KGO - Vice President - News

Job Summary:

Disney Entertainment’s eight owned ABC stations are multiplatform leaders in local news and information. ABC7 KGO-TV is the Bay Area's news leader, delivering breaking news, weather and live video on-air and 24/7 wherever you stream. Producing more than 45 hours of live newscasts every week, ABC7 Eyewitness News is widely recognized for its solution-based journalism and advocacy with legacy franchises Seven on Your Side, I-Team, and Building a Better Bay Area. ABC7 is a respected and valued community resource, KGO-TV is an ABC Owned Television Station serving San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and the greater Bay Area.

The News Director leads ABC7’s news product across all platforms, overseeing strategy, content, and team performance to drive audience growth, revenue, and community connection. As a key member of the station’s leadership team, this executive is responsible for maintaining exceptional journalism, modernizing the newsroom, and fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.

In partnership with the General Manager, the News Director will define and execute a clear vision for the future of ABC7, communicating priorities, inspiring teams, and delivering results through data-driven decision making, strategic risk-taking, and hands-on leadership. This leader will evolve the Eyewitness News brand beyond breaking news to deliver impactful, localized, multi-platform journalism and content that reflects and serves the greater Bay Area community.

The role collaborates closely across the ABC Owned Television Stations group and with cross-functional partners throughout The Walt Disney Company to drive growth, innovation, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of multi-platform content strategies that attract and engage audiences
• Oversee newsroom operations to meet or exceed key performance indicators, including ratings, audience growth, video consumption, and market share
• Evolve and strengthen the station's brand to enhance relevance, impact, and community connection
• Lead a high-performing, diverse, multi-platform newsroom team
• Partner with Sales leadership to develop content initiatives that support revenue growth and monetization strategies
• Identify and implement operational efficiencies across newsroom workflows and processes
• Build strong relationships with community leaders and represent the station externally
• Recruit, develop, and retain top talent, including on-air staff, while providing coaching and professional development opportunities
• Leverage data and analytics to inform content strategy, platform optimization, and team accountability
• Ensure compliance with company policies, journalistic ethics, FCC regulations, and industry standards
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive newsroom culture
• Partner across ABC Owned Television Stations and The Walt Disney Company to leverage resources and advance strategic priorities
• Lead OTT and streaming content strategy and development
• Drive business development initiatives and strategic partnerships that support modernization and long-term growth

Minimum Qualifications:

• Proven newsroom leadership experience in a medium or large DMA, or a comparable news organization
• Collaborative and participative leadership style with a track record of driving innovation
• Ability to establish priorities, communicate vision and strategy, and identify growth opportunities
• Strong project management, organizational, and leadership skills in fast-paced environments
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Knowledge of FCC rules and regulations
• Experience working with unions and participating in contract negotiations

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in marketing, audience development, and content growth across multiple platforms
• Knowledge of the San Francisco Bay Area market and community
• Experience with budgeting, financial management, and strategic planning

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

The hiring range for this position in San Francisco, CA is $236,000 to $316,500 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.