Senior HR Business Partner

Newsletter Jobs; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 121,000 - 202,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) match

Paid vacation and sick leave (three +)

Parental leave (20 weeks)

Mental health resources

Free Post digital subscription

Job summary

The Washington Post is seeking a Senior HRBP for the Newsroom to act as a strategic people partner, aligning workforce priorities and employee experience with the newsroom’s mission. You will blend employee relations expertise with business judgment to guide leaders through change and build a culture of integrity and accountability.

Collaborate with leaders to design organization, plan workforce needs, and resolve complex employee relations issues in a union-represented environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive HR experience with business partnership and employee relations responsibility.
• Experience in journalism, media, or publishing preferred; union-represented employees and CBAs experience is a plus.
• Proven ability to advise senior leaders, influence decisions and translate priorities into workforce strategies.
• Strong employee relations expertise, investigations, conflict resolution and escalation when needed.
• Experience guiding organizational change, workforce planning and effectiveness initiatives in complex environments.
• Ability to coach managers on performance, development and accountability while balancing needs.
• Ability to interpret workforce data and turn insights into practical recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Advise Newsroom senior leaders on people strategy, organizational effectiveness and leadership practices.
• Translate editorial priorities into actionable workforce plans to strengthen capabilities.
• Lead assessments and resolution of complex employee relations matters with Legal on sensitive issues.
• Coach leaders on performance, feedback, conflict resolution and team dynamics.
• Partner on talent reviews, succession planning and career development to build leadership readiness.
• Build relationships with employees and leaders to translate feedback into actions for better communication and belonging.
• Interpret engagement and turnover data to identify issues and propose targeted actions.

Skills

HR business partnership

Employee relations

Change management

Organizational design

People analytics

Coaching & leadership development

Communication & stakeholder mgmt

Confidentiality & judgment

Job description

Join the future of news

We're on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you'll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most.

About Our Team

The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning News and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales.

Why This Role Matters

The Senior HRBP, Newsroom serves as a strategic people partner to Newsroom leaders, aligning workforce priorities, organizational capabilities and employee experience with The Washington Post's journalistic mission. This role combines deep employee relations expertise with business judgment to help leaders navigate complex people decisions, strengthen management practices and guide teams through change. Through trusted relationships with leaders, managers and employees, this partner advances a culture of integrity, inclusion and accountability that enables journalists and content creators to do their best work.

What Motivates You

• Supporting independent journalism by helping the people and teams behind it thrive.
• Building trusted partnerships that allow you to offer candid advice, challenge assumptions and influence thoughtful decisions.
• Resolving complex people challenges with sound judgment, empathy and consistency.
• Helping leaders strengthen their teams, develop talent and navigate organizational change.
• Turning employee insights and workforce data into practical improvements in culture, performance and retention.

How You'll Support The Mission

• Advise senior Newsroom leaders on people strategy, organizational effectiveness and leadership practices, translating editorial priorities into actionable workforce plans that strengthen team capability and performance.
• Guide organizational design, workforce planning and change initiatives in partnership with Newsroom leadership, Finance and HR specialists to align roles, capabilities and staffing with evolving business needs.
• Lead the assessment and resolution of complex employee relations matters within delegated authority, partnering with the Director of Employee Relations and Legal on sensitive issues to achieve timely, fair and consistent outcomes.
• Coach leaders and managers on performance, feedback, conflict resolution and team dynamics to strengthen management judgment, accountability and employee development.
• Partner with leaders and HR colleagues on talent reviews, succession planning and career development to build leadership readiness, address capability gaps and retain critical talent.
• Build trusted relationships with employees and leaders, identifying concerns and translating employee feedback into actions that improve communication, belonging and team effectiveness.
• Interpret workforce data and employee insights, including engagement, turnover and exit feedback, to identify underlying issues and recommend targeted actions that improve retention and organizational health.
• Integrate expertise from Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Learning & Development, HR Operations and DEI to deliver coordinated people solutions and implement enterprise programs effectively within the Newsroom.
• Guide managers in applying people policies and practices in a union-represented environment, coordinating with Employee Relations and Legal on collective bargaining agreement requirements to promote consistent decisions and constructive working relationships.

The Skills And Experience You Bring

• At least seven years of progressive HR experience that includes business partnership and substantial employee relations responsibility.
• Experience supporting journalism, media or publishing organizations required; experience working with union-represented employees and collective bargaining agreements preferred.
• Demonstrated success advising senior leaders, influencing complex people decisions and translating business priorities into effective workforce and talent strategies.
• Strong employee relations expertise, including experience assessing sensitive concerns, conducting or partnering on investigations, resolving conflict and recognizing when escalation is needed.
• Experience guiding organizational change, workforce planning and organizational effectiveness initiatives in a complex, evolving environment.
• Proven ability to coach managers and leaders on performance, development and accountability while balancing employee needs with organizational priorities.
• Ability to interpret workforce data, identify patterns and turn findings into practical recommendations and measurable improvements.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the discretion and judgment to handle confidential matters and navigate competing perspectives.
• Experience collaborating across HR specialties to deliver integrated solutions, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple sensitive priorities.

Collaboration makes us stronger. That's why our offices are designed with open layouts, modern technology, and easy access to transportation. With certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel, we work on-site five days a week.

Compensation And Benefits

Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:

• Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
• Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
• Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
• Nine paid holidays and two personal days
• 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent
• Robust mental health resources
• Backup care and caregiver concierge services
• Gender affirming services
• Pet insurance
• Free Post digital subscription
• Leadership and career development programs

Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.

The salary range for this position is:

$121,400 - $202,400 Annual

The actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a member of the Talent Acquisition team will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process.