Senior Human Resources Business Partner

About the role

POLITICO is seeking a seasoned Senior HR Business Partner to serve as a strategic advisor and hands-on operator to our high-performing, fast-paced newsroom. This is a highly visible, senior-level role for an HR leader who thrives in dynamic environments and brings equal strength in strategic partnership and hands-on execution. The ideal candidate is a trusted thought partner to editorial leadership, someone who can anticipate business needs and translate priorities to drive actionable talent solutions. There is a strong requirement for the ability to expertly manage the operational HR fundamentals that enable our newsroom to function at its best.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted HR advisor to senior newsroom leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, performance management and employee relations.
• Provide pragmatic, solutions-oriented HR guidance focused on speed, clarity and risk awareness.
• Navigate complex, high-visibility people situations with discretion, judgment and confidence.
• Partner with business leaders, Talent Acquisition and Finance to develop and justify new headcount and backfill requests, ensuring alignment with budget, workforce plans and long-term talent strategy.
• Lead and support newsroom talent management initiatives, including performance cycles, performance management, disciplinary procedures, career pathways, succession planning, development planning and retention strategies.
• Ensure HR policies, practices and decisions are applied consistently, fairly and in compliance with employment laws and company standards.
• Collaborate with Total Rewards on job leveling, compensation planning and pay decisions to ensure competitiveness and internal consistency.
• Leverage talent data, manager insight and editorial priorities to inform proactive workforce decisions and future talent needs, including pipelining and succession, in partnership with Talent Acquisition.
• Deliver a high-touch onboarding and integration experience, supporting engagement, retention and early productivity.
• Ensure people-related processes are efficient. This includes managing and processing all employee changes related to role changes, reporting lines, promotions, transfers and exits with minimal disruption to newsroom operations.
• Manage and document employee relations matters with sound judgment, discretion and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Identify gaps, inefficiencies or friction points in people processes and implement practical, scalable solutions aligned to newsroom needs.
• Ensure smooth cascading of people-related communications to leaders across the various teams and be the central point of contact to field queries and concerns.
• Use people analytics to identify attrition and engagement trends and translate insights into actionable talent plans for newsroom leaders.
• Partner across HR Centers of Excellence including Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards and HR Operations, to deliver cohesive, high-quality and timely HR support to the business.
• Collaborate closely with Business Leaders, Chiefs of Staff and Finance to provide best-in-class HR partnership that is deeply embedded in the business, aligned to both near-term priorities and long-term strategic objectives.
• Drive alignment across various stakeholders to anticipate workforce needs, inform decision-making and proactively address risks, trade-offs and opportunities.
• Serve as a pragmatic problem-solver when HR and Legal perspectives diverge, aligning stakeholders on solutions that balance risk, compliance and business needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP/SCP) a plus.
• 8+ years of progressive HR Business Partner experience supporting complex, fast-paced organizations; media or newsroom experience strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of talent management, employee relations, workforce planning and organizational design.
• Demonstrated strength across both strategic HR partnership and hands-on operational execution.
• Proven ability to influence and advise senior leaders in a demanding, deadline-driven environment