At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape talent and culture strategies to drive hotel success globally.
- Company: Join IHG Hotels & Resorts, a leader in the hospitality industry.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team influencing global hotel operations.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on hotel performance and leadership development worldwide.
- Qualifications: Senior talent leadership experience and expertise in performance and culture.
Shape the leaders, performance and culture that power hotel success. At IHG Hotels & Resorts, our hotels bring our brands to life. They are where leadership choices become colleague experience, guest experience and owner value. We are looking for an exceptional global talent leader to make those connections stronger, faster and more consistent across our managed and franchised hotel estate.
This role will set the global Hotels agenda for talent, performance and culture. It will build the leadership capability and succession strength needed for growth; create a compelling proposition for General Managers and other critical hotel talent; and turn IHG’s high-performance ambition into practical, simple and scalable ways of working.
Why this role, why now: IHG’s refreshed Global HR Plan supports Elevate the IHG Business Strategy through three connected priorities:
- Creating a high-performance culture that enables sustainable profitable growth;
- Driving owner value and employee experience;
- Building a digital-first, AI-powered HR function.
For Hotels, that means strengthening the quality and diversity of GM and critical-role pipelines; accelerating readiness for new hotel openings and conversions; building deeper leadership strength, including in Luxury & Lifestyle; modernising performance and talent practices; and ensuring that global solutions work in the reality of different regions, markets, ownership models and hotel operations.
The Head of Talent, Performance and Culture – IHG Hotels will bring those priorities together into a clear strategy, an executable roadmap and a disciplined operating rhythm.
Your mandate: You will create a coherent, evidence-led talent ecosystem for Hotels: from future capability and success profiles, through assessment, succession, development and deployment, to performance, reward, learning and culture. You will align with IHG’s enterprise frameworks while ensuring that the distinctive needs of managed and franchised hotels, owners, General Managers and frontline colleagues shape the design.
You will be a trusted adviser to senior business and HR leaders, a constructive challenger when decisions need sharpening, and a practical partner who converts strategy into adoption and measurable impact.
What you will make happen:
- Set and deliver a global Hotels talent, performance and culture strategy that is visibly connected to growth, service, loyalty, productivity, retention and owner economics.
- Strengthen diverse, ready-now pipelines for General Managers and other critical hotel leadership roles, with clear readiness standards, rigorous talent reviews, purposeful development and external benchmarking.
- Build a compelling GM and hotel-leadership proposition that helps IHG attract, develop, deploy and retain exceptional leaders in priority markets and segments.
- Translate IHG’s high-performance principles into straightforward, light-touch practices: clear priorities, leadership accountability, continuous feedback, honest performance conversations, intelligent resource choices and recognition of impact rather than effort alone.
- Use data, technology and AI to improve talent decisions, personalise development, simplify the colleague and owner experience, and demonstrate the return on talent investment.
- Mobilise a complex global matrix—business leaders, owners, regional HR, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Reward, Inclusion, HR technology and external partners—around shared choices, governance and outcomes.
What you will bring:
- Senior talent leadership experience in a large, global and highly matrixed organisation, with accountable ownership of strategies that moved beyond design into sustained adoption and measurable business outcomes.
- Deep expertise across talent management, succession, leadership development, performance, culture and organisational effectiveness.
- Strong commercial judgement and the ability to connect people choices to hotel, owner, guest and colleague outcomes.
- Experience designing robust, inclusive assessment and talent methodologies using multiple sources of evidence—not relying on psychometrics alone—and translating insight into real talent decisions.
- A track record of leading complex transformation with clear priorities, decision rights, milestones, governance, adoption measures and corrective action.
- Credibility with executives and the courage to challenge, combined with empathy, cultural intelligence and the political judgement to preserve trust and build a coalition for delivery.
- Practical fluency in workforce analytics, talent technology and AI-enabled solutions, including responsible use, data quality and human oversight.
- Experience in hospitality is valuable. We also welcome leaders from global, customer-led, multi-site sectors such as retail, travel, leisure and consumer services.
Professional background: A relevant degree or professional qualification may be helpful, but demonstrated expertise and impact matter more. Where assessment tools are used, the role will ensure appropriate accreditation, governance, validity, inclusion and expert support. A deep track record of translating customer requirements into practical, actionable products, tools and services is a must.
The leadership style that will thrive here: You will combine enterprise ambition with low ego; pace with control; candour with empathy; and global standards with respect for local insight. You will be curious, commercially grounded and comfortable in ambiguity, while bringing the discipline to sequence work, follow through and make change stick. Above all, you will create clarity and energy around a small number of outcomes that matter.
Why join IHG: This is an opportunity to influence leadership quality and hotel performance at truly global scale. Your work will help strengthen careers, hotel teams and owner confidence, while shaping how IHG develops and deploys talent in an AI-enabled world.
If you are energised by the intersection of talent, performance, culture and commercial value—and want to build something that can travel globally and work locally—we would like to hear from you.
Windsor, Berkshire | Hybrid: three days in the office, two days from home | Reporting to VP, Talent Solutions
Closing Date for applications: 25th August 2026
Head of Talent and Culture - Hotels employer: IHG
At IHG, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a vibrant work culture at Kimpton Charlotte Square in the heart of Edinburgh. As a Room Attendant, you will not only enjoy competitive pay and generous discounts but also benefit from extensive training opportunities that foster personal and professional growth, all while contributing to creating unforgettable guest experiences.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Talent and Culture - Hotels
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at IHG!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at IHG.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Talent and Culture - Hotels
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at IHG. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to IHG and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at IHG. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to IHG's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at IHG
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with IHG.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at IHG will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact IHG and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
