Area People & Culture Manager

Why us?

Work Where You Belong!

At Z Hotels San Francisco, hospitality is anything but ordinary. Home to Hotel Zeppelin, Hotel Zelos, and Hotel Zetta, our collection brings together three distinctive boutique hotels in the heart of San Francisco—each with its own bold personality, creative spirit, and unmistakable sense of place.

Hotel Zeppelin celebrates San Francisco’s counterculture roots with rebellious energy, rock-and-roll inspiration, and a style made for those who color outside the lines. Hotel Zelos brings a sleek, fashion-forward, urban point of view, blending modern design, tech-driven style, and the acclaimed Dirty Habit restaurant and bar. Hotel Zetta is a creative retreat for curious minds, where playful design, imaginative art, and unexpected touches create an experience that feels fresh, social, and distinctly San Francisco.

Together, these hotels represent the best of boutique hospitality: expressive, independent, guest-focused, and deeply connected to the city around them. The Z Collection has also been recognized for its strong performance, guest experience, and culture, including Sage Hospitality Hotel of the Year honors, Sage Purpose in Action recognition, Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice recognition, Tripadvisor Top Hotel rankings, and Michelin Hotel recognition.

As part of Sage Hospitality Group, we are passionate about creating excellence in everything we do and enriching lives one experience at a time. We believe our people are our heartbeat, and we are committed to building a culture where associates feel connected, supported, celebrated, and empowered to grow.

We are seeking an Area People & Culture Manager who brings heart, curiosity, strong judgment, and a true passion for people. This role is an opportunity to support three unique hotels, partner closely with property leadership, and help shape an associate experience that reflects the creativity, individuality, and energy of the Z Collection.

If you are an HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, highly engaged, hospitality-driven environment—and you believe culture is built through trust, care, consistency, and meaningful connection—we hope you consider joining us.

Job Overview

Create a work environment that supports personal growth, engagement, and development for all associates while advancing Sage Hospitality Group’s values and culture. This role fosters an empowered, inclusive, and high-performing workforce and ensures timely, thoughtful response to associate relations and conflict management matters. The People & Culture Manager evaluates and supports appropriate staffing levels and organizational structure to enable the operational and cultural success of the hotel.

Coordinate, administer, and report on People & Culture (Human Resources) programs, systems, and processes that support the attraction, retention, and motivation of associates, in alignment with company policies, procedures, and applicable federal, state, and local laws. This role is responsible for hourly recruiting and hiring, as well as the daily administration of compensation, benefits, compliance, and associate relations programs. The position proactively recommends and implements process improvements that enhance the associate experience, operational efficiency, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, screen, interview, conduct reference checks, and coordinate department interviews for hourly candidates using iCIMS, while maintaining applicant flow records to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations.
• Position the hotel as an employer of choice by cultivating strong community partnerships and relationships with referral agencies to support consistent and diverse applicant flow.
• Coordinate and facilitate associate orientation, ensuring new hires receive a meaningful introduction to the hotel, Sage culture, and expectations. This includes completion and processing of all required documentation, such as tax forms, benefits enrollment, Form I-9, and review of the associate handbook and policies.
• Communicate, educate, and administer associate benefit programs accurately and timely, supporting informed enrollment decisions and ongoing compliance.
• Assist in the development, coordination, and execution of associate engagement, recognition, and relations initiatives that promote retention and a positive workplace culture.
• Promote open communication and maintain a positive, respectful, and associate-focused work environment.
• Escalate sensitive associate relations matters to the Director of People & Culture in all instances to mitigate risk and ensure appropriate handling.
• Initiate, review, and manage UKG workflows for new hires, terminations, transfers, and pay changes to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant processing.
• Process employment verifications and respond to inquiries related to wages, unemployment claims, and workers’ compensation in a consistent, compliant, and risk-aware manner.
• Maintain accurate and confidential associate records, files, and People & Culture systems in accordance with audit and compliance standards.
• Compile and submit required corporate and property-level People & Culture reports to support leadership decision-making and ensure compliance with company policies and legal requirements.

Qualifications

Education/Formal Training

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management or a related field, or equivalent education and experience preferred.

Experience

Two or more years of experience in hospitality, People & Culture (Human Resources), or a related leadership role required.

Knowledge/Skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and People & Culture systems, including UKG/MySagePage, iCIMS, and Checkr, with a minimum typing speed of 45 WPM.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in both written and verbal formats. Bilingual fluency is a plus.
• Strong hospitality orientation with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and confidentiality in sensitive associate relations matters.
• Supervisory or leadership capability preferred, including coaching and guidance of associates or team members.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying materials approximately 5 percent of the time.Bending or kneeling occasionally to access files or materials.Mobility throughout the hotel, with approximately 40 percent of a 10-hour day spent engaging with associates and leaders across departments.Periodic standing during training sessions and associate engagement activities.Driving may be required occasionally for hearings, meetings, or recruitment activities

Environment

95% indoor office environment

Benefits

• Eligible to participate in Sage bonus plan. ▪ Unlimited paid time off▪ Medical, dental, & vision insurance▪ Eligible to participate in the Company’s 401(k) program with employer matching▪ Health savings and flexible spending accounts▪ Basic Life and AD&D insurance▪ Company-paid short-term disability▪ Paid FMLA leave for up to a period of 12 weeks▪ Employee Assistance Program▪ Great discounts on Hotels, Restaurants, and much more.▪ Eligible to participate in the Employee Referral Bonus Program. Up to $1,000 per referral.

Salary