People & Culture Executive

People & Culture Executive

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Department: People & Culture
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reporting To: People & Culture Manager
Position Level: Assistant Manager

Job Summary

Basiqat by Mantis is seeking a highly motivated, experienced, and people-oriented People & Culture Executive to join our pre-opening team.

The successful candidate will act as a key operational partner to the People & Culture Manager, supporting the overall management and administration of the People & Culture function while ensuring compliance with Saudi Arabian labor regulations, Accor policies, and Mantis brand standards.

Operating at an Assistant Manager level, the People & Culture Executive will take an active role in overseeing day-to-day HR operations, coordinating recruitment and onboarding activities, supporting payroll and employee relations, and implementing People & Culture initiatives across the resort.

As part of the pre-opening team, the role will be instrumental in establishing HR processes, implementing policies and procedures, supporting workforce mobilization, and building a positive and engaging workplace culture from the outset.

Key Responsibilities

People & Culture Operations & Departmental Management

• Support the People & Culture Manager in overseeing the daily operations of the People & Culture department.
• Act as the department's second-in-command and coordinate HR activities in the absence of the People & Culture Manager, within delegated authority.
• Ensure the effective implementation of People & Culture policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Provide guidance and support to department heads and Heartists on HR-related matters.
• Supervise and coordinate assigned HR administrative activities, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and timely completion.
• Maintain effective communication between the People & Culture department and other operational departments.
• Assist in preparing departmental reports, workforce statistics, and management presentations.

Pre-Opening People & Culture Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of the resort's pre-opening People & Culture action plan and critical path.
• Coordinate recruitment, selection, and onboarding activities in accordance with the approved manpower plan.
• Assist in establishing HR systems, employee records, personnel files, and administrative procedures.
• Support the implementation of Accor and Mantis People & Culture policies, standards, and operational requirements.
• Coordinate employee mobilization, joining formalities, and pre-opening documentation.
• Monitor the progress of assigned People & Culture pre-opening tasks and provide regular updates to the People & Culture Manager.
• Collaborate with department heads to ensure staffing readiness and smooth integration of newly recruited Heartists.
• Assist in preparing employee facilities, orientation arrangements, and internal communication processes prior to opening.

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Coordinate the end-to-end recruitment process, including vacancy postings, candidate screening, interview scheduling, reference checks, and offer preparation.
• Support recruitment activities through SmartRecruiters and other approved recruitment platforms.
• Monitor recruitment progress against the approved manpower plan and hiring timelines.
• Coordinate with department heads to identify staffing requirements and recruitment priorities.
• Ensure recruitment documentation, employment offers, and joining formalities comply with applicable policies and regulations.
• Maintain accurate recruitment trackers and provide regular hiring status reports.
• Support workforce planning, succession planning, and internal career development initiatives.

Employee Relations & Heartist Engagement

• Promote a positive, respectful, and inclusive workplace culture aligned with Accor's Heartist philosophy.
• Serve as a point of contact for Heartist inquiries, concerns, and HR-related requests.
• Support employee relations matters, including grievance handling, disciplinary procedures, and workplace investigations, under the guidance of the People & Culture Manager.
• Coordinate employee engagement, recognition, well-being, and internal communication initiatives.
• Support the implementation of employee satisfaction surveys and related improvement plans.
• Assist in organizing Heartist events, celebrations, and recognition programs.
• Promote effective communication and professional relationships between management and Heartists.

Payroll, Compensation & Benefits Administration

• Coordinate monthly payroll preparation in collaboration with Finance and relevant departments.
• Review attendance records, leave balances, overtime, allowances, and payroll-related adjustments.
• Verify employee information and payroll inputs to ensure accuracy and timely processing.
• Support the administration of employee benefits, medical insurance, and applicable allowances.
• Coordinate employee contract amendments, salary adjustments, and other employment changes.
• Assist in preparing employee final settlements, end-of-service benefit calculations, and separation documentation.
• Ensure payroll and benefits administration complies with applicable Saudi Labor Law requirements and internal policies.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 2 3 years of progressive experience in Human Resources or People & Culture, preferably within the hospitality industry.
• Previous experience in an HR supervisory, senior executive, or Assistant Manager-level position is highly desirable.
• Experience within luxury hotels, resorts, or internationally recognized hospitality brands is preferred.
• Previous hotel or resort pre-opening experience is a strong advantage.
• Solid knowledge of Saudi Labor Law, employment regulations, Saudization requirements, and HR compliance.
• Practical experience in recruitment, employee relations, payroll coordination, performance management, and HR administration.
• Familiarity with Saudi government platforms, including Qiwa, GOSI, and Mudad.
• Experience with HRIS, payroll systems, and recruitment platforms; familiarity with Accor systems and SmartRecruiters is an advantage.
• Professional HR certifications such as CIPD, SHRM, or equivalent are desirable.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management capabilities, with the ability to coordinate departmental activities and support junior team members.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and employee relations skills.
• Excellent command of English; Arabic proficiency is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of HR best practices, policies, and employment compliance.
• Excellent organizational, planning, and multitasking abilities.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive employee matters with professionalism and discretion.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in HR documentation and reporting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work effectively with department heads, management, and employees at all levels.
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and initiative.
• Passion for employee engagement, talent development, and luxury hospitality.
• Flexibility, resilience, and adaptability to the demands of a pre-opening environment.