Director of People & Culture

Job Description

Reporting to the General Manager, the Director of People & Culture is a strategic and operational leader responsible for shaping a high-performing, compliant, and engaging workplace culture. This role partners closely with the Executive Committee to drive business results through people strategies, while embedding service excellence into all People & Culture practices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee the day-to-day operations of the People & Culture function, aligning people strategies with business objectives and service culture priorities
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the General Manager and Executive Committee, providing guidance on organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, and leadership development
• Champion a culture of engagement by fostering an environment of trust, open communication, accountability, recognition, and inclusion
• Drive colleague engagement initiatives, including survey action planning, listening strategies, and targeted interventions that improve retention, morale, and performance
• Act as a steward of the organization’s service culture by embedding service standards, emotional intelligence, and guest-centric behaviors into hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and recognition programs
• Coach and develop leaders at all levels to strengthen leadership capability, accountability, and consistency in delivering both colleague and guest experiences
• Partner with department leaders to translate colleague feedback, operational insights, and business metrics into actionable people strategies and measurable outcomes
• Oversee all aspects of talent management including recruitment, succession planning, performance management, and leadership development, ensuring alignment with brand standards and service expectations
• Lead labor relations strategy, including union engagement, grievance management, mediations, arbitrations, and collective bargaining, ensuring balanced outcomes and operational continuity
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, collective bargaining agreements, and company policies; proactively mitigate risk through audits, training, and process improvements
• Direct and oversee workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, and terminations with a focus on fairness, consistency, and risk management
• Manage compensation, benefits, leave programs, and wellness initiatives to support a competitive and compliant colleague value proposition
• Oversee occupational health & safety programs, ensuring a safe and compliant work environment for all colleagues
• Utilize HRIS and people analytics to monitor trends, identify risks, and inform strategic decision-making across engagement, turnover, productivity, and service metrics
• Lead the development and management of the annual People & Culture budget, including forecasting, cost control, and resource allocation
• Continuously challenge the status quo by identifying opportunities to improve processes, elevate the colleague experience, and strengthen service delivery
• Support and lead colleague events and recognition programs that reinforce culture, celebrate success, and build community
• Model and promote professional, inclusive, and engaging behaviors aligned with company values
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience, preferably within hospitality unionized environment
• Strong knowledge of labor relations and collective bargaining agreements required
• Demonstrated business acumen, with the ability to understand operational and financial priorities and translate them into practical People & Culture strategies that support business performance
• Proven ability to hold leaders accountable for people practices, colleague engagement, performance, compliance, and service culture, while providing the coaching and support necessary for leaders to succeed
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders, challenge constructively, and drive organizational change through people strategies
• Strong understanding of employment law, compliance, risk management, and best practices
• Demonstrated experience in colleague engagement, culture transformation, leadership development, and performance management
• Ability to connect colleague experience, leadership effectiveness, and service culture to guest experience and business results
• Experience leveraging HR metrics, engagement data, and business analytics to identify trends, measure progress, and inform decision-making
• University/college degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field; HR certification is an asset
• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to balance colleague needs, operational requirements, compliance obligations, and financial considerations
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, coaching, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage and influence all levels of the organization from line colleagues to Executive Committee members
• Highly organized, self-directed, and accountable, with the ability to prioritize competing demands and consistently deliver results
• Proficient in HR systems and Microsoft Office applications

Additional Information

Salary Range: $150,000 to $185,000 Annual

Feel free to visit our website at http://www.fairmont.com/ to find out more about our company.

Fairmont is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. EOE/M/F/D/V

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.