At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the People & Culture strategy for a dynamic lifestyle hotel group.
- Company: Multi-brand lifestyle hotel group with a focus on exceptional employee experiences.
- Benefits: Excellent salary, benefits, and a Monday to Friday work schedule in London.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence organisational growth and development in a fast-paced industry.
- Why this job: Shape a vibrant culture and enhance guest experiences through brilliant employee engagement.
- Qualifications: Senior-level HR experience, preferably in hospitality or customer-focused environments.
Head of People & Culture
Multi-Brand Lifestyle Hotel Group
Excellent salary and benefits
London (Monday to Friday)
We’re looking for an exceptional Head of a People & Culture to lead the people agenda across a portfolio of distinctive lifestyle hotels.
This is a role for someone who believes that brilliant guest experiences start with brilliant employee experiences and who understands how to translate that philosophy into a commercially effective people strategy.
Working closely with the Executive Team, General Managers and senior leaders across the portfolio, you’ll shape the culture, develop leadership capability and ensure the business has the talent, structure and organisational capability it needs for its next stage of growth.
You’ll be a highly visible and influential partner to the operation, combining strategic thinking with the willingness to get close to the hotels, their teams and the realities of running fast-paced hospitality businesses.
The role
You’ll take leadership of the People & Culture agenda across the lifestyle hotel portfolio, creating and delivering a strategy that supports both the individual identity of the brands and the wider ambitions of the group.
Your remit will span the entire employee lifecycle, but there will be a particular focus on culture, leadership development, organisational capability, talent, engagement and transformation.
You’ll work closely with senior leadership to ensure that People & Culture is viewed not simply as a support function, but as a genuine strategic and commercial partner to the business.
Key areas of responsibility will include
- Developing and delivering the People & Culture strategy across the lifestyle portfolio.
- Partnering with the Executive Team, Group People leadership and General Managers on business performance, organisational priorities and future growth.
- Leading, developing and inspiring the People & Culture team.
- Building leadership capability through coaching, development programmes, succession planning and clearly defined leadership standards.
- Creating meaningful career pathways and strengthening internal progression across the business.
- Shaping a high-performing, values-led culture that attracts, develops and retains exceptional people.
- Leading the employee engagement agenda and using insight and feedback to continually improve the employee experience.
- Strengthening wellbeing, inclusion, recognition and belonging across the organisation.
- Overseeing talent acquisition strategy and continuing to develop the employer brand.
- Ensuring onboarding and induction provide an engaging and consistent introduction to the organisation and its brands.
- Leading People workstreams around organisational development, transformation, restructures, integrations and new hotel openings.
- Partnering with Brand and Operations to ensure the culture and people experience authentically reflect the identity of each lifestyle brand.
- Providing strategic oversight of employee relations, employment law, policies and People governance.
- Using People data and workforce analytics to identify trends, inform decisions and measure impact.
- Continually improving People systems, processes and ways of working.
About you
You’ll already have significant experience operating at a senior People & Culture level, ideally within a multi-site hospitality, leisure or similarly customer-focused environment.
Lifestyle hotel and hospitality experience is particularly relevant, but more important is an understanding of businesses where culture, brand, service and people are intrinsically connected.
You’ll bring
- Senior-level People & Culture/HR leadership experience (CIPD Level 7 or equivalent would be advantageous)
- Experience working across multiple brands (candidates with lifestyle hotels and hospitality experience preferred)
- A genuine passion for hospitality, culture and developing people.
- Experience supporting new openings and/or operating within a business experiencing growth or transformation.
- Experience working across multi-site operational businesses.
- A strong track record of developing and implementing commercially relevant people strategies.
- Deep experience in organisational development, learning and leadership capability.
- Strong knowledge of employee relations and UK employment law.
- Experience leading organisational change, transformation and cultural initiatives.
- The credibility and confidence to coach, challenge and influence senior leaders.
- Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of how People initiatives influence wider business performance.
- Experience developing high-performing People teams.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
What success looks like
- Success in this role will be visible throughout the organisation.
- You’ll have created a clear and commercially focused People & Culture strategy that leaders understand, believe in and actively support.
- Leadership capability will strengthen. Internal progression and succession pipelines will improve. Engagement and retention will move in the right direction, and the business will continue to build a reputation as somewhere exceptional people genuinely want to work.
- There will be a consistent and engaging employee experience from recruitment and onboarding through to development and progression, while individual brands retain the personality and culture that make them distinctive.
- Most importantly, People & Culture will be recognised throughout the business as an influential strategic partner - directly contributing to stronger teams, stronger guest experiences and stronger commercial performance.
The person behind the experience
We’re looking for someone credible, engaging and commercially minded who can operate comfortably around an Executive table but remains connected to what is happening inside the hotels.
You’ll be strategic without becoming removed from the operation; confident enough to challenge, when necessary, but collaborative in how you bring people with you - authentic, approachable and values-led, with the resilience and energy to lead through change in a fast-moving business.
Above all, you’ll genuinely care about creating environments where people can do their best work - understanding that when people thrive, hospitality businesses tend to thrive with them.
Head of People & Culture
Multi-Brand Lifestyle Hotel Group
Excellent salary and benefits
London (Monday to Friday)
Interested in this exciting opportunity? Please apply via LinkedIn.
Unfortunately, due to expected high volumes, applications and CVs cannot be accepted via individual LinkedIn messages or email.
Every application will be reviewed, and all applicants can expect a personal response after the closing date, Friday 18th September 2026.
Head of People & Culture in London employer: mum
Join a dynamic multi-brand lifestyle hotel group in London, where we prioritise exceptional employee experiences as the foundation for outstanding guest satisfaction. Our vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, offering extensive career development opportunities and a commitment to wellbeing, inclusion, and recognition. As a strategic partner in shaping our people agenda, you'll play a pivotal role in driving organisational success while enjoying an excellent salary and benefits package.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of People & Culture in London
✨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 mum!
✨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 mum.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of People & Culture in London
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 mum. 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 mum 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 mum. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to mum'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 mum
✨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 mum.
✨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 mum 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 mum and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
