Regional Director, Construction & Openings

1.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Job Summary – Responsible for the construction and opening of Essentials & Suites branded hotels across the MLAC Region; this role ensures the efficient and timely opening of hotels in the Americas Pipeline including the implementation of global best practices. Serves as a recognized architectural and construction expert for New Development hotels within the region.  Provides construction progress updates by assessing 360 degree photo captures of project sites, combined with onsite visits, to measure construction pace and ensure projects are built to brand standards. Simultaneously serves as owner’s main point of contact after license execution. Conducts regular touchpoints to ensure ground break and opening milestones are achieved. Directs, deploys and project manages the cross functional opening support teams. The role also ensures compliance with quality and operational standards upon opening, as well as ensuring the effective implementation of the Sales & Marketing ramp-up plans to drive excellent revenue performance directly upon opening.    

Essential Duties and Responsibilities – (Key Activities)

• Construction Assessment – Responsibilities include conducting on-site and virtual / desktop New Development design and construction activities to ensure compliance with brand design initiatives, Franchise License Agreement, Plan Review and FF&E submittals, and brand standards. Provide construction expertise and implementation assistance to IHG franchisees and their assigned project team members through all phases of construction for New Development projects, including solving design / construction issues as project field conditions arise, thus ensuring timely and successful completion of projects. Provide progress evaluation of assigned projects per frequency determined and deployed by NHOP Leadership.

• Opening Hotels – Project managesand directs the pre-opening activities of a portfolio of hotels in MLAC region; manages the input of functional heads in the pre-opening team throughout the process, including  Development, TAM, Operations Support, Franchise Performance Support, Procurement, PIP, Franchise Administration, Distribution Marketing, Global Sales, Training, etc. as well as the locally based teams.  Manages the hotel through the pipeline, from the signing to the opening of the hotel.  Sets the opening dates with respective owners. Conducts site visits to all projects to track, monitor and report on progress back to NHOP leaders. Project manages the whole team on the opening programme throughout the process.  Conducts pre-opening inspection and authorizes the hotel to open to the system and take paying guests.  Ensures all Global Sales and Marketing ‘Ramp-Up’ tools and systems are accurate and live as appropriate to maximize initial revenues.

• Operations Best Practice – Partners with NHOP leadership by rolling out Operational Best Practice in all new hotel openings and to Ops team; inducts new hotel GM.

• Relationships - Engages with and manages the communication activities and progress to Owners, COO’s, DOO’s and GM’s throughout the process;directs a team of internal and external members, without formal hierarchical authority. Communicates and updates project team with changes in brand standards and keeps them informed on progress.   Conducts post-project reviews with internal and external team members for best practice learnings and builds them back into the NHOP process for continuous improvement.

• Performance & Delivery – Develop and deliver the Americas NHOP plan through effective project management and partnerships, supported by strong management information, all aimed at driving an agreed number of annual hotel openings and initial revenue performance (ramp-up). 

2.REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education Qualifications –

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Architecture, or a relevant field of work, or an equivalent combination of education and work related experience. AIA certification preferred. 

Experience –

• Minimum 5 years work-related experience in construction management / construction administration, with demonstrated technical proficiency utilizing project management skills related to the position in the hotel industry or similar industry

• Strong understanding of hotel operations

• Experience of managing teams, preferably cross-functional/discipline teams as well as with and without direct hierarchical authority (i.e. external teams or teams from other functions with no direct line management authority)

• Project management experience in a matrix organization overseeing multiple business units.

• Previously worked within an international or global organization

Required Skills 

• Project management and delivery

• Excellent communication skills

• Excellent inter-personal skills, with strong negotiation, impact and influence and problem solving skills

• Able to work under pressure

• People- and task-oriented

• Bi-lingual ability in English and Spanish preferred

3. ACCOUNTABILITY

Number of employees supervised –

Direct:  None Indirect: 10+ (per Hotel)

Decision Rights – 

• Deployment of pre-opening task force

• Opening new hotels to the system and on time

Key metrics – 

• Successful opening of new hotels & On time delivery

• Rollout of operational best practice

Key Internal Relationships -

• Architects (Design Review) and PIP

• Hotel Performance Support

• Operations – COOs, DOOs, Dir Ops Support and new hotel GMs and HOD’s

• Brand Performance – Sales, Marketing, Distribution Marketing, etc

• IT/Risk Management / Legal & Compliance / Franchise Admin

Key External Relationships –

• General Contractors and Project Managers

• Hotel Owners

• Consultants and contractors

• Suppliers and vendors

1. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work Environment - 

Hybrid role with 50% time based in home office and 50% field based.  Ability to travel extensively, up to 38-45 weeks per year. Ability to be accessible by cell phone, mobile device and/or computer while traveling

The statements in this job description are intended to represent the key duties, essential nature and level of work being performed.  They are not intended to be all responsibilities or qualifications of the job