Director, People & Culture

Ennismore; Jeddah; On-site; SAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

SO Jeddah is seeking a passionate Director of People & Culture to partner with the executive team and shape an inspiring workplace. You will lead HR strategy, champion employee experience, and build a culture that attracts, develops, and retains top talent in a dynamic pre-opening environment.

You will ensure compliance with Saudi labor laws and Saudization, drive organizational effectiveness, develop a high-performing team, and act as a trusted advisor on people, culture, and talent initiatives

Qualifications

• 10+ years in People & Culture or HR leadership.
• Experience shaping people strategies and organizational growth.
• Strong knowledge of Saudi labor law and Saudization.
• Proven ability to attract and retain talent in dynamic environments.
• Experience with luxury hospitality or pre-opening environments is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver the People & Culture strategy aligned with the vision of SO Jeddah.
• Attract, develop, and retain exceptional talent through recruitment and development initiatives.
• Foster a culture built on creativity, engagement, inclusion and belonging.
• Champion employee experience, wellbeing and recognition programs.
• Partner with leaders to drive organizational effectiveness and talent growth.
• Lead the People & Culture team and advise the Executive Team on all people matters.

Skills

People leadership

HR strategy

Change management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Data-driven HR

Tools

HR systems

Job description

We are seeking a passionate and people-focused strong Director of People amp Culture strong to bring the spirit of strong SO Jeddah strong to life through exceptional talent culture and leadership As a strategic partner to the Executive Team you will shape an inspiring workplace champion employee experience and build a culture that attracts develops and retains the industry s best talent

What You Will Create

• Shape and deliver the People amp Culture strategy ensuring alignment with the vision and values of SO Jeddah
• Attract develop and retain exceptional talent through innovative recruitment and development initiatives
• Foster a vibrant culture built on creativity engagement inclusion and belonging
• Champion employee experience wellbeing and recognition programs that inspire high performance
• Partner with leaders to drive organizational effectiveness talent growth and team success
• Ensure compliance with Saudi labor laws Saudization requirements and company policies
• Leverage people insights and workforce data to support strategic decision-making
• Lead and develop a high-performing People amp Culture team
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Executive Team on all people culture and organizational matters

What We’re Looking For:

• Saudi National with 10+ years of progressive People & Culture / HR leadership experience.
• Proven success in shaping people strategies, culture, and organizational growth.
• Strong knowledge of Saudi labor law, Saudization, and local employment regulations.
• Experience attracting, developing, and retaining top talent in a dynamic environment.
• Strong understanding of employee experience, performance management, and talent development.
• Confident leader with a track record of building and inspiring high-performing teams.
• Data-driven mindset with experience leveraging people insights and HR systems to inform decisions.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to lead change, navigate complexity, and drive organizational effectiveness.
• Experience within luxury hospitality, lifestyle brands, or pre-opening environments is highly desirable