People & Culture Director | Hotel 1000

Columbia Hospitality•Seattle, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of People & Culture serves as the on-site strategic and operational HR leader for the property, partnering closely with leadership to support business goals, team member engagement, and a values-driven culture. This role oversees all aspects of the team member lifecycle including recruitment, onboarding, training, employee relations, compliance, performance management, compensation, and organizational development. As a hands-on leader, the Director of People & Culture is actively engaged in daily operations, serving as a trusted advisor to leaders while also executing key People & Culture functions directly. This position blends strategic partnership with operational execution, ensuring programs, processes, and team member experiences align with company values, legal requirements, and operational needs.

Requirements

Minimum of 5–8 years of progressive Human Resources experience, including leadership or Business Partner responsibilities in a hospitality setting required.
Bilingual Spanish/English required
Ability to work onsite 5 days/week (M-F)
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and HR compliance requirements.
Demonstrated ability to balance strategic partnership responsibilities with hands-on operational execution.
Experience supporting recruitment, onboarding, training, employee relations, performance management, and organizational development initiatives.
Proven ability to coach and influence leaders at all levels of the organization.
Strong interpersonal, communication, conflict resolution, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail.
Experience with HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite required.
Ability to work independently while fostering collaboration across departments and teams.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
Prior experience with Hyatt hotels preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary People & Culture leader and strategic business partner for the property leadership team.
Lead and execute all on-site People & Culture operations including recruitment, onboarding, orientation, training, employee relations, engagement initiatives, performance management, and compliance in partnership with department leaders.
Partner with department leaders to support workforce planning, hiring strategies, succession planning, and organizational development initiatives.
Facilitate and oversee the full onboarding experience for new team members, ensuring a welcoming and compliant transition into the organization.
Coordinate and support property training initiatives, leadership development, and continuous learning programs.
Coach and advise managers on leadership effectiveness, team member performance, conflict resolution, investigations, and policy interpretation.
Conduct and manage employee relations matters with professionalism, confidentiality, neutrality, and timely follow-through.
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations including Wage & Hour, FMLA, OSHA, EEO, ADA, Workers’ Compensation, and unemployment processes.
Maintain and administer accurate team member records, reporting, and HR systems in accordance with company standards and legal requirements.
Oversee the performance management process including performance evaluations, corrective actions, coaching conversations, and development planning.
Partner with leadership to implement company initiatives, programs, tools, and best practices at the property level.
Support compensation administration including pay recommendations, internal equity reviews, wage analysis, promotions, and merit processes.
Analyze people metrics and trends related to turnover, engagement, retention, staffing, and performance; recommend actionable solutions to leadership.
Promote positive team member relations and foster a culture aligned with Hotel 1000’s service philosophy and core values.
Participate in leadership meetings, Safety Committee meetings, Risk Management discussions, and other operational meetings as required.
Assist with benefits administration as needed and serve as a liaison between team members and corporate support teams.
Maintain visibility throughout the property and build strong relationships with team members across all departments.
Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned to support operational and organizational goals.