People & Culture Manager

Company Description

About Orient Express

Artisan of travel since 1883, Orient Express sublimates the art of travel with its luxury trains, hotels, and sailing yachts. The brand has just launched its first hotel, Orient Express La Minerva, in Rome – which will be followed by Orient Express Venezia in 2026. The experience continues with the recent launch of La Dolce Vita Orient Express train, followed by Orient Express Corinthian in 2026, the first of two Orient Express Sailing Yachts, and finally, the return of L’Orient Express train to railways. Since 2022, Orient Express is part of Accor Group’s leading collection of luxury brands with a century-old legacy in the hotels and fine- dining sectors. In 2024, Accor and LVMH entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of Orient Express. Follow the journey at @orientexpress on Instagram or visit the website at 

About Orient Express La Dolce Vita 

La Dolce Vita Orient Express is the first Italian luxury cruise on rail, offering a unique travel experience across the country. Inspired by the golden age of railway tourism, the train features itineraries connecting Italy's major cities and destinations, providing passengers with top-class service, exceptional comfort, gourmet cuisine, and a refined atmosphere. The project aims to celebrate the charm and beauty of Italy, making each journey an unforgettable experience. 

Job Description

Reporting to the General Manager, the P&C Manager will drive strategic HR initiatives to foster a high-performance, inclusive and compliant workplace. The role is central in managing end-to-end HR operations, including crew workforce planning, shift scheduling, and labour relations — all with an unwavering commitment to our luxury standards and guest service excellence. 

Strategic Leadership & HR Operations 

Define and deliver the HR strategy in alignment with the General Manager and the corporate guidelines of Orient Express. 

Lead the full spectrum of HR functions: talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, learning & development, compensation & benefits, payroll, and personnel administration. 

Translate business priorities into effective people strategies and operational HR solutions.  

Ensure a culture of continuous improvement and alignment with the brand’s identity and luxury positioning.  

Update, review and ensure compliance with LQA/Forbes. 

Crew Planning & Workforce Scheduling  

Co-lead with Finance the planning and monitoring of employment costs, ensuring alignment with operational budgets and staffing forecasts.  

Manage the People & Culture department budget, balancing service excellence with cost-effectiveness.  

Monitor key crew-related KPIs, including resources, absenteeism, shift coverage, and compliance with rest periods and working time regulations.  

Work closely with the Operations team to ensure service continuity, responsiveness to unexpected changes, and agility during peak periods.  

Contribute to the development of scalable workforce planning processes and tools to support future network expansion and evolving regulatory frameworks.  

Industrial & Union Relations 

•Maintain structured, constructive relationships with trade unions and employee representatives representing the company in all collective and individual labour matters. 

•Manage individual and collective disputes, disciplinary processes, and grievance cases with discretion and compliance. 

People Engagement & Workplace Culture 

•Promote a culture of well-being, engagement, and excellence across all departments. 

•Oversee the onboarding journey to ensure every new team member feels welcomed, trained, and aligned with brand values. 

•Support managers in developing positive team dynamics, implementing action plans to improve collaboration and service culture. 

•Deploy initiatives that bring to life the Orient Express values and elevate the candidate and employee experience. 

Qualifications

Master’s degree in Human Resources or related field. 

Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior HR role, knowledge of the railway sector is mandatory. 

Deep knowledge of industrial and union relations for the sector.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; fluent in Italian and English fluent.

Hands-on and strategic.

Proficiency with HR systems and tools and MS Office

Additional Information

• Gross annual salary range:50.000 - 60.000 € + bonus

• Staff cantine

• ALL - Heartist® Program: Employee benefit card offering discounted rates at all ACCOR locations and partner venues worldwide. 

• Learning & development: Opportunity to develop your talent and grow within your property and across the world!  

• Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.