US News Director

US News Director, Newsweek.com  

Location: New York City or Remote (East Coast)   

Position Overview: 
The US News Director will lead Newsweek’s US news operation, spearheading editorial strategy, breaking news coverage, and audience growth for the American market.  

As a key driver of innovation and excellence, this role reports directly to the Executive Editor and commands full responsibility for the fast-paced, high-impact daily operations of the U.S. newsroom—ensuring every piece of journalism is timely, authoritative, and truly distinctive. 

Beyond the newsroom, the U.S. News Director is the catalyst for aligning every editorial initiative with Newsweek’s most important strategic goals, from championing the company’s broad editorial mission to spearheading subscription growth 

The role is based in the United States and plays a critical part in shaping the future of Newsweek’s digital journalism. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead the US news operation, overseeing day-to-day digital news coverage, including breaking news, enterprise reporting, and major story moments. 
• Set and drive the US editorial agenda, identifying the stories that matter most to American audiences across politics, society, culture, business, and beyond. 
• Partner with the Executive Editor to translate global editorial strategy into US execution, ensuring alignment with Newsweek’s standards, priorities, and subscription goals. 
• Develop and execute strategies to grow US audience reach, engagement, and subscriptions across platforms, working closely with Audience Growth & Strategy teams. 
• Champion speed, exclusivity, and smart framing in breaking news, while ensuring accuracy, fairness, and strong editorial judgment. 
• Integrate AI-powered tools and workflows into the US newsroom to enhance reporting, verification, production, and audience personalization. 
• Manage, mentor, and inspire US editors, reporters, and digital specialists, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation. 
• Uphold Newsweek’s editorial standards and oversee quality control across all US news output. 
• Allocate US newsroom resources effectively, balancing breaking news demands with longer-term enterprise and subscription-driven journalism. 
• Communicate editorial priorities and strategic updates clearly and consistently to the US newsroom. 
• Any other reasonable duties required to meet the needs of the business. 

Qualification & Requirements:  

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, Communications or related field; advanced degree preferred.  
• Minimum 10 years progressive newsroom experience.  
• Extensive leadership experience in US digital newsrooms with a strong track record of managing editors and reporters in fast-paced environments. 
• Exceptional news judgment and a deep understanding of the US national conversation and how it shapes public discourse. 
• Proven ability to lead breaking news coverage while also driving enterprise and audience-focused journalism. 
• Strong editorial instincts and framing skills; an excellent editor with a clear point of view on what makes journalism distinctive and valuable. 
• Deep experience with audience development, including SEO, social platforms, analytics, and subscription-driven strategies. 
• Strong understanding of how AI is reshaping journalism and consumer behavior, with the ability to lead teams through change. 
• Comfortable working closely with international colleagues across time zones. 
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills. 

Salary Range: $175,000 to $225,000 commensurate with experience.