POLITICO is seeking an experienced Sr. HR Business Partner to serve as a strategic advisor and hands-on people leader to high-performing, fast-paced business teams. This role is based in office at POLITICO's headquarters in the Washington, D.C. area. 

This is a highly visible role for an HR professional who brings equal strength in strategic partnership and disciplined execution. The Sr. HR Business Partner will work closely with senior leaders, including editorial and newsroom leadership, to anticipate organizational needs, translate business priorities into actionable talent strategies, and navigate complex people matters with sound judgment, clarity, and discretion. 

The successful candidate understands that effective HR partnership requires more than providing advice. They maintain accountability for implementation, ensure decisions are translated into clear actions, coordinate effectively across HR and business functions, and follow issues through resolution. 

This role is particularly well suited to an HR Business Partner who moves toward difficult problems rather than around them. The successful candidate willingly takes on complex assignments, assumes responsibility for outcomes, and remains engaged until the work is fully resolved. They understand that effective partnership is not defined by avoiding difficult conversations or preserving short-term comfort, but by treating people with consistent kindness, dignity, honesty, and respect. 

The Sr. HR Business Partner approaches complex situations with curiosity and restraint - seeking first to understand the facts, context, perspectives, and underlying needs before forming conclusions or taking action. They are generous with their expertise, time, and support while maintaining the judgment, boundaries, and resilience necessary to sustain high-quality partnership over time. 

At the center of their approach is a straightforward belief: people first, better results. Employee care and business performance are not competing priorities; they are mutually reinforcing. 

• You volunteer for meaningful work and take pride not only in starting important projects, but in seeing them through to completion. 

• You understand that being agreeable is not always possible, but treating people with kindness, dignity, honesty, and respect is non-negotiable. 

• You listen and seek to understand before forming conclusions, particularly when situations are complex, sensitive, or emotionally charged. 

• You are generous with your expertise, time, and support while maintaining the judgment, boundaries, and self-awareness required for sustainable performance. 

• You provide candid and constructive counsel, recognizing that kindness sometimes requires direct conversations, clear expectations, and difficult decisions. 

• You believe that people considerations and business results are mutually reinforcing: putting people first leads to stronger and more sustainable outcomes. 

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience. MBA or Master’s degree in Human Resources Management a plus. 

• Five to seven years of progressive HR experience, including HR Business Partner or HR Generalist support in a complex, fast-paced organization, with strong business acumen. 

• Broad HR expertise across employee relations, organizational design, workforce planning, talent and performance management, compensation, employee engagement, and talent acquisition. 

• Demonstrated success advising senior business leaders, influencing stakeholders at all levels, and driving organizational change in a matrixed environment. 

• Sound judgment and discretion in sensitive employee matters, including investigations, conflict resolution, and the application of employment law and policy. 

• Strong communication, analytical, and execution skills, with the ability to use workforce data, manage cross-functional priorities, and deliver practical HR solutions to complex business challenges. 

• Professional HR certification is a plus.