Head of People & Culture

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 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.

Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina is an upcoming luxury alpine resort set above the renowned mountain village of Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the heart of the Dolomites. Scheduled to open in winter 2026, this landmark property will feature 83 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites, many with balconies offering breathtaking views. Blending Art Nouveau heritage with modern sophistication, the resort will offer a range of world-class amenities including signature restaurants and bars, flexible event spaces, and an extensive spa and wellness facility with an indoor-outdoor pool. Guests will enjoy a curated alpine experience with activities such as skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, and ice skating, along with a dedicated Kid’s Club.

About the job

The Head of People and Culture is a strategic leader responsible for shaping and delivering the hotel’s people agenda to support exceptional guest experiences and operational excellence. This role oversees all aspects of talent management, engagement, and organisational development, fostering a culture aligned with the standards of a world-class luxury hospitality brand.

As Head of People & Culture, you willresponsiblefor the following duties

• Set and deliver the People & Culture strategy, aligning workforce plans with Mandarin Oriental brand standards, business objectives, and guest experience priorities.
• Manage People & Culture budgets and financial planning, ensuring cost efficiency while supporting strategic priorities and colleague engagement.
• Champion a culture of excellence, embedding MO values and behaviours across all teams to uphold luxury hospitality standards.
• Lead talent acquisition and workforce planning, ensuring recruitment and retention align with MO policies and operational needs.
• Drive learning and development initiatives, creating programs that support leadership growth and service excellence in line with MOHG guidelines.
• Manage performance and succession planning, implementing fair and transparent processes to build high-performing teams.
• Ensure compliance and governance, maintaining adherence to MOHG policies, local legislation, and best-practice employee relations.
• Oversee reward and recognition frameworks, ensuring competitive benchmarking and alignment with MO standards.
• Partner with senior leadership, providing expert guidance on organisational design, change management, and colleague engagement.
• Safeguard health, safety, and wellbeing, ensuring all practices meet MOHG and regulatory requirements.
• Leverage HR systems and analytics, using data insights to inform decisions and track key metrics.

As Head of People & Culture, weexpectfrom you:

• Proven track record in senior People & Culture leadership within luxury hospitality or high-end service environments.
• Strong background in strategic workforce planning, talent acquisition, and organisational development.
• Experience managing multi-cultural teams and navigating the Italian labour market.
• Demonstrated success in employee engagement, retention strategies, and culture transformation.
• Solid understanding of hospitality operations and how People & Culture impacts guest experience.
• Expertise in People & Culturegovernance, compliance, and employment law across relevant jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to lead learning & development programs tailored to luxury service standards.
• Strong financial acumen for budgeting, labour cost control, and People analytics.
• Fluent in English and Italian; other languages are an advantage.

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. The MOstay programme offers complimentary nights and additionally attractive rates on rooms for you and your loved ones.
• Heath & 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.

We’re Fans. Are you?