This role is for an experienced and strategic HR Leader for a prestigious 5-star hospitality group with diversified business interests. The successful candidate will primarily oversee the Group Human Resources Hotel function (which constitutes 90% of the role and responsibilities), ensuring alignment of people strategy with business objectives across the hospitality entity. Additionally, the role involves supporting HR functions for sister companies (approximately 10% scope).
Note: Only candidates with a minimum of 5+ years of senior HR management experience in the hotel industry at the senior level will be considered. Candidates whose primary HR experience is in other industries, such as manufacturing, Public sector, and NGO’s, are not a good fit and will not be considered.
Key Responsibilities
1. Financial & Business Strategy
- Lead group-wide compensation and benefits strategy with a focus on competitiveness and cost efficiency.
- Drive workforce planning, productivity optimization, and labor cost management.
- Oversee HR budgeting and demonstrate ROI across recruitment, learning, and talent initiatives.
- Strengthen performance-linked reward systems aligned to business and financial outcomes.
2. People & Culture Leadership
- Position the group as an employer of choice in the hotel industry.
- Ensure compliance with Kenyan labor laws and maintain strong industrial relations.
- Champion employee engagement, retention programs, and communication channels.
- Develop and maintain a strong talent pipeline aligned to business needs and service standards.
- Foster a culture grounded in trust, confidentiality, and ethical business practices.
3. HR Systems, Governance & Compliance
- Develop and strengthen HR policies, SOPs, and governance frameworks.
- Lead the Balanced Scorecard performance management implementation.
- Deploy HR technology systems for data-driven talent decisions.
- Champion organizational development, culture-building, and change initiatives.
- Lead Health, Safety, and Wellness compliance and programs across the group.
4. Learning, Growth & Leadership Development
- Develop and manage leadership development and succession programs.
- Oversee structured learning platforms, mentorship programs, and skill-building initiatives.
- Promote collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Build HR team capability as strategic business partners.
5. Group Support
- Provide HR support to sister companies (approximately 10% workload) to ensure consistency in HR standards and alignment with group values.
Key Competencies
- Comprehensive knowledge of Kenyan labour law and global HR standards.
- Strong business acumen and decision-making capabilities.
- Excellent stakeholder management and board advisory experience.
- Exceptional leadership, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Results-driven, ethical and self-motivated professional.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree with HR specialization.
- CHRP-K & valid IHRM membership (MANDATORY).
- Minimum 5 years’ senior HR leadership experience in a hotel environment (MANDATORY).
- Proven track record in HR transformation and managing industrial relations.
- Experience in 5-star+ hotels with 150+ staff.
