Director of People & Culture

Mandarin Oriental Group; Fatih; On-site; TRY 700,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul seeks a Director of People & Culture to lead the People & Culture function and shape the colleague experience across the hotel.

The role requires 10+ years in HR leadership within luxury hospitality, strong talent management, learning and development, and the ability to partner with senior leaders. Turkish and English proficiency is essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ lines of strategic human resources leadership experience.
• Experience in luxury hospitality brands preferred.
• Fluency in Turkish and English is essential.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the hotel’s People & Culture strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Foster inclusive and engaging colleague environment across departments.
• Oversee talent acquisition, workforce planning, and succession planning.
• Develop learning and development programmes to enhance capability and leadership readiness.
• Partner with Executive Committee on organisational effectiveness and culture initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Talent Acquisition

Learning & Development

Employee Engagement

Performance Management

Education

Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, Hospitality Management

Job description

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world's most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences.

Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul occupies one of the most remarkable settings in the city, and we are looking for a Director of People & Culture to lead the People & Culture function and help shape the colleague experience across the hotel.

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

• Define and lead the hotel's People & Culture 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.
• Lead, develop and structure the People & Culture team, ensuring effective coaching, succession planning, and performance management, and that the department is resourced to support the needs of the hotel.
• Oversee talent acquisition and workforce planning, ensuring the recruitment of exceptional colleagues who represent the company's service philosophy and culture.
• Develop and implement learning and development programmes to enhance colleague capability, leadership readiness, and career progression.
• Promote colleague wellbeing, diversity, equity, and inclusion, embedding these principles into daily practices and long-term initiatives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Executive Committee, providing strategic guidance on organisational effectiveness, culture, workforce planning, and talent management.
• Oversee performance management processes, ensuring fair evaluations, meaningful feedback, and development planning across all departments.
• Manage compensation, benefits, reward, and recognition programmes, maintaining market competitiveness while supporting retention and engagement.
• Ensure compliance with Turkish labour regulations, social security requirements, company policies, and ethical standards, while maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality and professionalism.
• Oversee colleague facilities, administrative affairs, and colleague-related services, ensuring standards are consistently maintained.
• Monitor colleague engagement and culture metrics, implementing action plans that continuously improve the colleague experience.
• Partner with the Corporate People & Culture team and ownership representatives on people-related matters, reporting, and initiatives.
• Play an active role as a member of the Executive Committee, contributing to the overall strategic direction and success of the hotel.
• Report directly to the General Manager.

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

• A minimum of 10 years' progressive Human Resources or People & Culture leadership experience, including experience as Director of People & Culture or an equivalent senior leadership role.
• Previous luxury hospitality experience with internationally recognised hotel brands.
• Proven experience leading, building and developing a People & Culture team.
• Strong understanding of talent acquisition, colleague engagement, learning and development, performance management, compensation, and organisational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with senior leadership and influence business decisions through strategic people initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of Turkish labour law, social security regulations, and local employment practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, coaching, and stakeholder management skills.
• High levels of integrity, emotional intelligence, discretion, and professionalism.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in HR systems and reporting, including workforce planning, budgeting, and analysis.
• Fluency in Turkish and English, both written and spoken; other languages are advantageous.
• A degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organisational Psychology, Hospitality Management, or a related discipline.
• As a preference, a Turkish national, or a candidate with established eligibility to work in Türkiye and a strong understanding of the local market.

Our commitment to you

• Learning and development opportunities to support your growth within Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
• A colleague experience built around wellbeing, recognition and inclusion.
• The opportunity to join a globally recognised luxury hotel group and to be part of a team that is genuinely proud of the service it delivers.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.