Director of People

San Clemente Palace Venice is looking for a Director of People & Culture to join our People & Culture team.

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.

Nestled on a private island in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon, **San Clemente Palace**is more than a hotel — it is a sanctuary of timeless elegance, exceptional service, and refined hospitality. We are dedicated to delivering unforgettable experiences in one of the world’s most iconic destinations.

**About the job**

Based at the San Clemente Palace within the People & Culture Department in Venice, The Director of People & Culture is responsible for shaping and nurturing a workplace culture that attracts, inspires, and supports colleagues at every stage of their journey. This role focuses on developing a positive, inclusive, and high-performing environment that reflects the values and vision of the resort. The Director of People & Culture reports to the General Manager.

As Director of People & Culture, you will responsible** for the following duties**:

- Define and lead the properties’ people strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives, brand values, and a culture of excellence.
- Foster a positive, inclusive, and respectful work environment where colleagues feel engaged, supported, and empowered to thrive.
- Oversee talent acquisition and workforce planning, ensuring the recruitment of high-calibre colleagues who reflect the resort’s standards.
- Develop and implement learning and development programs to enhance skills, support career progression, and build internal leadership.
- Promote colleague well-being, diversity, equity, and inclusion, embedding these principles into daily practices and long-term initiatives.
- Act as a trusted advisor to leadership, supporting decision-making with strategic insights on organizational structure, culture, and people performance.
- Oversee performance management processes, ensuring fair evaluations, meaningful feedback, and consistent development planning.
- Manage compensation, benefits, and recognition programs, maintaining market competitiveness while fostering colleague motivation and retention.
- Ensure compliance with local labor laws and resort policies, while maintaining high ethical and confidentiality standards.
- Monitor and enhance colleague engagement, using feedback tools and action plans to continually improve the colleague experience.

**As**Director of People & Culture**we expect from you**:

- Solid experience in people and culture or HR leadership roles, ideally within luxury hospitality or international resort environments
- Strong understanding of organizational culture, colleague engagement, and talent development
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills
- Strategic mindset with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans
- Experience in leading change and building inclusive, high-performing teams
- High level of integrity, emotional intelligence, and confidentiality
- Fluency in English and Italian; additional languages are an advantage
- Degree in Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Business, or a related field

**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.
- 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?