Our Brand / Sofitel

Emerging as a pioneering French luxury hospitality brand in 1964, Sofitel brings French zest and inspires heartfelt encounters to the most sought-after destinations worldwide. Seamlessly melding local culture with the French zest for life through remarkable savoir-faire and generous service, Sofitel is for free-minded travelers and arts and culture afficionados who have an appreciation for a refined and understated sense of modern luxury.

Our Hotel / Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Ipanema

A landmark for Sofitel in the Americas, Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Ipanema re-emerges as a revitalized beachfront icon where French elegance meets the vibrant Carioca lifestyle. Designed as a sanctuary of art, craftsmanship, and sensory experiences, the hotel sets a new benchmark for luxury hospitality in Rio de Janeiro.

The property features 172 rooms and suites with the signature Sofitel MyBed, refined art-filled interiors, and sweeping views of Two Brothers Hill. Guests enjoy elevated dining at the 22nd-floor Chef’s Table, a rooftop infinity pool, wellness spa, Beach Club, and the exclusive Club Millésime lounge for personalized service and private check-in.

The Director of Rooms Division is a senior operational leader responsible for delivering an exceptional and seamless guest experience across all rooms-related departments. This role sets the standard for luxury service, drives team culture, and ensures operational excellence while contributing to the hotel's commercial and reputational goals.

Guest experience

• Uphold and elevate service standards consistent with Forbes 5-Star and/or LQA benchmarks
• Drive a culture of anticipatory, personalised service across all guest touchpoints
• Monitor guest satisfaction scores (NPS, TripAdvisor, OTAs) and lead corrective actions
• Handle escalated guest complaints with empathy, ownership, and swift resolution

People leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop department heads across all Rooms Division areas
• Foster an inclusive, engaged team culture aligned with the hotel's values and brand identity
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning
• Champion learning and development initiatives to retain and grow talent

Commercial & financial

• Manage the Rooms Division budget, including labour costs, operating expenses, and capex requests
• Partner with Revenue Management to optimise room yield, upsell strategies, and occupancy
• Identify opportunities to grow ancillary revenue (upgrades, amenities, butler services)
• Produce regular operational and financial reports for the GM and ownership

Operations & quality

• Ensure all departments operate in accordance with brand standards, SOPs, and compliance requirements
• Oversee room inventory management, maintenance coordination, and preventive care planning
• Lead quality audits, mystery guest programmes, and certification processes
• Drive continuous improvement across processes, technology, and service delivery

• At least 3–5 years in a Head of Department or equivalent role
• Prior experience in 5-star or ultra-luxury environments
• International experience is a strong advantage
• Pre-opening experience is a plus
• Fluency in English & Portuguese