Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a large team to enhance people operations across Travelodge.
- Company: Join Travelodge Hotels Limited, a leader in the hospitality sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, generous holiday, and hotel discounts.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and wellbeing in an inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Be a catalyst for change and shape the future of our colleague experience.
- Qualifications: Proven HR leadership experience in multi-site environments.
The predicted salary is between 112000 - 168000 ÂŁ per year.
Join to apply for the People Director (Operations) role at Travelodge Hotels Limited. Are you an inspirational HR leader ready to take on a pivotal role in a large, fast‑paced, multi‑site organisation? Do you thrive on translating strategy into action and modernising people operations through digital tools and data‑led insight? If so, our People Director (Operations) position could be the perfect next career move for you.
What’s it all about? The People Director (Operations) will bring our people agenda to life across an organisation with thousands of colleagues in hundreds of locations. You'll ensure a consistent, engaging, and future‑ready colleague experience and position us as a benchmark for people‑first operations in our sector. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and working closely with the People Director (Strategy), this role is a blend of operational excellence and forward‑looking influence. You won't just be an enabler—you'll be a catalyst for engagement, retention, productivity, and long‑term business success.
Specifically this role will cover:
- People Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement: Lead, coach, and develop a large, multi‑skilled team. You’ll be acting as a trusted advisor to the Executive Committee on people operations and succession planning.
- Workforce Planning & Talent Development: Lead strategic workforce planning, ensuring the right capability and capacity for business needs. You'll oversee the Talent Delivery team to build strong talent pipelines, succession plans, and learning interventions.
- Recruitment & Onboarding: Oversee timely, cost‑effective, and high‑quality recruitment. Develop a multi‑channel attraction strategy and lead the design of a seamless onboarding process to improve early retention and performance.
- Employee Relations & Compliance: Lead the business through a period of legislative change through the consistent application and continual review of policies and procedures.
- People Systems & Reporting: Own the day to day service of people related systems including our HRIS, LMS and ATS, ensuring data accuracy and integrity.
- Employee Experience & Engagement: Embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into every stage of the colleague lifecycle.
Why Travelodge? We believe in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their true self and belong. We work hard to improve the diversity of our teams and celebrate our differences. And we care about our colleagues’ wellbeing, so we ensure there are plenty of resources available so everyone can look after their emotional, physical, financial and work wellbeing. We call this “Better Me”.
Who will this appeal to? You will be a passionate and seasoned leader with substantial experience of leading large scale people teams in a centralised support model. Ideally from a multi‑site, customer facing environment, you will be comfortable working at a strategic level whilst having the agility to get hands on when required. The ability to operate with credibility and integrity with senior stakeholders is essential. You will be a self‑starting, confident, articulate communicator with experience of managing budgets. You will demonstrate adaptability and innovation and understand the benefits of digital transformation.
What are the extra benefits of working for Travelodge?
- Competitive Salary c ÂŁ140,000 + Annual bonus (discretionary)
- Contributory pension scheme
- Hybrid working – a minimum of 60% of your time should be spent in our office in Thame, but you’re welcome to come in every day if you prefer!
- 50% personal discount for hotel bookings and great friends and family discounts!
- 25 days holiday increasing with length of service + Bank Holidays
People Director (Operations) in Thame employer: Travelodge Hotels Limited
Contact Detail:
Travelodge Hotels Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land People Director (Operations) in Thame
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Travelodge on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can double your chances of landing that interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the company culture and values. Travelodge is all about inclusivity and wellbeing, so think about how your experience aligns with their mission and be ready to share examples.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during the interview. Be ready to discuss how you've led teams and driven engagement in previous roles. They want someone who can inspire and modernise people operations, so let that shine through!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Travelodge family.
We think you need these skills to ace People Director (Operations) in Thame
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the People Director (Operations) role. Highlight your experience in leading large teams and any strategic initiatives you've implemented. We want to see how you can bring our people agenda to life!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to showcase your passion for HR leadership and how you’ve modernised people operations in the past. Let us know why you’re the perfect fit for Travelodge and how you can help us create a people-first culture.
Showcase Your Digital Savvy: Since we’re all about digital tools and data-led insights, make sure to mention any relevant tech skills or systems you’ve worked with. Whether it’s HRIS, LMS, or ATS, we want to know how you’ve used these to drive engagement and performance.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our Travelodge family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Travelodge Hotels Limited
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Travelodge's values and their approach to people operations. Understand their current challenges and how your experience can help them modernise their HR practices. This will show that you're not just interested in the role, but also in the company’s mission.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a People Director, you'll be leading a large team. Be ready to discuss your leadership philosophy and provide examples of how you've successfully coached and developed teams in the past. Highlight any specific strategies you've used to engage and retain talent.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about real-life scenarios, especially around workforce planning and employee relations. Think of examples where you've navigated complex situations or implemented successful change initiatives. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Emphasise Digital Transformation
Since the role involves modernising people operations through digital tools, be prepared to discuss your experience with HRIS, LMS, and ATS systems. Share how you've leveraged data-led insights to drive decision-making and improve employee experiences in previous roles.