San Clemente Palace Venice is looking for a Director of People & Culture to join our People & Culture team.

Are you a master of craft? Do you thrive in a team that succeeds together, demonstrating integrity and respect while acting responsibly? Do you embrace a growth mindset? We invite you to become a fan of the exceptional. 

Mandarin Oriental is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences located in prime destinations around the world, with a strong development pipeline. Increasingly recognised for creating some of the world’s most sought-after properties, the Group provides legendary service inspired by Asian heritage whilst representing the very cutting-edge of luxury experiences.

Nestled on a private island in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon, San Clemente Palace is more than a hotel — it is a sanctuary of timeless elegance, exceptional service, and refined hospitality. We are dedicated to delivering unforgettable experiences in one of the world’s most iconic destinations.

About the job

Based at the San Clemente Palace within the People & Culture Department in Venice, The Director of People & Culture is responsible for shaping and nurturing a workplace culture that attracts, inspires, and supports colleagues at every stage of their journey. This role focuses on developing a positive, inclusive, and high-performing environment that reflects the values and vision of the resort. The Director of People & Culture reports to the General Manager.

As Director of People & Culture, you will responsible for the following duties:

• Define and lead the properties’ people strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives, brand values, and a culture of excellence.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and respectful work environment where colleagues feel engaged, supported, and empowered to thrive.
• Oversee talent acquisition and workforce planning, ensuring the recruitment of high-calibre colleagues who reflect the resort’s standards.
• Develop and implement learning and development programs to enhance skills, support career progression, and build internal leadership.
• Promote colleague well-being, diversity, equity, and inclusion, embedding these principles into daily practices and long-term initiatives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to leadership, supporting decision-making with strategic insights on organizational structure, culture, and people performance.
• Oversee performance management processes, ensuring fair evaluations, meaningful feedback, and consistent development planning.
• Manage compensation, benefits, and recognition programs, maintaining market competitiveness while fostering colleague motivation and retention.
• Ensure compliance with local labor laws and resort policies, while maintaining high ethical and confidentiality standards.
• Monitor and enhance colleague engagement, using feedback tools and action plans to continually improve the colleague experience.

As Director of People & Culture we expect from you: 

• Solid experience in people and culture or HR leadership roles, ideally within luxury hospitality or international resort environments
• Strong understanding of organizational culture, colleague engagement, and talent development
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills
• Strategic mindset with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans
• Experience in leading change and building inclusive, high-performing teams
• High level of integrity, emotional intelligence, and confidentiality
• Fluency in English and Italian; additional languages are an advantage
• Degree in Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Business, or a related field

Our commitment to you

• Learning & Development. Your success is our success. We craft unique learning and development programmes for various stages in your career so that you grow, continuously.
• Heath & Colleague Wellness. Finding the right work-life balance is important. Your wellbeing matters to us. A variety of health benefits and wellness programmes are offered to all our colleagues, globally.

We’re Fans. Are you?