Head of People & Culture Operations (1-Year FTC – Maternity Cover), The Savoy Hotel

Job Title: Head of People & Culture Operations (1-Year FTC  Maternity Cover) 

Department: People & Culture 

Inspired and Supported by: Director of People & Culture 

Who We Are Looking For:  
 

Join an award-winning People & Culture team recognised for delivering an exceptional colleague experience at one of Londons most iconic luxury hotels. 

This 1-year fixed-term maternity cover opportunity calls for a confident action-focused People & Culture leader who can operate at pace adapt quickly and deliver a consistently high standard of service to our colleagues and leaders. 

You will bring strong UK employment law knowledge and a proven track record in employee relations with the judgement to handle sensitive matters fairly calmly and consistently. Highly organised and outcome-driven you will prioritise competing demands and partner with senior leaders to achieve practical people-first solutions. 

Experience in luxury hospitality or a service-led environment is strongly preferred alongside a natural ability to build credibility and strong relationships across all levels. Above all you will balance energy and decisiveness with empathy and integrity supporting a positive colleague experience while driving standards and performance. 

Your Purpose 

To support the Director of People & Culture through leadership of the operational aspects of our People & Culture function. 

Driving a 5-star colleague experience supporting leaders with people-related matters ensuring the smooth delivery of core People & Culture services across the hotel and strengthening colleague engagement to reduce voluntary turnover year on year. 

Key Responsibilities 
 
Team Leadership 

• Manage coach and develop P&C Advisor and a P&C Assistant to ensure high-quality efficient day-to-day People & Culture support and service delivery. 

Leadership Support 

• Act as a trusted advisor to department heads and line managers providing practical guidance and coaching on a wide range of people matters. 

Employee Relations 

• Lead and advise on employee relations matters including investigations disciplinary and grievance procedures conflict resolution and mediation. 

• Ensure all employee relations processes align with legal requirements and company values. 

Business Partnering 

• Collaborate with leaders to understand operational challenges and workforce needs. 

• Ensure People & Culture practices support departmental goals and foster a positive working environment. 

Policy & Process 

• Ensure legal compliance developing new policies where required. 

• Ensure People & Culture policies are applied consistently across the hotel. 

• Deliver training and awareness initiatives where needed. 

• Drive continuous improvement in People & Culture processes to enhance efficiency and user experience. 

Colleague Engagement 

• Drive Colleague Engagement action planning through rep committee and partnering with leaders 

• Champion colleague engagement initiatives. 

• Drive feedback mechanisms including surveys and forums. 

• Support the implementation of action plans to improve colleague satisfaction and retention. 

Colleague Recognition 

• Lead the colleague recognition committee. 

• Ensure recognition systems operate effectively and are perceived as fair and meaningful by colleagues. 

Absence Management 

• Monitor sickness absence trends. 

• Support return-to-work processes. 

• Liaise with line managers to manage cases sensitively and effectively. 

• Reduce the financial and operational impact of sickness absence. 

Orientation and ER Training 

• Deliver structured and effective first-day orientation. 

• Facilitate colleague relations and people management training to build manager capability and reduce risk. 

Talent Acquisition Support 

• Support recruitment activity including interviewing and selection. 

• Ensure a professional and consistent candidate experience aligned with brand standards. 

Employer Brand 

• Contribute to employer branding initiatives that accurately reflect our culture and expectations. 

• Support the development of materials and communications that position The Savoy as an employer of choice. 

Projects 

• Lead and contribute to operational and strategic projects that strengthen the colleague experience and improve People & Culture effectiveness. 

Qualifications :

What you will need to do in this role

• Strong employee relations expertise within a luxury hospitality or service-led environment. 

• Sound knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice. 

• Commercially aware with the ability to balance people and business priorities. 

• Confident influencing senior operational leaders. 

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail. 

• Ability to work at pace with strong work ethic and results orientation. 

• Clear and professional communicator. 

• Empathic with high emotional intelligence 

• Calm balanced fair with ability to take different perspectives in complex situations. 

• Service-oriented and committed to maintaining the highest standards. 

Please note that we believe in flexibility and multi-skilling and you may be asked to do different tasks from time to time to enable us to meet the needs of our guests and colleagues.

Additional Information :

Whats in it for you

• Competitive salary and additional service charge
• Life insurance and pension
• 31 days of holiday (including public holidays)
• Exclusive discounts:
  • Savoy Fairmont Raffles and Accor hotels (friends & family rates included)
  • 50% off at American & Beaufort Bars Afternoon Tea spa florist and select Gordon Ramsay restaurants
  • 20% off at other Gordon Ramsay restaurants and Restaurant 1890
• Free stay for two at The Savoy after successful probation
• Colleague restaurant gym interfaith prayer room and wellness room
• Laundry services
• Cashback for wellbeing/healthcare expenses; HSF & Perkbox
• Employee assistance program
• Virgin Active and The Gym Group membership discounts
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Season ticket loan for commuting
• Annual optician reimbursements of 100
• Local discounts for F&B and retail

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Contract