Director of Talent and Culture

About the role

History and spectacular landscapes come together at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Celebrated landmarks, including Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and the University of Virginia, are clustered here among swathes of the East Coast's most beautiful scenery. The region is also home to over 25 wineries, breweries, and cideries. This is the setting for Keswick Hall, an impressive 80-room luxury boutique hotel nestled on 600 acres, which recently reopened in 2021 after renovations. Home to the prestigious Keswick Golf Club, Marigold Restaurant by Jean-Georges, a new luxury spa, and sports and aquatics center.

The Director of Talent and Culture will plan, lead, direct, develop, and coordinate the policies, activities, and staff of the Talent Support (TS) department, ensuring legal compliance and implementation of the organization’s mission and talent strategy. This role champions brand strategies, promotes teamwork, and motivates staff across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a visible and enthusiastic advocate for the organization and its team members by promoting a positive, inclusive, and engaging workplace culture.
• Communicate changes in the organization’s personnel policies and procedures and ensure proper compliance is followed.
• Assist executive management in the annual review, preparation, and administration of the organization’s wage and salary program.
• Oversee the exit interview process to determine reasons behind separations and identify trends.
• Consult with legal counsel as appropriate on personnel matters.
• Work directly with department managers to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities on personnel matters.
• Partner with managers and department leaders to provide coaching, encouragement, and resources that support effective leadership and team performance.
• Encourage managers to lead with accountability, empathy, and consistency while fostering a workplace where employees feel supported, motivated, and empowered to succeed.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to understand the organization’s goals and strategy related to staffing, recruiting, and retention.
• Plan, lead, develop, coordinate, and implement policies, processes, training, initiatives, and surveys to support the organization’s human resource compliance and strategy needs.
• Lead administration of human resource programs including compensation, benefits, leave, disciplinary matters, disputes and investigations, performance and talent management, productivity, recognition, morale, occupational health and safety, and training and development.
• Identify staffing and recruiting needs; develop and execute best practices for hiring and talent management.
• Conduct research and analysis of organizational trends, including review of reports and metrics from the organization’s human resource information system (HRIS) or talent management system.
• Monitor and ensure the organization’s compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations; recommend and modify policies and practices to maintain compliance.
• Maintain knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law; apply this knowledge to communicate changes in policy, practice, and resources to upper management.
• Develop and implement the departmental budget.
• Facilitate professional development, training, and certification activities for HR staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge

• Must possess knowledge of and experience working with Commonwealth of Virginia laws and regulations.
• Human Resources experience, including knowledge and practical experience in all aspects of Human Resources (benefits, compensation, employment, training, employee relations, and compliance).

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communication, time management, leadership, and employee development skills.
• Strong leadership and managerial skills, with the ability to provide direction across all functional areas of the Human Resources team.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate the business needs of the organization and drive solutions.
• Experience overseeing complex employee relations situations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written communication skills.

Supervision

• Position functions autonomously.
• Directly supervises 2 employees.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws, including interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, or related field and 10 years of experience in an exempt-level HR management role required. A combination of experience and/or education will be considered.
• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) and 15 years of hospitality experience preferred.

Licenses/Certifications

• PHR/SHRM-CP or SPHR/SHRM-SCP certification preferred.

Physical Demands

• Typically sitting at a desk or table.
• Intermittently sitting, standing, walking, or stooping.

Uniform Requirement

Business attire required.

At this time, Keswick will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.