Cluster Director of Human Resources – People, Culture & Organizational Architect at InterContinental Residences Dubai Business Bay (Operational) & Kimpton Sevn Dubai (Pre-Opening)

About This Role

At InterContinental Residences Dubai Business Bay & Kimpton Sevn Dubai, we are seeking a Cluster Director of Human Resources who will shape culture, drive people strategy, and build a high-performing, future-ready workforce across two distinctive luxury and lifestyle brands.

This role is designed for a strategic, people-centric leader who thrives at the intersection of culture, leadership, and business performance—ensuring that both properties are powered by engaged teams, strong leadership pipelines, and exceptional employee experiences.

One Cluster. Two Distinctive Brand Cultures. One Unified People Strategy. This is more than a traditional HR leadership role.

This cluster brings together the refined residential luxury of InterContinental Residences Dubai Business Bay with the bold, lifestyle-driven spirit of Kimpton Sevn Dubai. Each brand has its own identity—but both require a strong, consistent, and inspiring people culture.

You will not just lead HR—you will define how people experience both brands from the inside out.

Why This Role Matters People are the foundation of exceptional hospitality—and this role ensures that foundation is strong, scalable, and future-ready.

As Cluster Director of Human Resources, you will oversee the full HR function across both properties—aligning people strategy with business objectives, enabling leadership capability, and fostering a culture of performance, engagement, and wellbeing.

You will play a critical role in ensuring that the right people, culture, and capabilities are in place to deliver both operational excellence and long-term success.

This is a key leadership role in shaping organizational effectiveness and driving sustainable performance.

Be the Culture and Capability Driver Behind Two Distinct Brands You will lead, inspire, and elevate the HR function across both properties—ensuring alignment between people strategy, operational needs, and commercial priorities.

From talent acquisition and leadership development to employee experience and compliance—your leadership will directly influence engagement, retention, and overall performance.

What We’ll Support You To Do Build a High-Performing People Strategy Align HR strategy with business goals to drive performance and growth.

Create a Strong, Values-Driven Culture Embed a culture that reflects brand identity, engagement, and inclusion.

Enable Leadership and Talent Growth Develop strong leadership pipelines and future-ready teams.

The Gig Reporting to the Cluster General Manager, the Cluster Director of Human Resources will lead all HR functions for InterContinental Residences Dubai Business Bay and Kimpton Sevn Dubai.

• The Opportunity: Build and lead a strategic, high-impact cluster HR function
• The Focus: Culture, talent, leadership capability, and organizational effectiveness
• The Impact: Drive engagement, retention, and workforce performance across both brands

You will be accountable for the overall people strategy, HR operations, and employee experience across the cluster.

Stay Human At InterContinental and Kimpton, people are at the heart of everything we do.

HR is more than policies and processes—it’s about creating an environment where colleagues feel valued, supported, and inspired to perform at their best.

By combining strategic thinking with genuine care for people, you will help shape a workplace where individuals thrive and teams succeed.

Your Day-to-Day Every day brings strategic focus and people engagement, but your core responsibilities include, and are not limited to:

HR Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and execute the cluster HR strategy
• Align HR initiatives with business and brand priorities
• Advise leadership on organizational design and workforce planning
• Drive organizational effectiveness and change management

Talent & Leadership Development

• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and workforce planning
• Build talent pipelines and succession plans
• Drive learning, development, and leadership capability
• Support performance management and career progression

Culture & Engagement

• Drive employee engagement, recognition, and communication initiatives
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture
• Monitor engagement metrics and implement improvements
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with UAE Labour Law and brand standards
• Manage employee relations with fairness and consistency
• Maintain governance, policies, and audit readiness
• Oversee disciplinary processes and conflict resolution

Pre-Opening HR Leadership

• Lead HR pre-opening strategy for Kimpton Sevn Dubai
• Build HR structures, systems, and policies
• Recruit, onboard, and prepare the opening team
• Establish culture, service standards, and readiness programs
• Ensure full compliance and operational readiness

