Director of People & Culture

Company Description Breathe deeply, dream wildly, and discover a soulful sanctuary where finding yourself comes naturally. Magic sits around every corner and within every conversation. It enchants through the charm of Los Peñasquitos Canyon and the sunshine of San Diego. It’s where classic meets cool, the fine unwinds into fun and inspiration leads to immersion. Bask in the San Diego sunshine and enjoy our five-star setting at Fairmont Grand Del Mar.

Immersed in nature, the resort hosts 249 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites, an 18-hole private Tom Fazio-designed golf course, a five-star spa and offers two dozen weekly outdoor activities across the 400 acres of dramatic canyon scenery including yoga, meditation and archery. The Grand includes six different dining venues, including San Diego’s only three-Michelin starred restaurant, Addison.

Reporting to the General Manager, the Director of People & Culture is a strategic and operational leader responsible for shaping a high-performing, compliant, and engaging workplace culture. This role partners closely with the Executive Committee to drive business results through people strategies, while embedding service excellence into all People & Culture practices.

• Lead and oversee the day-to-day operations of the People & Culture function, aligning people strategies with business objectives and service culture priorities
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the General Manager and Executive Committee, providing guidance on organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, and leadership development
• Champion a culture of engagement by fostering an environment of trust, open communication, accountability, recognition, and inclusion
• Drive colleague engagement initiatives, including survey action planning, listening strategies, and targeted interventions that improve retention, morale, and performance
• Act as a steward of the organization’s service culture by embedding service standards, emotional intelligence, and guest-centric behaviors into hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and recognition programs
• Coach and develop leaders at all levels to strengthen leadership capability, accountability, and consistency in delivering both colleague and guest experiences
• Partner with department leaders to translate colleague feedback, operational insights, and business metrics into actionable people strategies and measurable outcomes
• Oversee all aspects of talent management including recruitment, succession planning, performance management, and leadership development, ensuring alignment with brand standards and service expectations
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, collective bargaining agreements, and company policies; proactively mitigate risk through audits, training, and process improvements
• Direct and oversee workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, and terminations with a focus on fairness, consistency, and risk management
• Manage compensation, benefits, leave programs, and wellness initiatives to support a competitive and compliant colleague value proposition
• Oversee occupational health & safety programs, ensuring a safe and compliant work environment for all colleagues
• Utilize HRIS and people analytics to monitor trends, identify risks, and inform strategic decision-making across engagement, turnover, productivity, and service metrics
• Lead the development and management of the annual People & Culture budget, including forecasting, cost control, and resource allocation
• Continuously challenge the status quo by identifying opportunities to improve processes, elevate the colleague experience, and strengthen service delivery
• Support and lead colleague events and…