Open to opportunities

Alexandra Rotaru

@alexandrarotaru

Message

People-focused HR and hotel operations leader driving engagement, performance, and compliance.

United Kingdom

Message

What I'm looking for

I’m looking for a people-and-operations leadership role where I can own HR operations and employee relations, strengthen engagement and service culture, deliver compliant, data-led performance, and support business growth through workforce planning.

I progressed from HR specialist into senior operational leadership, combining corporate HR foundations with hands-on leadership across recruitment, employee relations, workforce planning, and organisational development. I hold full accountability for people, performance, and day-to-day operational decision-making in a multi-department, service-led environment.

I’ve contributed to growth while protecting culture and standards—supporting a £1M+ turnover hotel and delivering improvements including £65k YoY growth and £51k improvement in net performance. I lead employee relations with a fair, consistent approach, maintain guest satisfaction (9.0/10 Booking.com, 5★ Tripadvisor, 9.6/10 staff ratings), and delivered 100% HR compliance across 1,000+ employees.

My operating style is people-first but commercially grounded: I strengthen retention and engagement through structured onboarding and development, drive capability via training and coaching, and align rotas, staffing, and payroll to seasonal demand. I ensure compliance across H&S and internal controls, and I’m motivated by continuous improvement—supporting award recognition, including Michelin Key Award in 2025.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Hotel Manager

Current

The Blonde Hedgehog Hotel

Nov 2022 - Present (3 years 7 months)

Owned people and day-to-day operations for a multi-department boutique hotel, supporting £1M+ turnover and driving £65k YoY growth with £51k net performance improvement. Led engagement and HR operations, maintaining 100% HR compliance for 1,000+ employees and supporting 9.0/10 Booking.com guest satisfaction and 9.6/10 staff ratings.

Employee Relations Workforce Planning Payroll Coordination Absence Management Performance Management Employee Engagement Compliance & Audit Operational Leadership

Insurance Broker

Islands Insurance

Apr 2022 - Nov 2022 (7 months)

Supervised a team of 5 and managed 30+ daily client cases, including claims, renewals, and policy amendments, ensuring accurate and compliant service in a regulated environment. Coordinated with underwriting, finance, and IT teams to support compliant policy administration and service delivery.

Client Relationship Management Policy Administration Claims Handling Renewals Team Supervision Underwriting Regulatory Compliance

HR Specialist

Société Générale European Business Services

Jun 2017 - Aug 2019 (2 years 2 months)

Managed HR operations and payroll for 1,000+ employees, running end-to-end HR administration, employee relations, compliance, and organisational policy updates. Improved HR process compliance from 50% to 100% via proactive case management, while handling 60+ HR queries daily and overseeing absence management and final settlements.

HR Operations Payroll Administration Employee Relations Absence Management Policy Compliance Case Management

Payroll Advisor

Société Générale European Business Services

Jun 2017 - Nov 2017 (5 months)

Processed payroll data including overtime, deductions, and terminations, ensuring timely and accurate payslip delivery. Managed payroll queries to support correct and responsive payroll processing.

Payroll Processing Terminations Timely Processing

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

CIPD Level 3, Human Resources

CIPD Level 3 certification currently planned to strengthen HR knowledge across employment law, people practice, and organisational development.

University of Bucharest

Master’s Degree, International Relations

Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Bucharest, covering international law, European affairs, geopolitical strategy, and comparative political systems with a focus on diplomacy and negotiation.

University of Bucharest

Bachelor’s Degree, Political Science

Activities and societies: Cross-cultural academic programme exploring career mobility, international collaboration, and workforce development across European markets.

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Bucharest, with a focus on political campaigning, stakeholder engagement, and outreach strategy.

European Parliament

Trainee (Brussels Programme), Public Policy / Governance

Activities and societies: Completed modules focused on knowledge transfer, learning methodologies, and effective communication.

Trainee in the European Parliament (Brussels Programme), gaining insight into policy development, administrative structures, and governance processes within the public sector.