We are Dean Group.
Dive into our company culture, where genuine individuals are celebrated and fun is integral.
We specialise in design led, premium hotels, with a focus on art, culture and people.
Always leading from the front, we grow careers internally, seeking the best and brightest.
Driven by our ethos, our team collaborates with enthusiasm, pushing boundaries for both colleagues and customers.
We are currently seeking a People Operations Project Lead to join the People Culture team in Dean Group Head Office.
If you have experience leading people operations projects, delivering recruitment initiatives, and partnering with diverse stakeholders in a fast-paced environment, we'd love to hear from you!
Key Areas: People Culture Discovery Integration Assessment Recruitment Onboarding Pre-Opening HR Operations Local Compliance Third-Party Partnerships Training Development Employee Engagement Culture Location: Dublin - Travel Expected Overview People Operations Project Lead - Hotel Openings is a people-focused and operationally driven HR professional who supports and coordinates HR activities for the successful launch of new hotels across multiple jurisdictions.
This role is central to managing workforce planning, recruitment, compliance, and engagement, while working closely with managed service providers (MSPs), payroll vendors, and legal/HR advisors to ensure seamless HR delivery in new markets.
Roles Responsibilities People Culture Discovery Integration Assessment Conduct a full people-focused due diligence review when a new property is acquired Assess existing HR structures, policies, contracts, payroll setup, and compliance status.
Map current workforce composition, leadership capability, and organisational structure against group standards.
Identify cultural strengths, risks, and integration gaps across departments.
Evaluate onboarding practices, recruitment pipelines, and talent retention performance.
Review training, L D practices, and statutory requirements unique to the jurisdiction.
Provide a clear findings report with recommendations, priorities, and timelines for integration.
Partner with Finance, Legal, Operations, and local leadership to align people strategy with acquisition goals.
Recruitment Onboarding Partner with TA and MSPs and local agencies to manage recruitment for pre-opening roles.
Support hiring managers with workforce planning, role scoping, and candidate selection.
Coordinate international onboarding processes, ensuring brand culture and standards are embedded.
Manage pre-opening assessment days, group interviews, and orientation programmes.
Pre-Opening HR Operations Act as HR project lead for new hotel openings, creating tailored HR opening timelines.
Work with payroll providers, HRIS teams, and local partners to set up HR operations in new markets.
Collaborate with employment law advisors to adapt policies, procedures, and contracts per jurisdiction.
Ensure consistency in HR processes while respecting local legislative and cultural differences.
Local Compliance Third-Party Partnerships Liaise with MSPs, payroll vendors, and legal advisors to ensure compliance in each new jurisdiction.
Oversee employee work permits, visas, and mobility requirements in collaboration with local partners.
Build relationships with government agencies and third-party service providers as required.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local labour law, tax, and HR compliance obligations.
Training Development Deliver pre-opening induction and brand culture workshops with support from L D. Coordinate mandatory training in line with local requirements (e.g. health safety, compliance).
Support managers with leadership and people management training during pre-opening.
Employee Engagement Culture Champion the group's EVP and values across new jurisdictions.
Coordinate engagement events, communication plans, and recognition initiatives pre and post-opening.
Gather insights and feedback from opening teams to evolve the HR opening playbook.
Reports to: HR Director Preferred Experience Skills: 5+ years' experience in People Operations / HR project delivery, ideally in hospitality or multi-site environments.
Experience supporting hotel openings or acquisitions, coordinating end-to-end pre-opening HR activities.
Proven recruitment delivery experience with TA teams, MSPs/RPOs, and local agencies.
Experience working across multiple jurisdictions, partnering with payroll, HRIS and legal/HR advisors on compliance and setup.
Exposure to onboarding programmes and employee mobility (visas/work permits) is an advantage.
Strong project management and organisational skills with the ability to meet deadlines.
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Detail-focused, adaptable, and culturally aware.
Willingness to travel as required.
Benefits: Global discounted staff room rates across the group Eligible for a bonus 50% off Food and 25% Beverage across the group Increased Annual Leave with Service Friends and Family discount Gym Membership Discounts* Continual training and development Career progression within the Group Gratuities * Meals on shift (Monday - Wednesday) Bike to work scheme Taxsaver for travel Refer a friend scheme Wellness at work events and access to wellness platform Employment Assistance Programme Group discounts for cinema tickets, shopping deals etc Team appreciation days Service recognition Regular fun-filled activities and gatherings for all teams across the group *Applicable to certain positions Dean Group owns and operates a number of hotel across Ireland, in certain instances we may feel your skills and experience may suit another role we have available.
By submitting your application, you are permitting Dean Group to contact you for other opportunities within the Group #HP