Director of People and Culture

Job Ref: NOB2703Branch: Nobu Hotel London Portman SquareLocation: London Portman Square, West LondonSalary/Benefits: Competitive Salary, Service Charge, Enhanced Benefits and BonusContract type: PermanentHours: Full TimeHours per week: 40 hours per weekPosted date: 02/10/2026Closing date: 02/11/2026

Nobu Hotel London Portman Square is seeking an exceptional Director of People & Culture to join our Executive Committee and lead the people strategy for one of London's top luxury lifestyle hotels.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the culture, engagement and talent strategy of a globally recognised hospitality brand. As a trusted advisor to the General Manager and Executive Committee, you will champion a true People First culture, driving employee engagement, learning and development, talent acquisition and organisational performance across the hotel.

Why Join Nobu?

• Join one of the world's most recognised luxury hospitality brands.
• Executive leadership role with significant influence across the hotel.
• Shape and drive the people strategy for a growing luxury hospitality business.
• Be part of a culture built around Nobu's core values of Family, Crafted, Smile and Kokoro.
• Partner closely with hotel and corporate HQ leadership teams.
• Lead initiatives that directly impact employee engagement, retention and organisational performance.
• Develop future hospitality leaders through learning, development and succession planning.
• Competitive salary, bonus and executive benefits package.

The Role

Reporting directly to the General Manager, with collaborative direction from the Group People & Culture Director, you will be responsible for the strategic leadership and operational delivery of all people-related functions across the hotel.

You will lead employee engagement, employee relations, talent acquisition, learning and development, compensation and benefits, performance management, succession planning, wellbeing initiatives and people systems. As a member of the Executive Committee, you will help shape the future direction of the property while ensuring a positive, high-performing and inclusive workplace culture.It's an opportunity to influence culture, develop future hospitality leaders and create an environment where exceptional people can thrive.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing strategic leadership across all People & Culture functions.
• Acting as a trusted advisor and People Partner to the Executive Committee and Heads of Department.
• Developing and delivering a People First culture that supports business performance and colleague engagement.
• Embedding a culture of continuous feedback, coaching and performance development.
• Leading employee engagement initiatives and action plans to improve colleague satisfaction.
• Managing employee relations matters in a fair, consistent and commercially balanced manner.
• Leading talent acquisition strategies to attract and retain exceptional talent.
• Driving learning and development initiatives that support career growth and succession planning.
• Overseeing apprenticeship, graduate, internship and work experience programmes.
• Coaching and supporting leaders to make effective people decisions.
• Using people data and insights to influence business decisions and improve organisational performance.
• Developing and implementing wellbeing, health and employee support programmes.
• Monitoring key people metrics including retention, turnover, engagement and recruitment effectiveness.
• Ensuring compliance with employment legislation and company policies.
• Creating, maintaining and enhancing People & Culture standards, policies and procedures.
• Driving diversity, inclusion and responsible business initiatives.
• Supporting the overall strategic objectives of Iconic Hotels & Resorts and Nobu Hotels.
• Acting as an ambassador for Nobu's values of Family, Crafted, Smile and Kokoro.

What We're Looking For

• We're seeking an inspiring and commercially minded People leader with a passion for developing talent, building culture and creating exceptional colleague experiences.
• You'll ideally have:
• Significant senior People & Culture or Human Resources leadership experience within luxury hospitality or a premium service environment.
• A proven track record of partnering with senior leaders to influence business performance.
• Strong experience in talent acquisition, learning and development and employee engagement.
• Demonstrated success leading organisational change and cultural transformation initiatives.
• Excellent employment law and employee relations knowledge.
• Experience developing high-performing teams and future leaders.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to utilise people data to drive business outcomes.
• Outstanding communication, coaching and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial awareness combined with a people-centric leadership style.
• A passion for creating inclusive, engaging and high-performing workplace cultures.
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, luxury hospitality environment.

Nobu Hotels effortlessly blends modern luxury and minimal Japanese tradition into the concept of a lifestyle hotel. Filled with cutting-edge design and stunning spaces, Nobu Hotels provides remarkable hospitable service and an unparalleled experience like nothing before. Helming from world renowned

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, the Nobu Hotels concept is a remarkable conjunction of exquisite cuisine, innovation and creativity.

Nobu Hotel London Portman Square features 243 guest rooms and suites, together with a Nobu restaurant, ballroom and meeting spaces beautifully conceptualised by London-based architecture and interior design firm, David Collins Studio, in conjunction with Make Architects.

We are looking for great people that embody our core values of Kokoro, Smile, Family & Crafted.

You will share our passion, deliver quality results and have the courage to be different and creative within your specialism.

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