People & Culture Manager (F/M/X)
Job Description
We are looking for a People & Culture Manager to lead the People & Culture function and shape a best-in-class employee experience for our onboard crew and operational teams.
Reporting to the General Manager, the People & Culture Manager will drive strategic HR initiatives to foster a high-performance, inclusive and compliant workplace. The role is central in managing end-to-end HR strategy,the employee lifecycle, crew workforce planning, and labour relations — all with an unwavering commitment to our luxury standards and guest service excellence.
Strategic Leadership & HR Operations
Define and deliver the HR strategy in alignment with the General Manager and the corporate guidelines of Orient Express.
Lead the full spectrum of HR functions: talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, learning & development, compensation & benefits, payroll, and personnel administration.
Translate business priorities into effective people strategies and operational HR solutions.
Ensure a culture of continuous improvement and alignment with the brand’s identity and luxury positioning.
Update, review and ensure compliance with LQA/Forbes.
Workforce Planning
Co-lead with Finance the planning and monitoring of employment costs, ensuring alignment with operational budgets and staffing forecasts.
Manage the People & Culture department budget, balancing service excellence with cost-effectiveness.
Monitor key crew-related KPIs, including resources, absenteeism, shift coverage, and compliance with rest periods and working time regulations.
Work closely with the Operations team to ensure service continuity, responsiveness to unexpected changes, and agility during peak periods.
Contribute to the development of scalable workforce planning processes and tools to support future network expansion and evolving regulatory frameworks.
Industrial & Union Relations
Maintain structured, constructive relationships with trade unions and employee representatives representing the company in all collective and individual labour matters.
Manage individual and collective disputes, disciplinary processes, and grievance cases with discretion and compliance.
People Engagement & Workplace Culture
Promote a culture of well-being, engagement, and excellence across all departments.
Oversee the onboarding journey to ensure every new team member feels welcomed, trained, and aligned with brand values.
Support managers in developing positive team dynamics, implementing action plans to improve collaboration and service culture.
Deploy initiatives that bring to life the Orient Express values and elevate the candidate and employee experience.
Qualifications
Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior HR role.
Experience within luxury hospitality is mandatory.
Deep knowledge and hands-on experience in industrial and union relations, including collective bargaining and employment law.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; fluent in Italian and English (written and spoken).
Entrepreneurial spirit with strong organizational and project management abilities.
Hands-on and strategic, able to operate effectively across both day-to-day execution and long-term planning.
Proficiency with HR systems and tools (HRIS, ATS, scheduling software, payroll platforms, etc.).
Additional Information
Gross annual salary range:50.000 - 60.000 € + bonus
Staff cantine
ALL - Heartist® Program: Employee benefit card offering discounted rates at all ACCOR locations and partner venues worldwide.
Learning & development: Opportunity to develop your talent and grow within your property and across the world!
Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.