Director of Human Resources Pre Opening Ritz Carlton Diriyah

Director of Human Resources - Pre Opening Ritz Carlton Diriyah, Riyadh

The Ritz-Carlton is seeking a Director of Human Resources for the pre-opening phase of The Ritz-Carlton Diriyah, located in Riyadh and Ad Dir'iyah. This full-time role involves joining the Executive Committee to shape the culture, talent, and leadership capabilities of this new luxury hospitality destination. The Ritz-Carlton Diriyah is situated within the historic landscape of Diriyah, a UNESCO-recognised destination.

Role Overview

The Director of Human Resources reports directly to the General Manager, with a functional reporting relationship to the Regional Senior Director of Human Resources. This position serves as a strategic business partner and advisor to the hotel’s leadership team. As a member of the Executive Committee, the Director will lead the development and execution of a people strategy aligned with property and brand objectives. The role oversees talent acquisition, workforce planning, succession management, associate engagement, performance development, compensation strategy, and organisational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Human Resources strategy aligned with property goals, brand priorities, and business objectives.
• Lead talent acquisition, workforce planning, succession management, and leadership pipeline development across the hotel.
• Champion associate engagement initiatives, including survey action planning, recognition programmes, and culture-building activities.
• Partner with department leaders to strengthen performance management, coaching, learning, and career development practices.
• Drive staffing optimisation and recruitment strategies that support operational excellence and future growth.
• Lead compensation and benefits initiatives, ensuring competitiveness, internal equity, and alignment with organisational priorities.
• Serve as a key change leader for organisational and people-related initiatives, supporting successful adoption and execution.
• Build strong relationships with ownership representatives, regional HR leaders, and key stakeholders, providing insights on talent, retention, and workforce performance.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a commercially minded HR leader with a background in luxury hospitality. This role requires a proven ability to create high-performing cultures and balance business priorities with a people-first approach. The individual will ensure the hotel attracts, develops, and retains talent while fostering an engaging and inclusive workplace culture.

Qualifications and Experience

• Over 10 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence at an executive level.
• Experience in talent acquisition, workforce planning, and compensation strategy.
• Background in fostering associate engagement and performance development.

Work Environment

This role is based in Riyadh and Ad Dir'iyah, Saudi Arabia, as part of the pre-opening team for The Ritz-Carlton Diriyah. The position is full-time and involves working within a global organisation that values diversity and inclusion. The Ritz-Carlton operates under Marriott International and upholds its "Gold Standards" in service and associate care.