Highgate, in Portugal, manages 14 hotel units and is committed to providing excellent service to all customers, at all times. At Highgate, we support an environment of excellence, transparency and intelligence, nurturing our employees to a level of autonomy within the company. Employee growth is our priority, and we provide the tools and opportunities to expand your professional skills and experience.
Are you ready to embark on an exceptional journey? Find out here who we are looking for!
We are looking for a Director of Culture, based in the Algarve.
The Director of Culture is the connective tissue across this portfolio. This is not an HR administration role, and it is not a change management project. It is a permanent, senior leadership position for someone who understands that culture is the engine behind operational excellence — and who has the presence, energy, and skill to keep that engine running at full capacity across diverse properties and teams.
The successful candidate will move fluidly between corporate leadership conversations and property-level realities, translating the company's people philosophy into the daily experience of team members and guests alike.
Challenges you’ll love:
Culture Leadership & Brand Alignment
- Serve as the standard-bearer for Highgate's people culture across all 10+ Portugal properties
- Navigate and respect the distinct brand cultures of each franchise (Westin, Kimpton, and others) while reinforcing the Highgate people philosophy
- Develop and sustain rituals, practices, and touchpoints that keep culture visible and alive across properties
- Build strong working relationships with General Managers — serving as a trusted peer, not a compliance function
Energy, Engagement & Performance
- Identify and elevate energy levels across teams — diagnosing low engagement and creating conditions for high performance
- Design and facilitate experiences (onboarding, recognition, team development) that reinforce a people-first, excellence-driven environment
- Partner with property leadership to connect individual performance to the broader culture vision
- Create opportunities for team members to grow, contribute, and be seen
People Operations & Compliance
- Partner with HR on policy interpretation, employee relations, and any sensitive people matters that require cultural sensitivity and legal grounding
- Support onboarding of new hires and leaders to accelerate cultural integration
Reporting & Visibility
- Maintain regular cadence of communication with SVP, HR and COO, Portugal on culture health, priorities, and progress
- Surface insights from property visits and GM conversations that inform leadership decisions
- Track and report on people indicators (engagement, retention, morale trends) across the portfolio
What you need to shine in this role:
- Significant experience in hospitality, with HR and/or psychology background
- Proven ability to operate in multi-property, multi-brand hotel environments
- Track record of building and sustaining culture at scale
- Strong experience influencing at General Manager level and above
- Knowledge of Portuguese employment law and HR compliance
- High energy and positive presence that elevates teams
- Inspirational communicator who can enroll others in a vision
- Strong empathy and people focus
- Operationally grounded with hands-on hotel understanding and credibility on the floor
- Willing to travel regularly across Portugal; Algarve-based preferred
- Bilingual in English and Portuguese (written and spoken)
The benefits of joining our team:
- A positive work environment and integration into a young, dynamic team;
- Competitive salary;
- Health insurance;
- Additional vacation days based on attendance;
- Benefits within Highgate Hotels;
- Career development and progression opportunities.
