Director of Human Resources (m/f/d) - Gran Meliá Jumeirah Pre-Opening

Job description

Shape the culture behind one of Dubai's most anticipated luxury hotel openings. Gran Meliá is bringing its iconic Spanish luxury to one of the world's most dynamic destinations with the opening of Gran Meliá Dubai Jumeirah in 2027. Nestled on the shores of Jumeirah 1, this spectacular seafront hotel will feature 366 luxurious rooms and suites, exceptional dining concepts, and breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai skyline. Both the Mediterranean and Dubai share a heritage defined by hospitality, culture, craftsmanship, and refined living. At Gran Meliá Dubai Jumeirah, these worlds come together to create a new benchmark in luxury—where timeless sophistication meets contemporary ambition. As we enter the pre-opening phase, we are seeking an exceptional Human Resources Director to shape the cultural foundation of the hotel from day one. As a strategic partner to the General Manager and Executive Committee, you will lead the people strategy from pre-opening through to operations, creating an environment where people, purpose, and performance come together seamlessly. You will build and inspire a team of Very Inspiring People (VIPs) who embody the Gran Meliá spirit, delivering warm, intuitive, and genuinely personalized service while fostering a culture rooted in excellence, respect, and belonging. This is a unique opportunity for an inspiring HR leader with proven luxury hospitality and pre-opening experience who is passionate about attracting exceptional talent, developing high-performing teams, and creating a workplace where culture becomes a true competitive advantage. Your leadership will help define not only how our teams work together, but how every guest experiences the essence of Gran Meliá. If you are ready to shape the people, culture, and legacy of one of Dubai's most anticipated luxury hotel openings, we would love to hear from you. Key Responsibilities • Lead and implement the HR strategy during pre-opening and into operations, ensuring alignment with brand standards and business goals • Establish HR structures, policies, and governance in line with corporate guidelines and UAE legislation • Act as a strategic business partner to the General Manager and Executive Committee • Drive a culture that reflects Meliá’s core values, fostering a sense of pride, belonging, and individuality across the team • Lead end-to-end talent acquisition for the pre-opening phase, building a team of VIPs (Very Inspiring People) who reflect both capability and cultural alignment • Oversee onboarding and training plans to ensure a seamless and engaging arrival experience for all new joiners • Support leadership development and foster a strong service culture built on emotional intelligence and attention to detail • Strengthen employee engagement through meaningful, well-designed initiatives that go beyond standard practices • Ensure full compliance with UAE labour law and manage employee relations with professionalism and fairness • Own HR budgets, workforce planning, KPIs, and people analytics Your Profile • Proven senior HR leadership experience within luxury hospitality, with pre-opening exposure • Strong working knowledge of the Dubai/UAE market and labor law • Experience balancing both strategic and operational HR in a dynamic environment • Strong background in talent acquisition, culture building, and leadership development • Ability to translate brand positioning into a meaningful employee experience • Confident stakeholder management with a collaborative, solution-oriented approach • Degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, Law, or similar • Fluent in English; Arabic is highly beneficial but is not mandatory What we offer • Competitive tax-free salary • Comprehensive medical & life insurance • Duty meals • Annual leave & public holidays in accordance with UAE Labour Law • Access to learning, leadership development, and global career opportunities across Meliá Hotels International • Employee rates and exclusive discounts across Meliá Hotels International hotels worldwide • Recognition programs that celebrate excellence and achievement

Requirements