HR Director
The Standard Standard London GB - ENG - LondonHuman ResourcesDirectorFull-timeReq ID: LON007191
Summary
We're looking for you London!
HR Director| Full Time | Kings Cross | Competitive Salary DoE + Bonus & Benefits
At The Standard, we don’t just run hotels—we create cultural hubs, social playgrounds, and unforgettable experiences. Our spaces buzz with energy, inclusivity, and creativity, and at the heart of it all. Our incredible team. We don’t do cookie-cutter. We don’t do scripts. We do personality, passion, and individuality.
We believe that hotels should be more than just places to sleep—they should be destinations, experiences, and moments in time that guests remember long after they leave. That’s why we challenge the status quo, bringing bold ideas, unconventional luxury, and immersive culture to everything we do. Whether it’s a buzzing lobby, an unforgettable dining experience, or a rooftop that becomes the city’s go-to spot, we create spaces that are as dynamic as the people who visit them.
Following the ongoing development of our Lifestyle division and existing HR Director into an expanded regional HR role, we are now seeking a HR Director to join our senior leadership team at The Standard, London and lead the people strategy for our flagship European property. This is a pivotal opportunity for a confident, strategic, and hands-on HR leader to build on a strong foundation, driving forward our culture, performance, and people agenda with both operational excellence and long-term vision.
Your role
As our HR Director, you’ll work in close partnership with the General Manager, the Senior Executive Team, and our HR Director, Lifestyle, EAME to oversee all people-related activity across the hotel. With a team of three HR professionals, you will lead the people agenda for a vibrant and diverse workforce of over 320 employees, ensuring that every individual’s contribution helps drive business success and guest excellence.
You’ll take full ownership of the hotel’s people and culture strategy, leading across all key areas of HR including Talent Attraction, Learning & Development, Employee Engagement, Employee Relations, and Strategic Workforce Planning. You’ll play a key role in aligning our people strategy with business performance, translating culture into commercial results. Your remit will go beyond HR operations to encompass financial and strategic planning, including the design and management of annual staffing and payroll budgets, workforce forecasting, and labour cost analysis.
You’ll partner closely with the Director of Finance to ensure total alignment between financial performance and staffing strategy. Together, you’ll review monthly payroll and productivity metrics, track headcount and wage costs against business levels, and make recommendations to optimise workforce efficiency without compromising on guest experience or brand culture. You’ll manage our compensation and benefits framework, oversee performance based pay initiatives, and contribute to monthly ownership and corporate reporting by producing HR data and insights that inform key business decisions.
Beyond the numbers, you’ll lead initiatives that strengthen our organisational culture, focusing on engagement, recognition, and career growth. You’ll act as a trusted advisor and coach to the leadership team, ensuring all people leaders are confident, consistent, and empowered in managing their teams. You’ll champion diversity and inclusion, encourage open communication, and model the authenticity and creativity that define The Standard brand.
Ultimately, your leadership will ensure that HR at The Standard, London is anything but Standard! and not just a support function, but a strategic, data-driven partner that directly influences profitability, performance, and the long-term success of our people and our brand. You will need to be highly social, upbeat and friendly; confident and can handle pressure well; thrive in a high-volume, high-energy environment and can manage both employees and senior managers with ease.
Qualifications
Do you have what it takes to be our HR Director at The Standard?
You’re a natural connector, a confident and approachable leader who thrives in fast-paced, high-energy environments. You’re just as comfortable advising senior stakeholders as you are connecting with our team at the bar during a Friday mixer. You’ll combine strong business acumen with a genuine passion for people and culture.
1. At least 3+ years of experience as a HR Director, Head of HR, or Senior HR Manager within a lifestyle, boutique, or luxury hospitality environment.
2. A thorough understanding of UK employment law and HR best practices.
3. Proven experience across multiple HR disciplines including talent acquisition, employee relations, engagement, payroll, and L&D.
4. Have prior experience of developing HR, staffing, productivity and payroll budgets and plans combined with a creative ‘blue sky’ approach to develop engaging people initiatives
5. Be experienced of producing a range of monthly business and HR metric reports for both corporate office & private ownership.
6. A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with exceptional communication and coaching skills.
7. Hold CIPD Level 7 or equivalent qualification.
8. The ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and positivity in all employee interactions.
9. Experience using HR systems such as Fourth HR/Payroll, PeopleSoft, Peoplebank ATS, Taleo, Mapal One LMS is a plus.
We are defined by our richness of personality and diversity of background and lifestyle. If you think you have what it takes to be our HR Director at The Standard, London, we’d love to hear from you.
All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the United Kingdom. Documented evidence of eligibility will be required from candidates prior to commencing employment.