Strategic HR Director — Luxury Hospitality Pre-Opening

Kempinski Hotels; Manama; On-site; BHD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Kempinski Hotels in Manama, Bahrain seeks a Director of Human Resources to lead HR strategy, talent management, and culture for a premium luxury property. You will partner with the General Manager and Executive Committee to align people initiatives with business goals while ensuring regulatory compliance and high performance.

Key duties include pre-opening HR planning, budgeting, SOPs, recruitment, government relations, and learning & development to deliver guest‑centric luxury service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master’s degree or professional certification (CIPD, SHRM) preferred.
• Minimum 5 years as Director of HR in a 5-star luxury international hotel chain; GCC experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-opening HR master plan, budgets, staffing, and benefits strategy.
• Develop SOPs, HR policies, and HRIS/time & attendance systems in line with local standards.
• Oversee recruitment strategies, campus/career events, and onboarding for waves of hires.
• Manage government relations, visas, residency permits, LMRA processes, and Bahrain Labour Law compliance.
• Foster learning, development, culture, onboarding programs, and luxury service standards.
• Design competitive Bahrain-based salary scales and benefits; manage grievances and appraisals.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

English fluency

Arabic language

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR / Business Admin or related field

Master’s degree or professional certification (CIPD, SHRM)

Job description

Kempinski Hotels in Manama, Bahrain seeks a Director of Human Resources to lead HR strategy, talent management, and culture for a premium luxury property. You will partner with the General Manager and Executive Committee to align people initiatives with business goals while ensuring regulatory compliance and high performance.

Key duties include pre-opening HR planning, budgeting, SOPs, recruitment, government relations, and learning & development to deliver guest‑centric luxury service.