HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

Comma Journalism Lab dba The Spokesman-Review

Spokane, Washington

The Spokesman-Review, one of the Northwests most respected and historic media organizations, is seeking a strategic and people-focused Human Resources Director to help lead our organization through the next era of mission-driven journalism and media innovation.

This executive leadership role will oversee all human resources operations, including employee relations, talent acquisition, compliance, compensation, organizational development, and labor relations within a dynamic newsroom and publishing environment. The ideal candidate is an experienced HR leader who thrives in fast-paced, evolving organizations and understands the importance of balancing operational excellence with a strong employee-centered culture.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership

Lead employee relations, investigations, and workforce planning

Oversee HR compliance with Federal and Washington State labor laws

Support labor relations and collective bargaining activities

Drive recruitment, retention, onboarding, and leadership development initiatives

Maintain HR policies, systems, and organizational best practices

Help strengthen organizational culture, accountability, and mission alignment

Partner with newsroom and operational leaders to support sustainable growth and transformation

Qualifications

Bachelors degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field

8+ years of progressive HR leadership experience

Strong knowledge of Washington State employment law

Experience in unionized environments preferred

Exceptional communication, judgment, and leadership skills

Experience within media, publishing, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred

Experience with Rippling or other app-based, decentralized HRIS preferred

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $95,000$105,000 DOE

Executive leadership opportunity within a highly respected media organization

Collaborative, mission-focused work environment

Opportunity to help shape the future of local journalism in the Inland Northwest

A complete list of benefits can be found here: heyzine.com/flip-book/commabenefitsguide2026

To Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your qualifications and leadership experience to: [email protected]

The Comma Journalism Lab is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.