HR Manager

About Orient Express & the Role

Orient Express embodies the refined and nomadic spirit of travel. Its exceptional portfolio includes experiences such as The Orient Express, featuring iconic carriages reimagined as a modern-day tribute to French luxury; Orient Express Sailing Yachts, including the Orient Express Corinthian—the world’s largest sailing yacht; La Dolce Vita Orient Express, a train celebrating the elegance of Italian art de vivre, developed in partnership with the ARSENALE Group; and a collection of luxury hotels, including Orient Express La Minerva in Rome and the soon-to-open Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice.

While redefining the future of luxury hospitality, Orient Express places particular emphasis on the employee experience, development, and engagement.

As a symbol of ultra-luxury hospitality, the brand is currently undergoing an ambitious phase of rebirth and expansion accelerated since 2024 as a Joint Venture between ACCOR and LVMH.

Now, as Orient Express grows under the steam of its 140-year own glorious reputation and brand, it stands unique and identifiable from the other luxury brands under the ACCOR brands, aiming to become a pioneer of contemporary luxury hospitality, creating immersive experiences that combine exceptional design, impeccable service, culinary excellence, wellness offerings, cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and authentic local experiences, while also actively engaging in local community initiatives and support social causes, making a positive contribution to the destinations its properties operate in. What remains distinctly Orient Express is its spirit of adventure, sublime service and enchanting storytelling. Refreshing and reinvigorating, Orient Express is loved by those with an adventurous spirit and a taste for the very best, linking travel and destinations as part of the same journey.

About Orient Express La Dolce Vita

Orient Express La Dolce Vita elevates luxury rail travel by offering an exquisitely crafted journey through Italy’s most captivating cities and landscapes. Blending refined Italian design, exceptional culinary artistry, and attentive service, it creates an intimate experience that celebrates the spirit and beauty of Italy. More than travel, it’s a timeless voyage that captures the essence of la dolce vita, leaving guests with unforgettable moments of elegance and discovery.

We are looking for a HR Manager to lead the Talent & Culture function and shape a best-in-class employee experience for our onboard crew and operational teams. Reporting to the General Manager, the HR Manager will drive strategic HR initiatives to foster a high-performance, inclusive and compliant workplace. The role is central in managing end-toend HR operations, including crew workforce planning, shift scheduling, and labour relations — all with an unwavering commitment to our luxury standards and guest service excellence.

Strategic Leadership & HR Operations

▪ Define and deliver the HR strategy in alignment with the General Manager and the corporate guidelines of Orient Express and Arsenale.

▪ Lead the full spectrum of HR functions: talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, learning & development, compensation & benefits, payroll, and personnel administration.

▪ Translate business priorities into effective people strategies and operational HR solutions.

▪ Ensure a culture of continuous improvement and alignment with the brand’s identity and luxury positioning.

Crew Planning & Workforce Scheduling

▪ Lead the planning and roster design for onboard crew, ensuring alignment with service requirements, legal constraints, and the brand’s operational and quality standards.

▪ Oversee and coordinate the Crew Control team, a dedicated function within the HR Department responsible for daily crew allocation and shift management.

▪ Monitor key crew-related KPIs, including resource utilization, absenteeism, shift coverage, and compliance with rest periods and working time regulations.

▪ Work closely with the Operations team to ensure service continuity, responsiveness to unexpected changes, and agility during peak periods.

▪ Contribute to the development of scalable workforce planning processes and tools to support future network expansion and evolving regulatory frameworks.

Industrial & Union Relations

▪ Maintain structured, constructive relationships with trade unions and employee representatives (RSA/RSU, RLS), representing the company in all collective and individual labour matters.

▪ Lead negotiations and ensure implementation of collective labour agreements and company-level agreements, in line with legal obligations and company values.

▪ Manage individual and collective disputes, disciplinary processes, and grievance cases with discretion and compliance.

▪ Keep up to date with Italian labour legislation, proactively advising management and mitigating legal risks.

People Engagement & Workplace Culture

▪ Promote a culture of well-being, engagement, and excellence across all departments.

▪ Oversee the onboarding journey to ensure every new team member feels welcomed, trained, and aligned with brand values.

▪ Support managers in developing positive team dynamics, implementing action plans to improve collaboration and service culture.

▪ Deploy initiatives that bring to life the Orient Express values and elevate the onboard and back-office employee experience.

Compensation, Benefits & Well-being

▪ Supervise compensation, benefits, and recognition programs, ensuring fairness, transparency, and market alignment.

▪ Manage payroll processes in coordination with external providers and internal stakeholders. ▪ Champion employee well-being, designing programs that support physical, mental, and emotional health.

Budget Management

▪ Co-lead with Finance the planning and monitoring of Employment Costs, ensuring alignment with operational budgets and staffing forecasts.

▪ Manage the People & Culture department budget, balancing service excellence with cost-effectiveness.

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior HR role within luxury hospitality, transportation, or high-end service environments.

• Proven track record in crew planning or complex shift management, ideally in railway, aviation, cruise, or luxury travel sectors.

• Deep knowledge and hands-on experience in industrial and union relations, including collective bargaining and employment law.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; fluent in Italian and English (written and spoken).

• Entrepreneurial spirit with strong organizational and project management abilities.

• Hands-on and strategic, able to operate effectively across both day-to-day execution and long-term planning.

• Proficiency with HR systems and tools (HRIS, ATS, scheduling software, payroll platforms, etc.). 

• A competitive package (base salary and yearly bonus)
• Medical Insurance, integrating Collective Labor Agreement one and extended to the family
• Ticket Restaurant
• Annual leave
• ALL - Heartist® Program: Employee benefit card offering discounted rates at all ACCOR locations and partner venues worldwide.
• Learning & development: Opportunity to develop your talent and grow within your property and across the world!
• Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.