Head of Employee Relations & HR Compliance

ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.

ProPublica is looking for a collaborative and adaptable human resources manager to deliver strong customer service while helping to build the HR infrastructure to support a growing staff in a scaling organization.

This role will oversee all aspects of our employee benefits strategy and programs, identify and deliver process improvements, assist on compensation and take on additional projects as needed. This is a unique moment in ProPublica’s history, when systems need to be improved to support the organization’s growth and strategy. The HR manager will need to take initiative while responding in a dynamic, evolving context.

This role will report to the human resources director, who reports to the chief financial and administrative officer. The HR manager will be joining a two‑person department that supports more than 220 staff on all of our benefit programs, on‑ and off‑boarding procedures, employee relations and performance management. The department works closely with our talent, finance and legal departments. The HR manager will work closely with our HR coordinator, who is responsible for day‑to‑day benefit and leave administration.

This role will be responsible (in collaboration with our legal department and the HR director) for ensuring all aspects of benefit‑, leave‑ and compensation‑related compliance in 30+ states. A high‑level explanation of our benefits is available on our site.

ProPublica has an employee union, and the HR director, manager and coordinator will assist in a variety of issues related to the union and in implementing the collective bargaining agreement currently being negotiated.

Manage benefits renewal process, including evaluating and recommending benefits vendors as needed.

Working with members of the finance and HR team, play a primary role in the organization's benefits strategy, preparing recommendations to executive staff.

identify and implement improvements to billing, enrollment and documentation collection.

Ensure 403(b) highlights document is up to date, respond to employee 403(b) queries and oversee the 403(b) hardship withdrawal and loan process.

Within a union context, recommend competitive benefits programs that attract and retain top talent.

HR processes, compliance and customer service:

Assist the HR director in responding to collective bargaining agreement or union‑related inquiries.

Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations (ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, etc.), working with our legal department as necessary; maintain and distribute all benefit plan documents and approve appropriate filings; oversee ACA and COBRA administration, which is handled by our HR coordinator on the Paylocity and Tilt platforms.

Oversee HR processes in Paylocity and ensure standard operating procedures are up to date.

Ensure that employees feel supported on all benefit processes and leave administration.

Support our compensation administration across all departments by acting as point person for managers’ compensation questions around pricing jobs and offer approvals.

Special projects as needed, such as:

Transitioning our performance management process to a new platform.

Other initiatives identified by the HR director or chief financial and administrative officer as part of evolving the HR function and building the infrastructure to support the organization's growth and scaling.

At least five years of progressive experience in human resources, including responsibility for health benefits, 403(b) benefits and leaves of absence required.

Previous experience serving in an HR capacity in a unionized environment required.

Expertise supporting an employee base across multiple states strongly preferred.

Strong knowledge of compensation and benefits regulations, including ACA, FMLA, FLSA, COBRA and applicable state laws required.

Knowledge of software applications used in benefits and office administration, including HRIS (Paylocity a plus), Google suite and Excel required.

Familiarity with compensation structures preferred.

Knowledge of self‑funded and fully insured benefit structures preferred.

Ability to own improvement projects and HR processes from end to end (defining need/opportunity, developing operating plans, implementing/executing) required.

Ability to handle confidential data with integrity and proven experience making balanced, risk‑aware recommendations required.

Ability to create and give clear presentations on complicated matters relating to health benefits and pharmaceutical plans required.

This job is full time and includes benefits. This position is based in New York and requires in‑office work at least two days a week. The final salary figure will take into account a person’s experience, accomplishment and location. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or any other status protected under applicable law.

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