Director of People and Culture

The Fifth Avenue Hotel; New York (NY); On-site; USD 170,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York, NY, seeks a Director of People & Culture with a strong HR background in luxury hospitality. You will lead recruitment, learning and development, benefits administration, and employee relations to inspire and elevate the guest experience.

Expect to drive onboarding, develop culture guidelines, and ensure compliance with NYC and NY state laws, while collaborating with hotel leadership to mentor and develop team members.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, hospitality, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive HR leadership in a luxury hotel setting.
• Strong knowledge of New York State and local employment laws.
• Experience managing visa programs (e.g., J-1) preferred.
• Excellent organizational, leadership, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as brand culture ambassador; develop culture guidelines, orientations, and annual training.
• Set principles for People & Culture across the property.
• Align People & Culture initiatives with hotel business needs.
• Lead onboarding and orientation experiences to engage and reward curiosity.
• Develop a recognition plan and maintain a fair, consistent work culture.

Skills

HR leadership

People & Culture

Communication

Diversity & Inclusion

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Job description

Position Description

Opportunity:

Director of People & CultureThe Fifth Avenue Hotel – New York, NY

The Fifth Avenue Hotel, an award-winning luxury destination, is seeking a Director of People and Culture to join our team. Nestled in the heart of Manhattan, our hotel is a vibrant oasis featuring 149 beautifully appointed guest rooms, where personal service, extraordinary design, distinctive cuisine, compelling art, and immersive cultural experiences come together to create something truly exceptional.

At The Fifth, every detail is intentional. We invite our guests to experience the hotel as a flneur—where curiosity is sparked, stories unfold, and no two stays are ever the same.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of People & Culture will possess a strong background in human resources alongside extensive experience with recruitment, learning and development, benefits administration, and employee relations. We are seeking an accomplished professional with the drive and capacity to inspire and lead the People and Culture mission in a luxury hospitality environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the brand’s culture ambassador, assisting in creating culture guidelines, orientations, and an annual training program.
• Establish principles and practices for the People & Culture function across the property.
• Strategically align People & Culture initiatives with the hotel’s business needs.
• Lead and conduct onboarding and orientation experiences that delight, engage, and reward curiosity.
• Develop a recognition plan for team members while maintaining an accountable, firm, fair, and consistent work culture.
• Create a welcoming workplace where mentorship and constant learning are core to the daily experience.
• Manage talent acquisition functions and strategies to attract top luxury hospitality talent.
• Ensure compliance with hotel, New York City, New York State, and federal government employment regulations.
• Act as a voice for diversity, equity, and inclusion through the design and delivery of targeted initiatives, projects, and programs.
• Coordinate with regional and centralized People Support teams to ensure best practices for benefits administration, employee relations, compensation, and leaves of absence.
• Serve on the hotel’s Safety and Security Committee.
• Apply financial acumen to manage department budgets and strategic forecasting.
• Work closely with the Managing Director, hotel leadership, and colleagues to support, inspire, and mentor team members.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or a related field.
• 5 years of progressive experience in human resources leadership within a luxury hotel setting.
• Proven human resources experience and a strong passion for service within the New York City hotel market.
• Superior organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• In-depth knowledge of New York State and local employment laws.
• Experience managing various work visas, such as J-1 visas, is strongly preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work schedule varies and may include working on holidays and weekends as business requires.
• Position involves sitting, standing, and walking around property for extended periods.

WHY JOIN US?

The Fifth Avenue Hotel is more than a workplace—it’s a destination where creativity, culture, and hospitality meet. As part of our award-winning team, you will play a vital role in shaping the physical canvas of unforgettable guest journeys in one of New York City’s most distinctive luxury hotels.

What We Believe

People Are Our Capability – Hearts That Serve – Only Excellence – Stay Nimble - Own It

Minimum

USD $170,000.00/Yr.

Maximum

USD $180,000.00/Yr.

Source: Hospitality Online