Overview In this role you will lead the people strategy for Highgate's New York hotel portfolio, partnering with GMs, regional and corporate leaders to drive performance, leadership capability, and a high performance culture. You will navigate a unionized environment, oversee labor relations, recruitment, succession, and HR operations, ensuring compliance and associate engagement. You will align HR priorities with property performance and owner expectations while supporting organizational effectiveness and business growth. A strong on property presence in New York is essential to build trust and resolve issues.
Responsibilities- Serve as the senior HR business partner for New York hotels, aligning people priorities with performance and strategy
- Coach GM and HR leaders on leadership, succession, workforce planning, and change management
- Translate company HR priorities into market-specific action plans for New York hotels
- Lead labor relations strategy for unionized properties, including CBAs, side letters, and past practices
- Advise on contract interpretation, scheduling, wage/benefit provisions, and disciplinary actions with labor implications
- Partner with legal, corporate HR, and unions to resolve grievances and mitigate labor risk
- Ensure compliance with NY federal/state/city employment laws and related obligations
- Oversee recruitment, staffing strategies, and diversity of candidate pipelines for high-volume and leadership roles
- Guide succession planning and talent reviews for hotel leadership
- Develop and mentor HR Directors and teams to raise partnership and compliance standards
- Support onboarding, leadership development, training, and manager capability programs
- Foster an inclusive associate experience aligned with Highgate values and culture
- Utilize data on turnover, engagements, and compliance to drive retention and culture actions
- Manage HR budgeting, records, performance management, and HR process execution
- Monitor HR metrics and translate insights into actionable improvements
- Travel regularly within the New York market to support leaders and resolve issues
Key requirements- 15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience in hotel/hospitality or service-intensive operations
- Strong experience supporting a New York City hotel or comparable unionized environment (preferred)
- Deep knowledge of NY state and NYC employment laws; ability to escalate to counsel when needed
- Experience advising senior operators and GMs in fast-paced, guest-facing settings
- Proven ability to lead through influence, build trust, manage sensitive issues discreetly
- Executive-level communication skills: presenting recommendations and facilitating difficult conversations
- Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Hospitality, Labor Relations, or related field (preferred)
- Advanced degree or HR/labor certification a plus
- Ability to travel regularly in the New York market and work flexible hours
- Business-minded HR leader with understanding of hotel operations and guest satisfaction impact
- Strong labor relations partner focused on fairness, integrity, and practical solutions
- Hands-on operator capable of executing strategy during urgent or complex situations
- Develops people and raises HR team capability across portfolio
- Builds trusted relationships with GMs, property HR, corporate HR, legal, and unions across New York
- strong communication and presentation skills
- credibility across all organization levels
- discretion and integrity with confidential matters
- labor relations management
- collective bargaining agreement administration
- employee relations investigations and dispute resolution
