Vice President of People & Culture - Kessler Collection

AN INSPIRING CAREER AWAITS YOU!

The Kessler Collection is a portfolio of luxury boutique hotels, unique restaurants and experiences with a Bohemian twist. The collection’s captivating hotels feature curated art, original music, unique architecture and stories around every corner, all located in destinations people want to be. Our mission of inspiring places, intuitive service, and exuberant guests means we are committed to our Grand Performers learning, development, and well-being. 

We believe people want to be inspired!

Our Grand Performers Receive Many Benefits Including:

• Marriott Employee Discounts Worldwide
• Competitive Wage & Discretionary Bonus Program
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Company-Sponsored Life Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• 401(K) with Discretionary Company Matching Contributions
• Employee Assistance Program

Objective / Purpose:
Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President of People and Culture will play a pivotal role in developing, evolving, and personifying the Kessler Collection’s company culture and well-known spirit of hospitality. As the Company’s most senior leader in human resources, this leadership role has the primary responsibility of crafting and evolving the company's People Strategy to elevate The Kessler Collection’s position in the hospitality industry.

This multifaceted role demands a strategic thinker, a charismatic and collaborative servant leader, and an innovative architect of solutions. You will lead and guide dynamic corporate and property teams.  You will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive People Strategy that aligns with our overall business objectives while ensuring cohesion, consistency, and alignment with our company culture. The ideal candidate will be both a strategic leader and a relatable culture ambassador who can inspire the company’s ~1,900 Grand Performers and Associates.  Experience enriching all aspects of training, leadership development, employee experience, and performance management is essential.

This role will serve as both a strategic and hands-on business partner leading all Human Resources functions including but not limited to Compensation & Benefits, Compliance, Culture, Employee Relations, Engagement, Internal Communications, Learning & Development, People Strategy, Performance Management, and Talent Acquisition. A successful candidate will thrive in fast-paced high-growth environments and be highly entrepreneurial, collaborate with senior leaders, and possess in-depth knowledge of the key levers that inspire and motivate people in our artful, luxurious, boutique branded lifestyle and hospitality experiences.

Areas of Responsibility (AOR)

This position is accountable for the development and performance of our people, the alignment of company objectives with business strategy, and the achievement of company goals. Areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to the following:

People Strategy

• Create and execute a comprehensive People Strategy designed to:
  • Motivate employees to give their best
  • Nurture top talent from within
  • Create a supportive employee experience
  • Enhance the quality of our HR policies and services
• Elevate our people with a focus on:
  • Employee engagement
  • Professional skills & service development and career growth plans
  • Leadership, supervisory, and management development
  • Performance management

Team Leadership and Culture

• Support and reinforce the Kessler mission and culture among all corporate- and property-level staff
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team culture that encourages creativity and continuous improvement
• Promote a culture of Trust, Confidence, Support, Respect, and Integrity
• Provide leadership through business direction, motivation, coaching, skill development, product knowledge, industry knowledge, competitive knowledge, and performance management
• Stay current with HR trends and best practices to ensure our people strategies remain relevant

Strategic Advisor

• Oversee corporate and property-level Human Resources departments
• Create and implement Human Resources budget to meet organizational objectives
• Collaborate with executive leaders to instill a service-centric leadership culture, driving excellence through empowerment, trust, mentorship, and accountability
• Monitor external and internal environments to assess HR trends and identify implications for the organization
• Translate business priorities into property-level HR strategies, plans and actions
• Ensure HR strategies align with the company's financial goals, brand standards, and operational guidelines
• Work closely with corporate and property leaders in various disciplines on Human Resources related initiatives with a focus on meeting The Kessler Collection’s goals
• Establish, maintain, and improve SOPs and best practices across Human Resources functions

