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- Tasks: Shape the culture and future of our hospitality business while empowering teams.
- Company: Rick Stein Restaurants, known for fresh seafood and warm service.
- Benefits: Part-time role with flexible hours and travel opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on guest experiences by leading engaged teams.
- Qualifications: Senior HR leadership experience in hospitality or multi-site environments.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to exceptional service and employee empowerment.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
At Rick Stein Restaurants we are all about fresh seafood, warm service, and a genuine passion for people. From our kitchens to our front-of-house teams, we believe great learning creates great guest experiences. We’re looking for an exceptional People Director to shape the culture, capability and future of our hospitality business — someone who understands that great guest experiences begin with engaged, empowered people. This role is a part-time position - 2 days a week, based in Padstow with travel to other locations as required. This is a rare opportunity for a senior people leader with a deep appreciation of hospitality, craft and service.
You will bring proven experience operating at leadership level within multi-site, people-intensive environments, and a clear belief that culture, leadership and ownership are the true drivers of commercial success. As People Director, you will lead the strategic design and delivery of our people agenda — from attraction and retention of hospitality talent to leadership development, learning and engagement. You will champion a culture of empowerment, ownership and stewardship, putting in place practical processes, clear expectations and supportive frameworks that give teams the confidence to take responsibility, make decisions and deliver exceptional service. This is a role for someone who truly embraces hospitality— a People Director ready to build a culture where people feel valued, developed and empowered to deliver outstanding guest experiences, every day.
Responsibilities- Strategically review and continuously evolve the end-to-end employee journey, from attraction and onboarding through to progression and retention.
- Ensure people processes are simple, consistent and fit for the realities of a multi-site hospitality environment.
- Oversee employee relations, ensuring legal compliance and best practice.
- Champion a modern, inclusive employee experience that reflects changing workforce expectations and ways of working.
- Partner with operational leaders to ensure the employee experience translates into confident, engaged frontline teams.
- Build and sustain a culture of empowerment, ownership and stewardship where people are trusted to make decisions and take responsibility.
- Embed clear leadership expectations, behaviours and rhythms that drive accountability and performance.
- Lead cultural change initiatives that support growth, evolution and continuous improvement.
- Act as a visible role model and trusted advisor to leaders, reinforcing value through everyday actions and decisions.
- Leverage technology and modern people practices to support engagement, transparency and effective leadership.
- Design and lead a commercially aligned L&D strategy that develops confident, values-led and entrepreneurial hospitality leaders.
- Embed clear career pathways and capability frameworks across frontline, management and senior leadership roles.
- Champion coaching and mentoring as core leadership behaviours to build accountability, ownership and performance.
- Proven experience in a senior People / HR leadership role, ideally within hospitality, leisure, retail or another multi-site, customer-facing environment.
- Strong track record of designing and delivering Learning & Development strategies that build leadership capability and drive measurable business impact.
- Demonstrable experience of shaping and improving the end-to-end employee journey in fast-paced, operationally complex organisations.
- Deep understanding of how to build progressive, values-led cultures that empower people, encourage ownership and support high performance.
- Experience coaching and mentoring senior leaders and managers, with the credibility to challenge and influence at executive level.
- Confidence leading organisational change, cultural transformation and people-led initiatives in evolving or growing businesses.
- Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to link people strategy to operational outcomes such as engagement, retention and guest experience.
- Experience implementing and leveraging HR technology and digital learning tools to improve efficiency, insight and employee experience.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, able to engage frontline teams and senior stakeholders with equal impact.
- High levels of personal integrity, resilience and judgement, with a calm, pragmatic approach to complex people matters.
People Director (P/T) employer: Rick Stein Careers
Contact Detail:
Rick Stein Careers Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land People Director (P/T)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the hospitality industry. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on that perfect People Director role!
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your passion for hospitality! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your love for creating exceptional guest experiences and empowering teams. Let them see that you’re not just looking for a job, but a place where you can truly make a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture. Dive into Rick Stein Restaurants’ values and mission, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as someone who’s genuinely interested in shaping their people agenda.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re all about making the process as smooth as possible, so you can focus on what really matters—landing that dream role as People Director!
We think you need these skills to ace People Director (P/T)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for People: When writing your application, let your love for people shine through! Share specific examples of how you've engaged and empowered teams in previous roles. We want to see that you truly understand the importance of a great culture in hospitality.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in multi-site environments. We’re looking for someone who can navigate the complexities of hospitality, so connect your past roles to the responsibilities outlined in the job description. It’ll show us you’re the right fit!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at Rick Stein Restaurants!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rick Stein Careers
✨Know Your Hospitality Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of the hospitality industry, especially around people management and guest experiences. Familiarise yourself with Rick Stein Restaurants' values and how they prioritise fresh seafood and warm service. This will show that you genuinely understand their culture and can contribute to it.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully led teams in multi-site environments. Highlight your experience in shaping employee journeys and driving cultural change. This is your chance to demonstrate how your leadership has directly impacted engagement and performance.
✨Emphasise Empowerment and Ownership
Rick Stein Restaurants is all about empowering their people. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered a culture of ownership in previous roles. Share strategies you've implemented that encourage team members to take responsibility and make decisions, as this aligns perfectly with what they're looking for.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you'd handle specific situations related to employee relations or cultural transformation. Think through potential scenarios in advance and prepare your responses. This will help you articulate your thought process and demonstrate your problem-solving skills effectively.
