People Operations Specialist

The Texas Tribune is hiring a People Operations Specialist to ensure our employees feel supported, safe and equipped to do their best work.

The Tribune is an established nonprofit, nonpartisan leader in digital-first journalism, devoted to informing and engaging Texans through in-depth investigations and explanatory guides, as well as with rigorous enterprise, breaking news and beat reporting informed by data.

The People Operations Specialist will support a staff of 100 at our globally celebrated, award-winning news organization. While our headquarters is steps away from the Texas Capitol in downtown Austin, we also have employees who live and work in Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, Lufkin, McAllen, Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, and Washington, D.C.

You’ll handle the day-to-day operations that keep our workplace running — including onboarding new employees, making sure the office stays organized, and seeing that our Austin-based and remote people have what they need.

You’ll manage HR processes, coordinate benefits, and help keep our internal systems in shape. You’ll also take the lead on office and tech operations, ensuring our Austin headquarters is a welcoming, secure, and efficient space and that our local newsrooms have the support they need to be successful and run efficiently.

We’re looking for someone who’s organized, proactive and people-focused. The best candidates will have a solid track record of solving problems, keeping things running smoothly and helping colleagues succeed. Experience in a nonprofit setting is a plus, but not required.

The People Operations Specialist reports to the Director of Human Resources.

Salary will depend on experience; the minimum is $65,000.

Responsibilities

• Supports every stage of the employee lifecycle, including but not limited to: recruiting logistics, onboarding, offboarding and employee records.
• Administers benefits and helps staff navigate HR questions.
• Prepares and maintains confidential personnel, compensation, and disciplinary files.
• Provides administrative and analytical support to HR leadership during policy development.
• Maintains HR systems and helps with compliance and reporting.
• Manages subscriptions, such as for software-as-a-services like 1Password, Google Suite, Airtable, and other subscription services.
• Manages office operations, including but not limited to: office access and credentialing, vendor relationships, lease oversight, workspace setup and supplies.
• Oversees safety and security procedures for our Austin and remote offices and maintains emergency preparedness plans.
• Coordinates staff access to digital systems and tracks technology assets, such as laptops and other equipment.
• Acts as the first point of contact for technical support and managing the external tech support team.
• Works with our third-party IT vendor to ensure every new hire has the right tools and access and existing staff members get the help they need when they need it.
• Helps plan staff events, trainings and internal communications that strengthen our culture.

Qualifications

• Four years of experience in HR, people operations, or a related role
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment
• Excellent time management skills and a proven ability to meet deadlines with a commitment to quality
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities — you excel at helping others.
• Digital fluency and experience using and administering technology systems and troubleshooting basic tech issues
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion
• Familiarity with Google Workspace, HR systems and other remote collaboration tools
• Collaborative and flexible work style; adaptable to change
• A strong interest in the mission of The Texas Tribune

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization
• Professional HR certification (SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR)

We know there are great candidates who won’t check all of these boxes, and we know you might bring important skills that we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

Location

The Texas Tribune headquarters is located in downtown Austin, steps away from the Texas Capitol building. This position is based in our Austin office with flexibility for occasional remote work.

Benefits

• Medical, vision and dental insurance
• $50 monthly cellphone stipend
• 20 days of paid time off each year
• 12 paid holidays
• Up to 16 weeks of paid family leave, plus four weeks of additional job protection
• 401(k) matching
• Occasional remote working flexibility

How to Apply

Submit your application here by Dec. 7 with a resume and cover letter telling us about yourself, your experience and why you want to join our team. We can't wait to hear from you.

The Texas Tribune is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

About The Texas Tribune

Here’s what you should know about the Tribune. From day one, we’ve had disruption, innovation and risk-taking in our DNA. We’re ambitious as all get out but still have the punch-above-your-weight mentality of a scrappy start-up. We believe we can meet the demands of our audience and our own expectations for excellence without breaking the bank — or our staff. We understand not everything is a story for us — we have to make choices — but we’re always looking to expand our boundaries.

We’re nonprofit because the challenging economic reality for media these days obligates us to find a different way, reliable and sustainable, to fund serious journalism. We’re nonpartisan because we live in the United States of Confirmation Bias — and we don’t need to be part of the problem. We don’t need to be yet another source of information affirming the voices and perspectives that are already in people’s heads. At the same time, nonpartisan is not non-thinking. We call B.S. when B.S. needs to be called.

The Texas Tribune seeks to ensure that its newsroom and its news coverage reflect Texas by including a wide range of perspectives from people of different backgrounds, ideologies and experiences.

Learn more about The Texas Tribune here.