Washington Post

Senior HR Business Partner

Washington Post • $121K — $202K *
Media
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7+ years of HR experience with an emphasis on strategic business partnership and employee relations.
  • Background in journalism, media, or publishing sectors is essential; experience with unionized workforces is a plus.
  • Track record of successfully advising leadership and aligning HR strategies with business objectives.
  • Strong expertise in employee relations, conflict resolution, and sensitive investigations.
  • Experience driving organizational change and workforce planning in dynamic environments.
  • Proven ability to coach and develop management on performance and accountability issues.
  • Skilled in analyzing workforce data to inform strategic HR decisions.

Responsibilities

  • Advise Newsroom leadership on workforce strategy and leadership practices to enhance team effectiveness.
  • Guide organizational design and change initiatives, ensuring alignment with business needs and capabilities.
  • Lead the resolution of employee relations matters, ensuring fair outcomes in sensitive situations.
  • Coach leaders on conflict resolution, performance management, and team dynamics to enhance accountability.
  • Partner with HR and leadership on talent reviews and succession planning to ensure continuity of leadership.
  • Build relationships with employees to gather feedback and enhance workplace culture.
  • Analyze workforce data to identify trends and propose initiatives to improve retention.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Company-paid pension plan with a 401(k) match.
  • Three weeks of vacation plus up to three weeks of paid sick leave.
  • Generous parental leave policy of 20 weeks for new parents.
  • Access to robust mental health resources.
  • Backup care services and caregiver support.
  • Coverage for gender-affirming care.
  • Pet insurance availability.
  • Complimentary digital subscription to The Washington Post.
  • Opportunities for leadership and career development.
Full Job Description
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.

Your story awaits. Apply today!

Learn more about The Post at careers.washingtonpost.com.

About Washington Post

The Washington Post is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most-widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large international audience. Daily broadsheet editions are printed for D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The newspaper has won the Pulitzer Prize 65 times for its work, the second-most of any publication. It is considered a newspaper of record in the U.S. Post journalists have also received 18 Nieman Fellowships and 368 White House News Photographers Association awards. The paper is well known for its political reporting and is one of the few remaining American newspapers to operate foreign bureaus. The Post was founded in 1877. In its early years, it went through several owners and struggled both financially and editorially. Financier Eugene Meyer purchased it out of bankruptcy in 1933 and revived its health and reputation, work continued by his successors Katharine and Phil Graham, who bought out several rival publications. The Post's 1971 printing of the Pentagon Papers helped spur opposition to the Vietnam War. Subsequently, in the best-known episode in the newspaper's history, reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein led the American press's investigation into what became known as the Watergate scandal, which resulted in the 1974 resignation of President Richard Nixon. The advent of the internet expanded the Post's national and international reach. In October 2013, the Graham family sold the newspaper to Nash Holdings, a holding company owned by Jeff Bezos, for $250 million.
Learn more about Washington Post
Industry

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Washington Post

More Media Jobs

Find similar Senior HR Business Partner jobs: