Assistant Manager of People & Culture

About Avani Hotels and Resorts

Avani Hotels and Resorts emphasizes striking a harmonious balance between style and practicality, service and privacy, through vibrant communal spaces, stylish yet functional rooms, and authentic locally inspired cuisine. With a presence spanning Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Australia, Avani is expanding globally and fosters an upbeat culture centered on genuine hospitality marked by warm welcomes and sincere smiles.

Job Location

Avani Victoria Falls Resort, Livingstone, Southern Province, Zambia

Role Overview

The Assistant Manager of People & Culture steers the hotel’s people strategy, aligning it to corporate vision, values, and goals. This role collaborates with the Hotel Manager and departmental heads to recruit, develop, and retain high-caliber staff, guarantees compliance with labor laws and regulations, and champions a positive workplace culture that ensures operational excellence and supports the hotel as a preferred employer.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with leadership to devise and execute the annual People & Culture strategy in line with business objectives and the business plan.
• Manage People & Culture budgeting and analyze workforce metrics to recommend improvements in productivity, engagement, and succession planning.
• Lead recruitment initiatives to attract skilled talent, develop workforce plans, onboard new hires, and foster internal career paths and succession.
• Maintain labor compliance, manage employee relations, handle grievances and disciplinary procedures, and liaise with unions and authorities regarding labor inspections and documentation.
• Oversee performance management processes, coaching managers for enhanced staff development and accountability.
• Collaborate with learning functions to identify training needs, implement development plans, ensure compliance training, and promote continuous learning and mentoring.
• Drive employee engagement through recognition programs, communication forums, surveys, and culture-related initiatives.
• Ensure consistent application of People & Culture policies, uphold confidentiality of records, manage employment documentation, and generate HR analytics.
• Administer and optimize the Human Resources Information System, supporting digital innovations and training managers on HR systems.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Industrial Psychology, or similar.
• Professional HR certification and membership with the Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management (ZIHRM) or equivalent body.
• A minimum of five to seven years of progressive HR experience, including at least three years in management or leadership roles.
• Experience with international hospitality brands is preferred, along with proven expertise in local labor relations, talent management, organizational development, and HRIS/payroll system administration.

Core Competencies

• Leadership marked by integrity, trust-building, empowerment, emotional intelligence, accountability, and culture advocacy.
• Business acumen with understanding of hospitality commercial drivers, data-driven decision-making, strategic thinking combined with operational execution.
• Excellent communication with persuasive negotiation skills and ability to build cross-level relationships.
• Strong personal effectiveness characterized by high ethical standards, confidentiality, organizational skills, analytical thinking, resilience, adaptability, and solution-focused mindset.