Assistant Director People & Culture

Job Description

We invite you to join the world of luxury hospitality at Raffles Dubai as our new Assistant Director People & Culture to act as deputy to the Director of People & Culture, supporting the leadership and delivery of the hotel’s People & Culture strategy while ensuring effective HR operations, colleague engagement, talent development and employee relations.

The role is highly visible and hands-on, with a strong focus on leadership, empowerment, capability building and translating strategy into action. 

KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

People & Culture Leadership

• Act as Deputy to the Director of People & Culture and lead the function in their absence.
• Translate P&C strategy into clear actions and measurable outcomes.
• Act as a trusted advisor and coach to leaders and managers.
• Challenge constructively and address difficult people matters with confidence and professionalism.
• Take ownership of issues and ensure timely follow-up and resolution.
• Lead and develop the P&C team, promoting accountability and empowerment.

Employee Relations & Performance

• Advise managers on employee relations, performance, conduct and workplace matters.
• Manage disciplinary, grievance and investigation cases in line with company policies and UAE legislation.
• Coach managers on performance management, feedback and difficult conversations.
• Ensure appraisals, probation reviews and development plans are completed to the required standards.

Learning, Leadership & Talent Development

• Translate business and P&C priorities into targeted learning and development initiatives.
• Design and deliver leadership, communication, service and people-management training, while ensuring all mandatory training requirements are effectively planned, delivered and monitored.
• Build leadership capability and a strong coaching culture across the hotel.
• Empower managers and colleagues to take ownership and make effective decisions.
• Leverage digital platforms, modern learning technologies and innovative training tools to enhance learning engagement, accessibility and effectiveness.
• Support talent reviews, succession planning and internal career development.
• Continuously identify new and innovative approaches to develop people and strengthen organizational capability.

Recruitment & Colleague Experience

• Partner with leaders on recruitment, selection and onboarding.
• Ensure recruitment and onboarding reflect the hotel’s luxury service culture.
• Lead colleague engagement initiatives and support EES action plans.
• Monitor colleague feedback, retention and engagement trends.
• Oversee colleague accommodation standards and initiatives.

Reporting, Compliance & Business Support

• Analyze P&C data, trends and KPIs and provide recommendations to management.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, brand standards and applicable UAE employment legislation.
• Support manpower planning, budgeting and forecasting.
• Prepare required P&C and Brand reports.

Qualifications

What will you bring to this role? 

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Ability to speak up, challenge constructively and manage difficult conversations professionally.
• Strong ownership, accountability and action-oriented mindset.
• Forward-thinking and innovative, with a strong digital mindset and openness to new technologies and modern learning methodologies.
• Excellent coaching, facilitation and communication skills.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on and pragmatic approach.
• Strong focus on empowerment, people development and building capability.
• High emotional intelligence, integrity and confidentiality.
• Ability to build strong relationships in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively under pressure.
• Strong understanding of luxury hospitality culture, standards and guest experience. 
• Embrace the Raffles brand promise and luxury in your role and in all your interactions. 
• Foster an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued and respected.
• Create an environment where colleagues are empowered, supported and recognized.
• Drive top performance to achieve exceptional results 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Human Resources Management or Human Resources Development.
• CIPD Chartered Member (MCIPD) or equivalent professional HR qualification is highly desirable.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 2–3 years’ experience as an Assistant Director People & Culture / HR or equivalent senior P&C role.
• Minimum 10 years’ progressive HR/P&C experience, preferably within luxury five-star hospitality or an international luxury hotel group, with strong knowledge of luxury service standards, etiquette and brand positioning.
• Strong experience in employee relations, leadership development, learning and development, and talent management.
• Proven ability to design and deliver learning initiatives aligned with business and People & Culture strategy.

Additional Information

Employee Benefits:
Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive colleague perks, including complimentary upgrades, extended stays, discounted stays across Fairmont & Raffles properties, special dining and wellness discounts, and added luxuries to enhance your experience. We believe in taking care of our team, ensuring that your hard work is rewarded with exceptional benefits. 

Our Values

Respect:
We value the needs, ideas and individuality of others. We treat everyone with fairness and dignity. 

Excellence:
We make genuine connections, and we cherish every opportunity to make the people around us feel special.​

Belonging:
We celebrate our differences. We support each other and we always stand together.​

Empowerment:
We have authority to take initiative and anticipate moments that create unforgettable experiences. ​

Integrity:
We build trust through mutual respect and being authentic.​

Diversity & Inclusion

Raffles is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse talent thrives. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join our team.