HR Manager (Hospitality)

The HR Manager is responsible for overseeing all human resource functions within the bar and restaurant, including recruitment, employee relations, performance management, compliance, and staff welfare, ensuring the business attracts, develops, and retains a skilled and motivated workforce while maintaining a fair, safe, and legally compliant workplace. This role is based on-site at the bar/restaurant with regular presence during peak service hours (evenings/weekends) to observe staff and address issues in real time, and may require occasional after-hours availability for urgent employee relations matters.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Manage end-to-end recruitment for all positions (kitchen, bar, service, and support staff), including job postings, screening, interviewing, and selection.
• Coordinate onboarding and orientation for new hires, ensuring they understand company policies, standards, and culture.
• Maintain a talent pipeline for high-turnover roles typical in hospitality (waitstaff, bartenders, cooks).

Employee Relations & Discipline

• Serve as the first point of contact for employee grievances, conflicts, and workplace concerns.
• Lead investigations into misconduct, disciplinary issues, or policy violations, ensuring fair and consistent processes.
• Draft and issue warning letters, performance improvement plans (PIPs), and termination documentation as needed.
• Promote a positive workplace culture and mediate disputes between staff or between staff and management.

Performance Management

• Design and implement performance appraisal systems suited to hospitality roles (shift-based, tip-based, or hourly staff).
• Support supervisors and department heads in setting goals, giving feedback, and managing underperformance.
• Track and report on staff performance trends across departments (bar, kitchen, floor).

Compliance & Policy

• Ensure compliance with local labor laws, employment regulations, and occupational health & safety standards.
• Maintain up-to-date employee contracts, personnel files, and statutory records (e.g., NSSF, PAYE, work permits where applicable).
• Develop, update, and enforce HR policies and the employee handbook.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and hygiene-related HR requirements (e.g., health certificates for kitchen/bar staff).

Compensation, Benefits & Scheduling Oversight

• Oversee payroll coordination, ensuring accurate hours, tips, overtime, and statutory deductions are captured.
• Manage employee benefits programs (medical cover, meals, staff discounts, leave entitlements).
• Support department heads with shift scheduling policies to ensure adequate staffing while managing labor costs.

Training & Development

• Identify training needs across departments (customer service, food & beverage safety, POS systems, responsible alcohol service).
• Organize and/or facilitate training sessions, including sexual harassment prevention and safeguarding where relevant.
• Support career development and internal promotion pathways for high-performing staff.

HR Administration & Reporting

• Maintain accurate HR records, contracts, and employee databases.
• Prepare HR reports for management on headcount, turnover, absenteeism, and disciplinary trends.
• Manage staff exits, including exit interviews, final settlements, and clearance processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• 3–5+ years of HR experience, with at least 2 years in hospitality, food & beverage, or a fast-paced customer-facing industry preferred.
• Solid knowledge of local labor laws and employment regulations.
• Experience handling disciplinary processes and workplace investigations.
• Proficiency in HR/payroll systems and Microsoft Office/Google Workspace.
• Strong understanding of hospitality industry dynamics (high turnover, shift work, tip structures, service standards).