Talent Acquisition, Employer Branding, and Planning

• Oversee development of a Talent Acquisition strategy to recruit, onboard, and retain the best talent
• Develop Talent Acquisition budget to maximize resources and reduce cost per hire
• Recommend and maintain an organizational structure and staffing levels that accomplish goals and objectives
• Work with vendors to ensure an inspiring candidate experience
• Partner with Marketing on building a strong employer brand to attract an inspired candidate pipeline
• Establish and maintain strong networks of potential leadership talent
• Ensure proper development and management of job descriptions

Workforce Planning

• Assess company readiness for growth, staffing needs, and potential risks
• Develop plans to mitigate risk and meet current and future Human Capital/Resource needs
• Oversee succession plans for corporate and property executive committee members
• Support property level succession and development plans

Legal and Administrative Compliance

• Stay informed of all legal and regulatory requirements and update HR policies and practices as needed
• Maintain and enforce compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations
• Counsel and advise on all corporate and property-level HR concerns
• Oversee timely response to all claims, court issued documentation, and other reports requiring action

Training and Development

• Create manager-in-training program to develop future leaders for the company
• Assess effectiveness of learning and development programs
• Oversee design, development, and implementation of all training plans
• Ensure all property HR staff are properly trained in all major tasks, duties, responsibilities, and systems

Performance Management

• Ensure key performance indicators and core competencies are relevant and competitive
• Timely management and execution of performance evaluation process
• Performance management, coaching, and professional development of corporate HR team, property HR Directors, and senior corporate and property General Managers and executive committee members
• Review exit interviews to understand trends and develop solutions as needed

Compensation and Benefits

• Develop and implement competitive compensation, benefits, and employee incentive plans
• Oversee the development and administration of the company’s overall benefits strategy
• Lead efforts to improve recognition programs and incentives to provide return on investment and drive desired behavior and results

Engagement

• Develop and implement employee engagement surveys, evaluate results, and sponsor solutions
• Prepare monthly reports for all key HR performance indicators and monitor trends

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities (KSA)

To perform this role successfully, an individual must have experience achieving desired result(s) in their areas of responsibility. The requirements listed below are representative of observable behaviors and essential knowledge, skill, and abilities required of a successful applicant.

• Cultivate engagement with employees at all levels to inspire trust and communication
• Lead with courage - Provide a culture of accountability
• Generate alignment - Ensure high-level performance and consistency throughout the collection
• Sense of urgency - Motivate teams to produce results with tight timeframes
• Technical HR expertise, specifically in the areas of labor and employment law, compliance, hospitality industry benefits packages, administration, organizational behavior, HR information systems, and program and organizational design
• Respond effectively and confidentially to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints
• Work with and understand financial information and data
• Read, analyze, interpret key performance indicators and metrics, and establish short and long-term goals
• Work well in stressful and high-pressure situations managing multiple people remotely across multiple geographies
• Work a flexible schedule and travel regularly to property sites

Minimum Qualifications

Education, License, Certifications, Experience

• Degree in Human Resources, Business, or equivalent; post-graduate degree preferred
• 10+ years of relevant work experience in similar scope and capacity
• Experience within luxury hospitality/brands/services/markets
• Diverse property & corporate leadership experience
• Advanced level of written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Exceptional strategic thinking, collaboration, and critical thinking skills
• A passion for innovation and a dedication to staying ahead of and adapting multi-industry trends
• Professional certifications (SHRM-CP/PHR) – preferred
• Previous Marriott experience is an asset

Work Environment / Conditions

The work environment/conditions described herein are representative of those that an incumbent may experience.

• Must be comfortable working in shared spaces, with constant noise, without the use of a private office
• Ability to cope with frequent changing priorities and deadlines with a high degree of optimism and professionalism
• Schedules may vary from week to week based on business demands in excess of 50 hours with or without notice
• Must be comfortable with walking long distances and being on your feet for extended periods of time

Physical Demands

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an applicant to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. *Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions & physical demands of this role:

• While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to travel by foot, car, bus, airplane or other means of transportation which require sitting, waiting, and standing for long and short periods of time