Job Title: People & Culture Manager

Company: Mama Shelter

Location: MAMA SHELTER CAPE TOWN, Cape Town, South Africa

Job Type: Permanent

Company Description

MAMA?

Founded in 2008 by Serge Trigano and his sons Jérémie and Benjamin (co-founders of Club Med), Mama Shelter is a creator of living spaces and a daily director!

These are atypical places, where everyone feels at home, places born of a blend of influences, freedoms, sensations and emotions. Each Mama tells the story of the city in which it is located, and all influences blend together. We offer our guests a joyful atmosphere and exceptional service at an affordable price.

More than just rooms and restaurants, Mama Shelter is a dynamic, a vibe: they are true urban refuges, not only aesthetically pleasing and modern but also popular, welcoming and sexy.

Whatever your role, we're all here to make the customer experience as unforgettable as possible.

Our mission: to bring little moments of happiness to people.

Our growth has enabled us to offer our teams great career paths through internal development and international mobility, and it's not a question of diplomas or years of experience.

Mama Shelter is part of Ennismore, a creative hotel group rooted in cultures and destinations, with a global portfolio of brands. Ennismore is a joint venture with Accor, founded in 2021.

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Our commitment to diversity and inclusion:

Mama is an inclusive company, and our ambition is to recruit and promote diverse talent.


Job Description

🌟 THE MISSION

You are Mama’s favourite parent 💕 — the heartbeat of the house and the guardian of our people experience.

As our People & Culture Manager, you create an environment where teams feel welcomed, supported, inspired, and empowered to be themselves. From recruitment ✨ to engagement 🎉, development 📚 to wellbeing 💖. With you around, every team member feels in good hands. 👍

You are present, approachable, and operational — never far from the action. You build culture daily, support leaders, and ensure Mama remains a workplace where personality, creativity, and performance thrive together.

Here’s what you’ll be responsible for:

Culture Creator 🌈💫
Bring Mama’s culture to life 🎭 by creating a welcoming, inclusive, and positive workplace where everyone feels they belong 🤝✨

Talent Magnet 🎯🌟
Lead recruitment and hiring processes 📝, spotting personalities 😎 and talents 💡 that fit Mama’s spirit as much as the role itself

Team Experience Champion 💖🎉
Design and deliver initiatives that enhance engagement 🤗, wellbeing 🧘‍♂️, and team satisfaction 😊 throughout the employee journey

Trusted Confidant 🕵️‍♀️💬
Act as a safe and confidential partner 🤝 for team members and leaders, providing guidance 🧑‍🏫, coaching 🏋️, and support 🙌

People Operations Leader 📋⚡
Oversee HR administration 🖇️, policies 📜, contracts ✍️, onboarding 🎓, and compliance ✅, ensuring smooth and efficient people processes

Learning & Development Driver 📚🚀
Support growth through training 🏫, coaching 🏋️‍♀️, and development initiatives 💡 that help teams reach their full potential

Performance Partner 📈⭐
Guide managers through performance management 🏆, feedback conversations 🗣️, and talent development strategies 🧩

Employee Relations Expert ⚖️🛡️
Manage employee relations matters 🗂️ with fairness ⚖️, empathy 💖, and professionalism 🧑‍💼 while protecting Mama’s culture and standards ✨

Compliance Guardian 🛡️🔒
Ensure adherence to labor laws 📜, company policies 🏢, and HR best practices 🌍 across all people-related activities

Operational Partner 🎶🔗
Work closely with department leaders 🧑‍💼 and the Executive Committee 🤝 to align people strategy with business needs 💼


Qualifications

MADE FOR YOU… ONLY IF ✨

You hold CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent) 📚💡
You bring strong HR generalist experience, ideally within hospitality 🏨✨
You have international exposure, including experience with diverse teams 🌍✈️
Pre-opening experience is a strong advantage 🏗️🎉
You are creative 🎨💡 and think outside the box when it comes to people and culture 🤯
You are approachable 🤗, empathetic 💖, and naturally supportive 👐
You balance compassion 💕 with professional judgment ⚖️
You thrive in operational environments ⚡ and enjoy being visible with teams 👀🙌
You handle confidential matters with integrity 🕊️🔒
You are organized 🗂️, adaptable 🔄, and comfortable in a fast-paced environment ⚡🏃
You inspire trust 🤝, positivity 🌈, and collaboration 🤗 across all levels 💬
With you, the sun is always shining—it’s all highs and blue skies! ☀️
You’re available and approachable—your office door is always open. 🙌
Confidentiality matters—you’re the team’s trusted confidant. 🤫
You spot talent easily—red chair, buzzer… it’s your turn! 🎯
You’re flexible—your working hours match the business needs. ⏰
You’re operational—you love being at the heart of the action with the team, not stuck at a desk.
You have natural authority but deep down a heart of gold. 💖
YOUR LITTLE EXTRAS 🎯

You remember everyone’s birthday and always find the perfect gift🎁 and celebrate team moments 🎁💖
You bring energy⚡, humour 😂, and positivity 🌈 to the workplace 🎶
You’re flexible ⏰🔄 and adapt your schedule to business needs 🏨
You believe culture is built daily 🧩💫 through small meaningful actions 💖✨
You combine professionalism 🧑‍💼 with Mama’s quirky, human spirit 🎭🎉
You’re determined—you finish the marathon on time, with your best smile. 🏃‍♀️

Additional Information

Next, we're sure you know the tune 🎶:

First melody: “At Mama, no AI! We review your application in person and take the time to understand your background. 🎧
First verse: We organise an initial telephone interview with our People & Culture Team to see if your application fits in with our rhythm. 🤳
Chorus: Once you've passed the phone interview, we'll arrange a remote meeting 💻 or a meeting at Mama 🤝 to meet the Gang!
Last verse: Naturally, you'll receive a response from us within two to three weeks at the latest, whether it's a ✔️ or a ✖️.

Posted: 16/02/2026