Director of Human Resources

Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a rapidly expanding presence in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $20B and generates over $5B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition.  Highgate also has the creativity and bandwidth to develop bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry-leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive out performance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry’s most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, and Seattle.

The Elser Hotel & Residences is a 49-story luxury condominium hotel located in Downtown Miami.   The newly completed tower offers 646 fully furnished rooms/residences, over 19,000 square feet of curated amenities and 5,000 square feet of prime retail space.  Named after the iconic Elser Pier, which was built in the 1900s and became the premier place for locals and visitors to enjoy the magical shoreline of Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami, The Elser Hotel & Residences will continue this tradition. 

The Director of Human Resources plays a strategic and hands-on role in leading the HR function in support of the hotel/property. This position is responsible for attracting and retaining top talent, ensuring compliance with all employment laws and regulations, and overseeing compensation, benefits, workers’ compensation, and unemployment programs. The Director will also lead the design and execution of training and development initiatives, and serve as a trusted advisor on employee relations, providing guidance on coaching, counseling, and disciplinary matters. This role is critical in fostering a positive, high-performance workplace culture aligned with the property’s values and operational goals.

• Champion a positive workplace culture through employee engagement initiatives, recognition programs, and internal communications.
• Lead and develop the Human Resources team to deliver exceptional support across the property.
• Design and implement effective recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies to attract and retain top talent.
• Oversee training and development programs, including orientation, service standards, and leadership growth initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to department leaders on performance management, employee development, and HR best practices.
• Monitor and analyze HR metrics such as turnover, engagement, and compliance to inform strategic decisions.
• Administer compensation, benefits, workers’ compensation, and unemployment programs with accuracy and care.
• Ensure compliance with all employment laws and regulations, including EEO, ADA, OSHA, and wage and hour standards.
• Manage employee relations, including coaching, counseling, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee records, reports, and documentation.
• Lead safety and loss prevention efforts in collaboration with the property’s safety committee.
• Support continuous improvement in HR processes, internal communications, and recordkeeping systems.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressive human resources experience in the hospitality industry or a related field, including at least two (2) years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.

• Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and HR compliance requirements.

• Proven ability to lead and develop HR teams while fostering a collaborative and service-oriented culture.

• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of the organization; bilingual proficiency in

• English and Spanish is required to support a diverse workforce and ensure clear, inclusive communication.

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and professionalism.

• Flexibility to work extended hours or weekends as needed based on operational demands.