Employee Experience & Services

• Oversee accommodation, transport, and colleague dining
• Manage benefits, insurance, and wellbeing programs
• Promote a safe, supportive, and balanced work environment
• Enhance overall employee experience across both properties

HR Analytics & Performance

• Develop HR dashboards and reporting frameworks
• Use workforce data to inform strategic decisions
• Provide insights to leadership on trends and performance
• Track KPIs related to engagement, retention, and productivity

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, coach, and develop the HR team
• Build a culture of accountability and excellence
• Partner with Operations, Finance, Sales, and Commercial teams
• Act as a strategic advisor to the Cluster General Manager

What Success Looks Like

• A strong, engaged, and high-performing workforce
• High retention and employee satisfaction levels
• Successful pre-opening execution and workforce readiness
• Strong leadership pipelines and succession plans
• Full compliance with UAE Labour Law and brand standards
• A seamless and elevated employee experience
• Recognition as an employer of choice in the market

Who This Role Is Perfect For

• A strategic and people-driven HR leader
• An experienced professional in multi-property or cluster environments
• A leader passionate about culture, engagement, and development
• A strong influencer who can partner with senior stakeholders
• Someone energized by pre-opening and building teams
• A collaborative leader who thrives in dynamic environments

What We Need From You Ideally, you bring some (or all) of the following qualifications and experience:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Hospitality, or a related field
• CIPD, SHRM, or equivalent qualification preferred

Experience

• 10–15 years of progressive HR leadership experience
• Minimum 5 years at Director level in hospitality or multi-property environments
• Strong experience in pre-opening and cluster operations
• Experience in Dubai/GCC market preferred

Expertise

• Talent acquisition, engagement, and leadership development
• HR analytics and performance management
• UAE Labour Law, visa processes, and compliance
• Employee services (benefits, accommodation, insurance)
• Brand standards and audit requirements

Personal Attributes

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• People-centric with a passion for culture and experience
• Strategic yet hands-on approach
• Strong project management capability
• Excellent communication and decision-making skills
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and cultural awareness

What You Can Expect From Us At InterContinental Residences Dubai Business Bay & Kimpton Sevn Dubai, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, we believe our success begins with our people. We invest in you through thoughtful compensation, global travel privileges, and meaningful opportunities for growth within one of the world’s most respected hospitality groups.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing fair and inclusive employment opportunities to all colleagues and applicants, regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital or family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Through our myWellbeing framework, we actively support the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of our teams—because when our people are balanced, supported, and thriving, they create exceptional experiences for our guests and for each other.

A Culture of Connection, Craft & Care At InterContinental Residences Dubai Business Bay & Kimpton Sevn Dubai, we are united by a culture built on connection, craft, and care.

Connection is at the heart of how we work—how we collaborate as colleagues, engage with our guests, and build lasting relationships that go beyond a single stay.

Craft defines our approach to hospitality. We take pride in the detail, the discipline, and the consistency that transform service into meaningful experiences.

Care is what brings it all to life. We care deeply for our guests, for one another, and for the communities we are part of. It is reflected in every interaction, every gesture, and every decision we make.

Together, these values shape a workplace where people feel supported, empowered, and inspired to deliver hospitality at its very best.

Ready to Shape the Guest Experience? If you don’t meet every requirement but believe you bring the right energy, leadership, and passion for people, we’d still love to meet you and explore what you could bring to our team .

If you’re ready to build something bold, lead with creativity, and redefine experiences in Dubai, we’re ready to discover your story .

Take the next step in your career—submit your application

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants crafts unique destinations that kindle heartfelt human connections. Our bespoke spaces blend spirit, style and delight to create an addictive culture of refined irreverence where locals, visitors & colleagues seamlessly connect.

Don't quite meet every single requirement, but still believe you'd be a great fit for the job? We'll never know unless you hit the 'Apply' button. Start your journey with us today.