Director - Planning, MSNBC Newsgathering

The Director of Planning is responsible for leading the strategic planning and coordination of high-profile news and special events coverage across the network. This includes breaking news, major political events (primaries, conventions, debates, election night), presidential and high-profile funerals, state ceremonies, major sporting event coverage, and cultural milestones such as award shows. This role works cross-functionally with newsgathering, production, technical, digital, and field teams to ensure seamless execution of complex live broadcasts and special programming. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Event Planning: Lead and oversee the network’s long-range planning for high-impact news and cultural events, ensuring editorial goals and production logistics are fully aligned. Editorial Coordination: Partner with executive producers, political directors, and senior editorial staff to shape coverage plans, and align storytelling across platforms. Logistics Management: Manage all logistical elements for remote and in-studio productions, including site surveys, credentialing, satellite and transmission planning, travel, accommodations, staffing, and scheduling. Team Leadership: Supervise a team of coordinators and field journalists, assigning roles and responsibilities, managing timelines, and ensuring collaborative workflow across departments. Cross-Platform Integration: Work closely with digital and streaming teams to align coverage plans and optimize multiplatform delivery. Budget Oversight: Develop and manage budgets for major special event coverage, balancing editorial ambition with fiscal responsibility. Risk Management & Contingency Planning: Anticipate and plan for potential disruptions, technical issues, and news-cycle shifts that could impact coverage. External Liaison: Serve as the network’s primary point of contact for event organizers, government agencies, venues, and outside vendors for credentialing and access. Post-Event Review: Conduct debriefs and evaluations after major events to identify successes, challenges, and improvements for future coverage.