People Associate

This is a fully-remote role based in the United States, for which the selected candidate will be available from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST.

People Associate at COURIER Newsroom

Who We Are

At COURIER Newsroom, we empower people and communities to connect with the news, opportunities, and issues impacting their lives. We believe that giving local journalists stronger platforms, access to audience data, and opportunities to grow with—not against—changing social media trends can significantly impact civic participation in a state—and build a healthier democracy from the ground up. 

Through original reporting, kitchen-table storytelling, and approachable explainers, we’re passionate about making the news real—and interesting—to our audience. We’re a rapidly growing team with new ideas on how to change the political landscape of this world. 

Job Description

As a People Associate at COURIER, you will play a pivotal role in fostering a positive and inclusive work environment by upholding our organization's core values, safeguarding confidential information, nurturing our culture and value-system, and spearheading top-notch recruiting efforts with a people-first mentality. Excellence in communication, character, integrity, empathy, focus on DE&I, fairness in the workplace, relationship-building, a can-do attitude, kindness, positivity, adaptability, trust, and enthusiasm are paramount in this role.

The responsibilities of the People Associate will reflect our commitment to excellence and COURIER's mission and core values, ensuring a positive and inclusive workplace culture. 

Additionally, as a People Associate, you will provide seamless, trusted support to the Vice President of People, sharing a vision of growth, emphasizing the importance of an outstanding employee experience, and cross-collaborating with all departments. Your eager enthusiasm for learning, high performance standards, ability to learn from failures and build upon them, are essential in supporting a start-up whose mission is to improve democracy.

Key Responsibilities

Champion Core Values:

• Embrace and exemplify the organization's core values in all interactions and decisions.
• Collaborate with leadership to ensure alignment of practices and policies with core values.

Confidentiality Management:

• Handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion and integrity.

• Establish and maintain protocols to safeguard confidential data related to employees, candidates, and organizational strategies.

Cultural Stewardship:

• Act as a custodian of organizational culture and values, fostering an environment of respect, diversity, and inclusion.

• Implement initiatives to reinforce and enhance the organization's culture, promoting a sense of belonging and engagement among employees.

Recruitment Excellence:

• Execute end-to-end recruitment processes, from sourcing and screening to onboarding, ensuring a seamless and positive candidate experience.

• Strong experience in imploying innovative strategies to attract top talent that aligns with the organization's culture and values.

• Collaborate with COURIER hiring managers to understand staffing needs and develop effective recruitment strategies.

• Guide and train hiring managers on best practices related to employee onboarding based on best practices within the COURIER Hiring Guide.

• . Continuous maintenance of the COURIER Hiring Guide to ensure consistency for all new hires.

People-First Mentality:

• Prioritize the well-being and development of employees, advocating for their needs and concerns.

• Implement programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing employee satisfaction, retention, and professional growth.

• Serve as a trusted resource for employees, providing guidance on HR policies, procedures, and benefits.

HRIS Management and Onboarding:

• Update and maintain Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) to ensure accuracy of employee data.

• Facilitate the onboarding process for new employees, ensuring a smooth transition into the organization.

• Optimize onboarding process based on regular feedback from employees from their first 30 day onboarding from an administrative and departmental perspective by conducting surveys and 30-day new hire checkpoints.

• Provide management support to the annual internship program, with a focus on sourcing, recruiting, and being a point of contact of interns during their tenure at COURIER.

Employee Checkpoints and All-Hands Meetings:

• Provide support for employee checkpoints, facilitating discussions on performance, goals, and development opportunities.

• Prepare documents and materials for monthly All-Hands Meetings, contributing to transparent communication and alignment across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration or equivalent experience and education.

• Proven experience in human resources, recruitment, or related roles.

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust at all levels of the organization.

• Strong understanding of HR practices, employment laws, and regulations.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

• Innovative mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and learning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• Familiarity with Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) and Applicant Tracking System (ATS) systems.

• Passion for promoting a positive work culture and employee engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.