Senior Director, News

Job Description

General Summary:

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is a fully integrated, broad-based entertainment company and a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses. The Studio is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry, from feature film, television and home entertainment production and worldwide distribution to DVD and Blu-ray, digital distribution, animation, comic books, video games, product and brand licensing, and broadcasting. The TV Licensing business manages the distribution and licensing of television content across SVOD.

WBD ANZ operates a portfolio of premium brands across pay-TV , free-to- air and theatrical platforms . We are a leading entertainment brand on Foxtel and Sky, and the largest independent free-to-air commercial broadcaster in New Zealand.

The Role:

As the Senior Director of News, you will be a transformational leader within our organization, responsible for shaping the vision and driving change across the newsroom .

You will be editorially stron g, demonstrating both your confidence and competence in all aspects of newsroom operations, specifically enabling digital growth operating models while managing the newsroom transition from traditional linear broadcast to IP delivery effectively.

Your role will extend beyond the newsroom, fostering collaboration with other departments and stakeholders important to the overall business transformation. You will also have a strong commercial acumen, providing leadership within the newsroom to effectively manage commercial goals of the transformation.

Additionally, you will be adept at influencing public policy settings that align with our journalistic values.

Key Responsibilities:

Transformational Leadership
• Serve as the architect of our news vision for the future, driving transformative initiatives that adapt to changing media landscapes and audience behaviors.
• Lead the digital transformation efforts to enhance our digital presence and engage our audience effectively.
• Act as a change agent, fostering a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement within the newsroom and the wider organization
• Experienced and skilled in
organisational change and associated frameworks that underpin changes to roles, worksflows and operating model practices

Editorial Excellence
• Experience in setting and executing against an editorial position and a focus on maintaining the highest editorial standards that embellish and strengthen NewsHubs brand promise and editorial credibility
• Utilize your editorial expertise to ensure the production of high-quality, accurate , and compelling news content across all platforms.
• Operate the newsroom efficiently, overseeing day-to-day editorial operations, story development, and content production processes.
• Collaborate with editors, journalists, and content creators to develop and implement editorial strategies that resonate with our diverse audience.

Commercial and Public Policy Leadership:
• Manage the Profit & Loss (P&L) for the news division,
optimizing revenue streams and identifying
opportunities for commercial growth while maintaining journalistic integrity.
• Engage with public policy matters, leveraging your influence to shape policy settings that align with our organization's values and standards.
• Foster relationships with key stakeholders, industry partners, and government bodies to advance our organization's interests and advocate for responsible journalism.

Leadership and Collaboration:
• Provide strong and inspirational leadership to the newsroom , encouraging collaboration, creativity, and professional development.
• B uild connections with various business units within the organization, fostering collaboration to achieve collective goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including technology, marketing, and sales, to align news initiatives with broader organizational strategies.

Experience required:
• Demonstrated track record
of having architected and executed a newsroom transformation into new ways of working, new roles and new operating practices
• Minimum of 1 5 years of experience in senior editorial roles within reputable news organizations, with a proven track record
of driving editorial excellence and digital innovation.
• Exceptional leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, mentor, and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
• Strong understanding of digital technologies, social media platforms, and emerging trends in media consumption.
• Commercial acumen and experience managing a Profit & Loss (P&L) statement for a news division, with a focus on revenue optimization and business growth.
• Demonstrated expertise in public policy matters related to media, with the ability to influence policy settings and advocate for responsible journalism.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Journalism , Communications, or a related field is preferred.

Competencies we are looking for:
• Relationship management and influencing skills
• Comfort in leading change environments
• Commercial - curious about the business and actively influences and contributes to discussions
• Willing to challenge and debate issues that matter
• Clear thinking - willing to make sound and prompt decisions
• Credible and Results Driven - able to lead major projects and change programmes .
• Role models WBD values

If you're a qualified candidate and you require adjustments or accommodations to search for a job opening or apply for a position, please contact us at recruitadmin@wbd.com.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rj462b-3-134-104-224-42 in your application.