At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the People & Culture strategy, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
- Company: Mandarin Oriental is a luxury hotel group known for exceptional service and stunning properties worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work options, wellness programmes, and generous holiday entitlements.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team focused on growth, inclusivity, and making a real impact in hospitality.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR leadership, strong communication skills, and a degree in a related field required.
- Other info: Be part of the #MOfamily with unique perks like complimentary stays and charity days.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Director of People & Culture role at Mandarin Oriental. Are you a master of craft? Do you thrive in a team that succeeds together, demonstrating integrity and respect while acting responsibly? Do you embrace a growth mindset? We invite you to become a fan of the exceptional.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences located in prime destinations around the world, with a strong development pipeline. Increasingly recognised for creating some of the world’s most sought-after properties, the Group provides legendary service inspired by Asian heritage whilst representing the very cutting-edge of luxury experiences.
About The Job
Based at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair within the People & Culture Department in London, the Director of People & Culture is responsible for the overall People and culture strategic direction and the management of the People & Culture team. The Director of People & Culture will be responsible for the following:
- Define and lead the properties’ people strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives, brand values, and a culture of excellence.
- Foster a positive, inclusive, and respectful work environment where colleagues feel engaged, supported, and empowered to thrive.
- Oversee talent acquisition and workforce planning, ensuring the recruitment of high-calibre colleagues who reflect the hotel’s standards.
- Develop and implement learning and development programs to enhance skills, support career progression, and build internal leadership.
- Promote colleague well-being, diversity, equity, and inclusion, embedding these principles into daily practices and long-term initiatives.
- Act as a trusted advisor to leadership, supporting decision-making with strategic insights on organizational structure, culture, and people performance.
- Oversee performance management processes, ensuring fair evaluations, meaningful feedback, and consistent development planning.
- Manage compensation, benefits, and recognition programs, maintaining market competitiveness while fostering colleague motivation and retention.
- Ensure compliance with local labor laws and resort policies, while maintaining high ethical and confidentiality standards.
- Monitor and enhance colleague engagement, using feedback tools and action plans to continually improve the colleague experience.
As Director of People & Culture we expect from you:
- Solid experience in people and culture or HR leadership roles, ideally within luxury hospitality or international resort environments.
- Strong understanding of organizational culture, colleague engagement, and talent development.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills.
- Strategic mindset with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
- Experience in leading change and building inclusive, high-performing teams.
- High level of integrity, emotional intelligence, and confidentiality.
- Fluency in English; additional languages are an advantage.
- Degree in Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Business, or a related field.
Our commitment to you:
- Learning & Development: Your success is our success. We craft unique learning and development programmes for various stages in your career so that you grow, continuously.
- MOstay: When you work as hard as our colleagues do, it’s important to take time off. As a member of the #MOfamily, you can stay with us wherever you go in the world.
- Health & Colleague Wellness: Finding the right work-life balance is important. Your wellbeing matters to us. A variety of health benefits and wellness programmes are offered to all our colleagues, globally.
- Retirement Plans: When you show commitment to us, we reciprocate. We offer different retirement plans depending on the length of your service and your role.
- 1 paid Charity Day per year to dedicate to a charity of your choice.
- Season ticket loan & cycle to work scheme.
- Free meals on duty & uniform dry-cleaning services.
- Increased holiday entitlement with Length of Service, up to 33 days off.
We’re Fans. Are you?
Director of People & Culture (London) employer: Mandarin Oriental
Contact Detail:
Mandarin Oriental Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of People & Culture (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the luxury hospitality sector. Attend industry events or connect with people on LinkedIn who work at Mandarin Oriental or similar establishments. Building relationships can give you insights into the company culture and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Research Mandarin Oriental's values and recent initiatives, especially around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Being well-versed in their current projects will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your alignment with their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your strategic mindset and how you've successfully led change in previous roles. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to foster a positive work environment and enhance colleague engagement, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in talent acquisition and workforce planning within the hospitality industry. Being knowledgeable about innovative practices will position you as a forward-thinking candidate who can contribute to the company's growth.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of People & Culture (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in people and culture or HR leadership roles, especially within luxury hospitality. Use specific examples that demonstrate your strategic mindset and ability to lead change.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for fostering inclusive work environments and your understanding of organisational culture. Mention how your values align with those of Mandarin Oriental and provide examples of how you've successfully implemented people strategies in the past.
Showcase Soft Skills: Highlight your interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills throughout your application. Use anecdotes to illustrate how you've engaged and empowered teams, as these qualities are crucial for the Director of People & Culture role.
Research the Company: Familiarise yourself with Mandarin Oriental's brand values and culture. Reference specific initiatives or programmes they have in place that resonate with you, demonstrating your genuine interest in the company and its commitment to colleague well-being and development.
How to prepare for a job interview at Mandarin Oriental
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
As a Director of People & Culture, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to align people strategies with business objectives. Prepare examples of how you've successfully implemented strategic initiatives in previous roles.
✨Emphasise Inclusivity and Engagement
Highlight your experience in fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. Be ready to discuss specific programmes or initiatives you've led that improved colleague engagement and well-being.
✨Demonstrate Change Leadership
The role requires leading change effectively. Share instances where you've successfully navigated organisational changes, focusing on how you built high-performing teams during transitions.
✨Prepare for Ethical Scenarios
Given the emphasis on integrity and confidentiality, be prepared to discuss how you've handled sensitive situations in the past. This will showcase your emotional intelligence and commitment to ethical standards.