People & Culture Manager

About the Role

Earth Hotels is seeking a People & Culture Manager to lead the pre-opening People journey for its Riyadh location. This full-time role is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and focuses on building a workplace culture centered on experiences, community, wellness, creativity, and connection. The manager will be responsible for establishing the People & Culture framework from the ground up, ensuring a positive employee experience from recruitment through daily operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the People & Culture pre-opening plan, aligning with the hotel opening timeline and budget.
• Create the hotel manning guide and organization chart, including headcount, grades, salary scales, and Saudization targets.
• Lead the phased recruitment drive for all hotel positions, from executive committee to line-level teams, ensuring timely staffing for training.
• Manage new joiner mobilization, including visa quotas, work permits, arrivals, employee accommodation, and transport.
• Establish People foundations such as policies, procedures, HRIS, trackers, and employee files.
• Deliver opening induction and culture immersion programs for all new employees.
• Build talent pipelines with local educational institutions and community partners, focusing on Saudization and Nitaqat compliance.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, entrepreneurial, and accountable culture within the hotel.
• Plan and deliver employee engagement activities, internal communication, recognition, and culture initiatives.
• Lead the resolution of employee relations matters, including grievances and disciplinary cases, with discretion.
• Oversee onboarding, learning, and development programs to build capability and support career growth.
• Drive performance management processes and ensure strong succession planning and talent development.
• Ensure full compliance with Saudi Labor Law, MHRSD regulations, and internal People procedures.
• Administer compensation, rewards, and benefits programs, ensuring fairness and compliance.
• Oversee attendance, leave, scheduling, and monthly payroll inputs, partnering with Finance for accurate processing.
• Recruit, lead, and develop the hotel’s People & Culture team, setting clear priorities and service standards.
• Act as an active member of the hotel leadership team and manage the People & Culture department budget.

Qualifications and Experience

• 5-10 years of relevant experience in People & Culture or Human Resources.
• Demonstrated experience in pre-opening phases for hotels or similar establishments is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of Saudi Labor Law and MHRSD regulations.
• Proven ability to build and lead a team.
• Experience in developing and implementing HR policies and procedures from scratch.

Required Skills

• Excellent leadership and team development skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Proficiency in HRIS and data management.
• Strategic planning and execution capabilities.
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The role involves working closely with the General Manager and Heads of Department, contributing to the overall leadership and operational success of Earth Hotels Riyadh. The People & Culture Manager will also be responsible for ensuring employee facilities meet Earth standards and promoting a safe and environmentally responsible workplace.