Senior Newsroom Operations & Assignments Lead

Fox; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

FOX Television Stations in Chicago is hiring a Managing Editor, Newsgathering & Operations to lead logistics, field deployment, and the assignment desk. You’ll coordinate field crews and live technology to ensure rapid, safe coverage that beats rivals on breaking news.

Reporting to the VP of News Content and Programming, you’ll shape coverage plans, manage budgets, and partner with engineering and editorial leaders to optimize resources and ensure timely, accurate reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Operations, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5-7 years of experience in newsroom operations, assignment desk management, or field logistics leadership in a broadcast media environment.
• Deep experience directing assignment desks, dispatching field crews, and managing live field technology under strict deadline pressure.
• Thorough operational knowledge of newsroom planning systems, electronic newsgathering (ENG), satellite/cellular transmission systems, and scheduling software.
• Strong crisis management, project management, and resource optimization capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Assignment Desk Leadership: Directly supervise the assignment desk team, overseeing the daily dispatch of reporters, photojournalists, field producers, and live transmission assets.
• Logistics & Field Deployment: Manage live field infrastructure, including live trucks, satellite/microwave assets, bonded cellular gear (e.g., LiveU/Dejero), and crew scheduling.
• Forward Planning & Enterprise Tracking: Maintain the master newsroom planning calendar, organizing logistics for upcoming trials, elections, planned public events, investigations, and enterprise follow-ups.
• Breaking News Mobilization: Lead immediate operational deployment during unscheduled major breaking news, severe weather events, and field emergencies, reallocating crews and live resources rapidly.
• Resource Optimization & Budgeting: Oversee staff shift scheduling, field overtime, travel logistics, gear distribution, and vendor management to maintain operational efficiency.
• Technical & Fleet Operations: Partner with engineering, IT, and operations departments to maintain newsroom field equipment, fleet vehicles, transmission paths, and assignment software systems.
• Safety & Labor Compliance: Enforce field safety protocols, risk management standards, union contract rules, and legal requirements for field crews.
• Cross-Role Collaboration: Partner continuously with the Managing Editor, Linear & Streaming to align logistics, field feeds, and live assets with linear and digital show requirements.

Skills

Crisis management

Project management

Resource optimization

Field logistics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Journalism

Tools

ENG systems

Satellite transmission

Job description

FOX Television Stations in Chicago is hiring a Managing Editor, Newsgathering & Operations to lead logistics, field deployment, and the assignment desk. You’ll coordinate field crews and live technology to ensure rapid, safe coverage that beats rivals on breaking news.

Reporting to the VP of News Content and Programming, you’ll shape coverage plans, manage budgets, and partner with engineering and editorial leaders to optimize resources and ensure timely, accurate reporting.