Description
Fiddler’s Creek, a private ownership, master-planned, mandatory membership, and gated community, is seeking an accomplished and approachable Director of People & Culture (DPC) to lead the people operation at this luxury club and community. This role will set and execute the Club’s human resources strategy including talent acquisition, succession planning, organizational development, employee relations, compensation, benefits, learning, and employee engagement.
Working under a strategic and driven General Manager who is looking to further elevate the overall member and staff experience at Fiddler’s Creek, the Director of People & Culture will be a senior executive and key business partner, charged with creating, enhancing, and executing all talent programs, and will be an integral part of this collaborative, high-performing team.
This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned HR professional who has the proven ability to think strategically but also loves the day-to-day HR responsibilities and personal employee interactions. This key role goes beyond the traditional HR role of simply administering to the operation; we are looking for a business-savvy, relationship-builder who is a driven, innovative, hospitality-infused leader.
ABOUT FIDDLER’S CREEK
Fiddler’s Creek currently has around 3,000+/- residences across 39 neighborhoods, with plans to expand to 5,000+/- residences across nearly 30 +/- more villages at completion of the development. (estimated 2040). Home prices currently range from over $4M to over $15M, and condominiums range from $1.5M to over $2.5M.
Fiddler’s Creek is designed to offer a "never-ending vacation" with luxurious resort-style amenities. At its core is a 54,000-square-foot Club & Spa, featuring a state-of-the-art fitness center with Cybex cardio and weight machines, a 1,600-square-foot aerobics studio offering classes like yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, spinning, and body sculpting, and dining options at the poolside Gator Grille and fine dining Caxambas restaurants. The club also boasts a resort-style multi-pool swimming complex and a newly renovated clubhouse re-opening in Fall 2025. Additional recreational facilities include six Har-Tru tennis courts, ten pickleball courts with an optional Priority Tennis Program, three bocce ball courts, a lap pool, and walking trails. A future Wellness and Tennis Center will add 36,000+/- to the current facilities.
Beyond recreation and resort-style living, Fiddler’s Creek emphasizes environmental preservation, with over two-thirds of its 4,000 +/- acres dedicated to preserves, lakes, and parks, including the 5.5+/- mile creek and 750+/- acre Marsh Pointe Nature Park with a boardwalk and gazebo, attracting Audubon Society bird counts.
Fiddler’s Creek fosters a vibrant, community-driven lifestyle with a tropical resort vibe, marketed as a residential destination for active adults. Its relaxed yet engaging atmosphere supports activities from early morning pickleball to sunrise beach walks.
The community offers a robust social calendar, seasonal events such as the Fall Gala, Christmas dinner, New Years Eve Gala, Passport to Fiddlers, along with community outreach initiatives such as toy drives and “Fore the Kids” golf tournaments. Adjacent to the Everglades and Rookery Bay, Fiddler’s Creek blends luxury with a strong environmental focus, ensuring natural beauty and wildlife preservation.
FIDDLER’S CREEK BY THE NUMBERS
There are approximately 1500+/- single family homes and 1400+/- condominiums at present, with an approved eventual build-out of 5,000 homes.
Approximately 30% of the residents live in the community on a year-round basis
There are approximately 60 miles of roadways within the community, all individual neighborhoods are maintained by individual neighborhood associations.
Overall operating budget of approximately $13+/-M.
Club and Spa is a mandatory membership. Golf and Tarpon Club memberships are additional.
F & B revenues are approximately $5M from all sources with approximately 70% of that derived from ala carte dining and 30% from galas and fine dining.
Total employees in-season: +/- 320 (including 120 H2B employees)
Total employees off-season: +/- 200
Total employees in HR: 3 (including the DPC)
HR/Payroll System: ADP Workforce Now
Collective Bargaining Agreements: None
FIDDLER’S CREEK WEBSITE: www.fiddlerscreek.com
Requirements
The Director of People & Culture at Fiddler’s Creek reports directly to the General Manager and is charged with leading the team that serves its most important assets: its employees. In this role, the Director of People & Culture will work hand in hand with the operations team to create and connect the Club’s people strategy to the overall Club business strategy to achieve results. With an intuitively engaging and approachable style, the successful candidate will display leadership and professionalism in balancing strategic and administrative responsibilities with the need to be highly visible and interactive with all departments and staff members.
