Human Resources Director at Cowles Company

Comma Journalism Lab dba The Spokesman-Review The Spokesman-Review , one of the Northwest's 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. Position: Human Resources Director Status: Exempt Salary: $95,000-$105,000 DOE Location: Spokane, WA 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:

• Bachelor's 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

Benefits:

• 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:

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your qualifications and leadership experience to: The Comma Journalism Lab is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Compensation details: 00 Yearly Salary

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