News Operations Manager

KWES-TV, NewsWest 9 in Midland/Odessa, TX is looking for a News Operations Manager who thrives on winning the big story across all platforms. We are looking for a take-charge leader who can coordinate and oversee the primary operations of the MSJs and photographers in relationship with engineering, transmission, and production.

Responsibilities:

• Manager and maintain quality control of all news production work that appears on station platforms.
• Well-versed in cutting edge news gathering technology and have extensive knowledge in digital distribution of live and stored video.
• Help generate innovative and creative views and thinking (act as a ''thought leader'').
• Directly supervises Directors and Production Assistants.
• Responsible for scheduling of crews, performance appraisals and creative critiques
• Maintain service records/maintenance for all news units.
• Provide strategic planning and coordinating of live field productions, town halls, breaking news including resource allocation of people and equipment.
• Organize logistics and planning for high-profile events.
• Collaborate with News Director and Head of Technology on managing, operating and capital budget projects.
• Review daily newscasts to ensure quality control and brand compliance, and subsequently provide feedback and coaching to all news staff in their work performance.
• Provide macro leadership, direction, training, technology, and vision for direct reports.
• Work on establishing proper, efficient, and effective systems for taking in feeds, tuning in live shots, and establishing transmission rules and responsibilities.
• Work closely with News Director, and other news content leaders keeping them informed of plans, strategies, challenges, and progress.
• Maintain a partnering relationship with all departments, and their key personnel on issues, including special shows and coverage, technical needs, and resource allocation. More specifically, responsible for leading the partnering relationships with engineering and production.
• Finance and expense lead for the newsroom – tracking expenses, paying invoices, monitoring budget, and making purchases at the direction and approval of the News Director.
• Responsible for working with News Directors on budgeting, invoicing, stringers, travel and other expenses. Also coordinate and communicate with Finance at the direction of the News Director.
• Responsible for working with contracted vendors like WSI, AP and other vendors that provide contractual services.
• Promote a culture of the highest professional and personal integrity including best practices.
• Lead the development and coordinate assigning resources for any live in-field coverage or special shows and out-of-town travel.

Requirements:

• 7-10 years of experience in a mid to large market as a Chief Editor, Chief Photographer or News Operations Manager
• Must be skilled with news cameras, non-linear editing, live truck maintenance and operations, file- based workflows, and bonded cell technologies.
• Strong Journalistic/story telling skills