The Director of People & Culture has two direct reports. This role will office out of Fiddler’s Creek and will work an in-person, Monday-Friday schedule, with occasional nights, weekends, and holidays as needed to support the team with HR services and support.
While it goes without saying that a solid, technical Human Resources background is necessary for this role, the following critical skills and traits are required to be effective at our Club. Our successful candidate will:
Be a strategic partner: have the ability to create and execute talent strategy plans for current and long-term organizational growth.
Be a trust-builder: be relied upon to keep your word and be a trusted advisor for managers and employees.
Be a motivator: drive engagement and retention by creating a positive and inclusive workplace.
Be a listener who really hears: be an approachable resource when employees have issues or concerns.
Be comfortable not being behind a desk: regularly visiting all club operations, spending time in the daily operation with employees.
Be a barrier-remover: strategically building relationships to resolve conflict and influence change and action within the organization.
INITIAL PRIORITIES OF THE NEW DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & CULTURE
As an integral part of Fiddler’s Creek’s management team, the following priorities have been identified as primary focus:
CONNECT – Build relationships, listen, observe, meet, and learn about the various departments, staff, and culture. Get to know what makes Fiddler’s Creek special.
HR COMPLIANCE – Assume responsibility for the HR basics, ensuring compliance and the essentials are completed.
ASSESS & EXECUTE – Evaluate current human resources processes and create a strategy and action plan for enhanced people operations moving forward. This will include a focus on:
o RECRUITMENT & RETENTION: Work with the leadership team to continue to source top talent, both seasonal and year-round, specifically focusing on H2B and J-1 recruitment and retention.
o COMPENSATION: Conduct analysis of current compensation and benefits programs, creating a strategy to enhance current offerings to ensure the recruitment and retention of the best and brightest.
o CULTURE: Work with leaders to reinforce desired cultural behaviors associated with the established culture and critical outcomes in all aspects of the operation.
o DEVELOPMENT: Create a management training and development strategy to attract top leadership talent and develop future leadership through succession planning.
o Any other Club strategic initiatives as determined by the GM.
The Director of People & Culture oversees all aspects of HR including:
Human resources strategy, administration, and compliance.
Employee recruitment, selection, onboarding, and succession planning.
Engagement, training, and performance management.
Employee benefits and compensation.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
Exceptional understanding of all functions of Human Resources and a robust knowledge of applicable federal/local/state laws and HR best practices.
Strong experience with H2B, J-1, and seasonal staffing immigration requirements.
A history of progressive Human Resources management experience within a hospitality industry required, preferably within hotels, clubs, or restaurants industries.
Proven experience with at least five years in a senior HR leadership role.
Ability to translate strategic business objectives into HR initiatives and actions
Ability to work with a high level of confidentiality and professionalism, demonstrating sound judgment.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
EDUCATIONAL AND CERTIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a hospitality-related field.
SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or other relevant HR certifications preferred.
EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION
In compliance with federal law, all hired employees must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The community offers an excellent bonus and benefit package including SHRM membership and continuing education.
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO APPLY
Please upload your resume and cover letter in the order listed using the link below. When prompted for them during the online application process, you should have your documents fully prepared to attach. Please be sure your image is not on your resume or cover letter; it should be used on your LinkedIn Profile.
Prepare a thoughtful cover letter addressed to Mr. Jeffrey De Franco, General Manager. Clearly articulate your alignment with this role, why you want to be considered for this position at this stage of your career, and why Fiddler’s Creek and Southwest Florida will benefit you, your family, your career, and the Club if selected.
You must apply for this role as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, February 16, 2026. Candidate selections will occur in late February, with the first Interviews expected in early March 2026 and the second interviews a short time later. The successful candidate should assume their role by April 6, 2026.
IMPORTANT: Save your resume and letter in the following manner:
“Last Name, First Name - Resume” &
“Last Name, First Name - Cover Letter – Fiddler’s Creek”
(These documents should be in Word or PDF format)
Note: Once you complete the application process for this search, you are not able to go back in and add additional documents.
Click here to upload your resume and cover letter.
If you have any questions, please email Alice Stevens: alice@kkandw.com
Lead Search Executive:
Jodie J. Cunningham SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Search & Consulting Executive
O: (833) KKW-HIRE, ext. 707
M: (602) 690-1074
jodie@kkandw.com
