Human Resources Manager

Religion News Service is the leading independent, nonprofit news organization coveringone ofthe most complex and consequential forces shaping our world today: religion.

We’renot a religiousorganization—we’rea newsroom. One with sharp elbows for fairness,a strong senseof mission, and a beat that sits right at the intersection of politics, culture,and society. We cover everything from immigration and politics to tarot and yoga, to thesurprise election of Pope Leo XIV—the first U.S.

-born pope, and a story that may reshapenarratives worldwide.

Founded in 1934, RNS is the largest independent source of religion news in the United States.

Re-imagined as a non-profit newsroom in 2013, RNS is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Religion News Foundation.

Our journalism is widely cited and syndicated, and our newsroom is known for credibility, nuance, and editorial independence.

Position Title:

Human Resources Manager

Status:
Exempt

Reports To:

CFO

Location:

Remote anywhere in the United States

The Human Resources Manager oversees the full employee lifecycle and core HR functions for a mission-driven nonprofit newsroom. This role is both strategic and hands-on—supporting a highly skilled, distributed staff while ensuring strong systems, clear policies, legal compliance, and a healthy organizational culture.

The ideal candidate is an experienced HR professional who understands the realities of nonprofit and media organizations and brings sound judgment, discretion, and a people-centered approach to their work.

Manage the full hiring process, including drafting job descriptions, posting roles, screening candidates, coordinating interviews, conducting background checks, and overseeing onboarding and orientation.

Partner with senior leadership to support hiring practices aligned with RNS’s mission and values.

Serve as the primary point of contact for employee questions, concerns, and workplace issues.

Support managers and staff in addressing conflicts, performance concerns, and disciplinary matters with fairness and professionalism.

Help foster a respectful and collaborative work environment across a distributed team.

Partner with the CFO and external vendors to support payroll processing and benefits administration, including leave programs, retirement, health, vision, dental and other benefits.

Assist with salary benchmarking and compensation reviews to support competitiveness and internal equity.

Work closely with RNS’s Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to develop, update, and implement HR policies and procedures.

Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.

Maintain confidential employee records and documentation.

Support performance review processes and help managers implement consistent evaluation practices.

Assist in identifying training and professional development opportunities that support staff growth and organizational needs.

Promote a physically and psychologically safe workplace.

Work with leadership and editorial staff to support journalist safety, including risk awareness and reporting-related safety protocols.

Perform other related duties as assigned by the CFO, CEO or senior leadership.

This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Minimum three years of experience in a human resources role.
• Experience in media, journalism, or nonprofit organizations preferred.

SHRM-CP, PHR, or similar professional certification preferred.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• Proven problem-solving and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Ability to balance empathy with clarity and consistency in policy enforcement.