Arena Careers

Director, People & Culture

📍 Remote (U.S.-based) | 💼 Full-Time | 💰 $120,000

Join Courier Newsroom - an organization that drives journalism and empowers communities.

At Courier Newsroom, we’re reinventing local media to inform and empower communities through impactful reporting. Our mission is rooted in civic engagement and equity—and we’re growing fast.

We are presently looking for a Director, People & Culture to oversee People & Culture and help build an accountable, high-performing, and creative workplace rooted in equity and inclusion.

COURIER Newsroom is committed to building an inclusive workplace that values diverse perspectives and lived experiences. We strongly encourage women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ candidates, and those from all backgrounds to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to break down barriers and ensure every team member feels seen, heard, and supported.

RESPONSIBILITIES

This role will shape the company’s people strategy, support leadership in building strong teams, and ensure systems, policies, and practices scale with the organization.

Talent Acquisition

Lead and continuously improve the company’s recruitment strategy to attract and hire exceptional talent.

• Optimize sourcing strategies and hiring processes to ensure strong, diverse candidate pipelines
• Maintain clear, consistent, and accessible recruitment practices across the organization
• Leverage technology and systems to improve efficiency and transparency in hiring
• Partner closely with hiring managers to support thoughtful, mission-aligned hiring decisions
  
  

Culture, DEI & Internal Communications

Cultivate a culture that is inclusive, transparent, and mission-driven.

• Embed equity and inclusion across all People & Culture practices, from recruitment through retention
• Lead culture initiatives that strengthen belonging, collaboration, and accountability across a distributed workforce
• Develop internal communications practices that ensure clarity, transparency, and alignment across teams
• Plan and facilitate bi-monthly company All Hands and other opportunities for team connection
  
  

Performance Management & Professional Development

Design and manage systems that support employee growth, feedback, and accountability.

• Lead the full-cycle performance management process, including goal setting, feedback, and evaluations
• Support managers in effective people management, coaching, and employee relations
• Equip managers with tools, training, and frameworks to effectively lead teams
• Develop frameworks that encourage continuous feedback and high performance
• Build and scale professional development programs for staff and managers
• Identify opportunities for organization-wide learning, leadership development, and skill building
  
  

Compensation & Benefits

Develop and maintain fair, competitive compensation and benefits programs that support employee wellbeing and retention.

• Develop and maintain compensation frameworks and salary bands
• Partner with leadership on compensation planning, promotions, and leveling decisions
• Oversee benefits programs and regularly evaluate offerings to support staff wellbeing and organizational competitiveness
  
  

Employee Relations

Provide guidance and leadership on employee relations matters to ensure fair, consistent, and legally compliant practices.

• Support managers in navigating employee relations challenges and workplace concerns
• Lead sensitive conversations, investigations, and conflict resolution when needed
• Ensure consistent and equitable application of company policies
  
  

Union Relations

With SVP of Operations, serve as a liaison between the company and the union.

• Represent the organization in union negotiations
• Support implementation and ongoing management of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA)
• Partner with leadership to ensure compliance with union agreements and effective labor-management relationships
  
  

People Systems, Data & Compliance

Ensure People & Culture systems operate effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable regulations, while enabling a data-informed approach to people operations.

• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws
• Oversee the company’s PEO and HR systems, regularly evaluating tools and vendors to ensure they meet organizational needs
• Maintain clear policies, documentation, and operational standards
• Track and analyze people data (hiring, retention, engagement, etc.) to inform leadership decisions
  
  

Staff Safety & Organizational Risk

Partner with Operations and Technology leadership to ensure staff have the training, policies, and tools needed to operate safely in a complex external environment.

Courier Newsroom offers the following benefits:

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO), 11 paid holidays a year
• An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Full suite of health benefits
• $500 home office reimbursement
• 401k
• Flexible working arrangements

Courier Newsroom is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, those with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly urged to apply. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions.