Director of People & Culture

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

• 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 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.