Head of People & Culture (Human Resources) - Saudi Arabia

Company Description

Join us at Accor, where life pulses with passion!

Accor is a world leader in the hotel industry, present in 110 countries, with more than 5,800 hotels and 10,000 restaurants and bars. The group deploys an integrated hotel ecosystem that is among the most diversified in the sector, notably associating luxury and high-end brands, mid-range and economic offers, exclusive lifestyle concepts, venues for shows and entertainment, clubs, restaurants and bars, private residences, shared accommodation, Qantas Lounges, concierge services and co-working spaces. Accor has a portfolio of incomparable brands, led by more than 300,000 employees around the world.

Job Description

As Head of People & Culture - Saudi Arabia, you will lead the development and execution of the people strategy across the Kingdom, ensuring alignment with business priorities and organizational values. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, you will drive talent, culture, employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, and workforce planning initiatives that support sustainable business growth while fostering an inclusive and high-performing workplace. Based in Accor office in Jeddah and reporting to the Regional Director of People & Culture and the Vice President of Operations.

What You Will Be Responsible For

People and Culture Regional Strategy

• Work with the hotel People & Culture and operational leaders establish the People & Culture roadmap with annual objectives and action plans.
• Activate the People & Culture strategy with operational leaders and Hotel General Managers to ensure alignment and commitment to its delivery.
• Champion the Heartist program ensuring that the employees, guests and owners are at the center of all strategic decisions and initiatives.

Talent Acquisition

• Ensure that a strong people management culture is promoted among all leaders through the people management cycle: continuous feedback conversations, yearly wrap-up reviews, potential assessments, talent reviews, career development interviews and succession planning.
• Support the leadership team in the talent management cycle, promote employee (local/foreigner) mobility, which meet the region’s growth and needs across the Kingdom and large Middle East region.
• Partner with Accor Academy, Talent Experience teams and hotel leaders on workforce planning, attraction and retention. Build succession pipelines and promote internal mobility across brands, hotels and geographies.
• Establish strong relationships with universities, hotel schools and other educational institutions to create a pipeline of entry level talent into our hotels and offices.

Capability, Talent & Employee Experience

Partner with hotels People & Culture leaders to

• Maintain all the localization rules set by the Ministry of Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and ensure full compliance by all hotels.
• Maintain a best practice recruitment approach, including Accor’s recruitment management system, to attract the best applicants.
• Anticipate recruitment needs and maintain a leadership pipeline of potential candidates and talents to match hotel needs.
• Ensure the Hotel selection process is compliant with the Company policy (Assessment, interview guides, validation steps in selection process, etc).
• Heartists engagement and workplace culture improvement programs not limited to the annual engagement survey for the company.

Employment Law and Labor Relations

• Act as an advisor for hotels for any employment law and labor relations as per the country labor laws.
• Ensure proper follow-up and due diligence on all employee complaints and liaise with hotels People & Culture leaders and General Managers.
• Lead complex employee relations (ER), industrial relations (IR) and workplace investigations, ensuring fair, consistent and timely handling of sensitive matters.
• Monitor legislative changes and provide guidance to People & Culture business leaders.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For

• Local Saudi Talents, currently holding a senior HR role.
• 10+ years’ People & Culture leadership experience, ideally across multiple properties or regions.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Deep knowledge of Saudi Labor Law, including Nitaqat, Qiwa, GOSI, and Mudad.
• Proven ability to partner with executives and influence business decisions.
• Experience leading organizational change and transformation.
• Data-driven approach to workforce planning and labor cost optimization.
• Strong business acumen, executive presence, and cultural awareness.
• Resilient, adaptable, and able to handle confidential matters with discretion

Additional Information

What is in it for you

• Employee benefit card offering discounted rates at Accor hotels worldwide.
• Develop your talent through Accor’s learning programs.
• Opportunity to grow within your property and across the world.
• Ability to contribute to the community and make a difference through our Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities.

Our culture of inclusion welcomes everyone regardless of race, gender and background.