throughout the newsroom
Provide leadership and guidance to news leaders regarding management, supervision, union contract requirements, and organizational expectations
Ensure leadership development and training of news managers as well as effective teamwork, communication, and collaboration among newsroom staff
Provide strategic guidance and support for departmental professional development and training efforts
Ensure accountability regarding deadlines, budgets, quality, and mission alignment
Support innovation in storytelling and throughout the newsroom. Partner with other departments and build cases for support as needed
Foster an environment of belonging where different identities and perspectives are respected 
Serve as a  member of the KPBS Leadership Team and engage with departments throughout the organization
Review and approve sensitive, high-profile, and/or legally complex stories
Oversee corrections, clarifications, and accountability procedures. Ensure accountability procedures are established and communicated
Lead ethical decision-making during breaking news, crisis coverage, and potentially controversial reporting
Identify and address conflicts of interest and potential concerns promptly
Develop and maintain relationships with SDSU and SDSURF and campus stakeholders as well as external organizations and communities
Administration & Compliance (35%)
Develop annual goals and objectives and ensure implementation and accountability across the news team
Develop and implement initiatives that increase trust and engagement with the community 
Develop, establish, and implement departmental practices and procedures in partnership with Management Council and People & Culture
Lead and oversee efforts to reduce bias in reporting and editorial decision making
Ensure accessibility standards are considered in efforts throughout the newsroom
Oversee the development of emergency coverage plans and continuity planning
Review and vet contracts with external vendors such as the Associated Press, legal services, etc. 
Prepare and analyze budgets and grants to comply with organizational protocols and identify operational efficiencies
Provide guidance on internal staffing needs and salaries for annual budget process and throughout the year
Monitor and share industry trends relating to staffing, engagement, and organizational culture and associated costs 
Establish productive working relationships with union stewards and leadership and collaborate with People & Culture on labor-management contract implementation 
Identify and develop innovative approaches to problem resolution that align with applicable laws, collective bargaining agreements, company policies, and precedence
Promote and encourage cross-platform collaboration as well as the use of the station’s facilities, tools, and equipment
Monitor on-air and online content for legal compliance
Ensure compliance with copyright and privacy laws, FCC regulations, public records laws, and applicable media laws
Ensure newsroom managers and supervisors are in compliance with CSU, SDSU, SDSURF, state, and federal policies, statutes, and laws
Other Duties and Responsibilities as Assigned (5%)

Actively promote KPBS in the wider community
Attend and host events that occur on nights and weekends, as needed
Knowledge and Abilities 
Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience managing newsroom staff and leaders, with the ability to coach, mentor, and develop leadership capacity
Proven ability to clearly communicate organizational goals, editorial priorities, expectations, and decisions across all levels of the newsroom and organization. 
Strong communication, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills, with the ability to address complex personnel, editorial, labor, and operational issues 
Advanced knowledge of journalism ethics, editorial standards, reporting practices, and applicable industry guidelines
Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, with the ability to establish a unified editorial vision, set priorities, develop goals and drive accountability
Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and organizational policies, including copyright, FCC regulations, and employment laws
Knowledge of and familiarity with labor relations principles and and collective bargaining agreements, with the ability to administer union contracts and address labor and workplace matters
Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets and overseeing financial resources
Ability to identify and respond to evolving industry trends related to audience engagement, staffing, organizational culture, technology, and operations
Ability to foster an inclusive and collaborative workplace and develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders 
Ability to build trust and meaningful relationships with diverse communities that strengthen community engagement
Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends to attend or host events and respond to significant news or organizational needs, as needed

Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree in relevant field or additional experience may be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis
Minimum Experience
Eight-years of related experience in a management or supervisory capacity
 Preferred Qualifications-Previous leadership in a unionized environment
Demonstrated experience training and guiding news staff at various career and professional levels
Leadership experience in a multiplatform newsroom, including some combination of print, broadcast, and online
Demonstrated experience in telling stories that serve a diverse community, including those from historically marginalized and/or underrepresented groups
Prior experience in a public media and/or nonprofit news setting

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION-Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).