Assistant Director of People & Culture

About the role

The Assistant Director of People & Culture supports the day-to-day People & Culture function for Recess Hotel & Club, serving as the primary on-property resource for team members and leaders. This role operates within a shared People & Culture model supporting both Recess Hotel & Club and Hotel Bardo Savannah, working closely with the People & Culture team to ensure consistent execution, strong communication, and a thoughtful team member experience.

This is a hands-on HR leadership role suited for an experienced generalist who is confident navigating employee relations, onboarding, compliance, investigations, manager support, and team member inquiries. The Assistant Director helps ensure that People & Culture practices are practical, consistent, legally compliant, and aligned with the service culture of the hotel.

What you’ll do

• Serve as the primary on-property People & Culture contact for Recess team members and managers.
• Partner with the People & Culture leadership team to support consistent HR practices across the shared hotel environment.
• Provide day-to-day coaching and guidance to managers on employee relations, performance concerns, documentation, policy interpretation, and team member communication.
• Support employee relations matters, including intake, fact-finding, investigations, corrective action, follow-up, and documentation.
• Coordinate onboarding and new hire integration, ensuring team members have a smooth, welcoming, and organized introduction to the hotel, brand, and company standards.
• Maintain accurate team member records, HRIS data, personnel files, compliance documentation, and related reporting.
• Support compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, company policies, and required workplace procedures.
• Respond to team member questions regarding policies, benefits, payroll, timekeeping, workplace concerns, and general People & Culture matters.
• Support performance management processes, including documentation, follow-up, coaching conversations, and manager accountability.
• Assist with benefits administration, leave of absence coordination, workers’ compensation, and other routine HR processes.
• Support culture, engagement, recognition, and communication efforts that reinforce a positive and service-oriented work environment.
• Partner with managers to identify and resolve workplace issues before they escalate.
• Assist with training coordination as needed, including compliance training, orientation content, and manager support.
• Ensure the team member experience reflects the same level of care, consistency, and hospitality expected in the guest experience.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of progressive Human Resources experience, preferably in hospitality, luxury service, or another high-touch service environment.
• Strong generalist background with hands-on experience in employee relations, onboarding, compliance, HR administration, and manager support.
• Experience handling sensitive employee matters with sound judgment, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Working knowledge of employment laws, HR best practices, documentation standards, and workplace compliance requirements.
• Prior experience supporting a hotel, resort, restaurant, or multi-shift operational environment preferred.
• Experience with HRIS platforms required; Rippling experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Hospitality, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Strong communication, organization, follow-through, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance approachability with accountability when supporting both team members and managers.

Why Recess?

Build something from the beginning.

• Join the opening team behind one of Savannah's most anticipated lifestyle hotels and help shape the guest experience from day one.

Take care of yourself.

• Medical, dental, vision, and wellness benefits for eligible full-time team members
• Company-matched 401(k) with fast vesting
• Up to 20 days of paid time off, paid holidays, and a paid birthday
• Complimentary daily team member meal

Experience the brand.

• Complimentary two-night stay at Hotel Recess & Club Savannah
• Team member discounts on dining, Saltgrass Spa treatments, retail, and The Cooking School at Saint Bibiana 
• Complimentary fitness classes

Travel farther.

• Employee rates at select Leading Hotels of the World properties
• Discounts at Highgate hotels worldwide

Grow with Left Lane.

• Referral incentives and guest recognition programs
• Career development opportunities across a growing hospitality portfolio
• The opportunity to help shape one of hospitality's most exciting lifestyle brands