Manager IT Hotel Openings & Conversions

JOB SUMMARY

The Manager Information Technology - CALA Hotel Openings & Conversions is a key contributor to the CALA IT organization who provides project management installation coordination and training services to support the success of hotel openings conversions transitions and special projects across all brands within the region. The Manager Information Technology - CALA Hotel Openings & Conversions provides support throughout the duration of the project (before during and after hotel opening or conversion) to all relevant stakeholders including franchise partners vendors on-property personnel and Marriott Global Technology. They are responsible for managing the project and coordinating the work performed by several technology groups within Marriott as well as external vendors to achieve compliant timely and on-budget completion of tasks and deliverables. This resource will execute technology enablement synchronizing technical and operational support with full accountability for critical activities across the projects life cycle. Responsibilities include collaborating with both the property owners and vendors to deliver installation services activation of applications applications installations and training Lastly they provide support on various Marriott Global Technology initiatives such as beta testing and worldwide opening and conversion support. They provide subject matter expertise to the organization by staying abreast of technology landscape and identifying opportunities for technology innovation to increase capabilities and decrease costs.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience

• 7 years management and/or hotel operations experience

• 5 yearsproject management experience managing on-property or above property projects

• 4 years experience demonstrating leadership in information systems and enabling technologies

• 4 years experience in or knowledge of hotel technology operation experienceincluding knowledge of standard operating procedures

• 4 years experience working with Infrastructure and/or Application projects and tech stacks for hotels and in-room technology

• 2 years experience working with international properties

• Ability to develop and foster business relationships with diverse groups from the community stakeholders and other entities (client vendor peers cross functional partners)

• Demonstrated ability to apply technology-enabled solutions to business problems

• Highly organized and able to handle multiple priorities.

• Comfortable with complexity ambiguity and change.

• Results oriented; delivers results under difficult conditions and demonstrates balanced judgment under pressure.

• Innovative thinker and agile learner; able to readily apply past learning in new situations to generate solutions to Marriott challenges and/or create something entirely new.

• Proficiency in verbal and written communications in both English and Spanish required.

• Ability to travel up to 20% throughout the CALA region with travel duration and timing varying considerably based on the needs of our customers.

• Occasional worldwide travel outside of the CALA region to support projects in other regions on an as needed basis.

• Comfortable working in multiple settings including home office on property and while traveling.

• Bilingual (Spanish/English)

Preferred

• Proficient and familiar with the CALA Technology landscape

• Proficiency in verbal and written communications in Portuguese is a plus.

• Previous infrastructure experience such as configuring server infrastructure according to MI standards or Application Experience such as working experience with MARSHA CRS

• Previous experience or certification with training facilitation preferred.

• Technical certifications desired such as Network Cisco PMP ITIL Microsoft Certified Professional SAFe Opera ITIL

• Experience in Agile development/concepts

• Experience analyzing and documenting processes

• Previous experience in managing third-party providers

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

New Property Openings/Conversion IT Project Management

• Create project plans for conversions/deflags/new openings

• Participate in design pre-opening activities determining status of the technology of prospect salesand adherence to standards

• Act as the project lead and represent the CALA Regional IT team during onsite implementation for assigning opening projects new builds and conversions and serve as the primary contact and escalation point for cross functional stakeholders including franchise partners vendors on property personnel and Global Technology.

• Leads the IT transition for hotel deflags and Managed to Franchise/Brand to Brand conversions

• Manages multiple overlapping projects (openings/conversations/other)

• Identifies creative solutions to business requirements analyzes the strengths opportunities and presents alternative recommendations

• Gain and maintain alignment across all relevant stakeholders throughout duration of project to ensure success of the opening/conversion project.

• Manages all pre-work activities in preparation for on-site and/or remote implementation/training including scheduling vendor management coordination pre-work requirements and communications in the lead up to onsite implementation.

• Communicate requirements and delegate authority and responsibility to operations leaders and Application Champions and vendors to ensure that project tasks and deliverables are successfully completed on time and in accordance with all relevant Marriott standards and requirements.

• Maintains an awareness of the inter-relationships among on-going activities on the project and plans work assignments and resource allocations accordingly.

• Continuously evaluate document and communicate updates to keep all relevant stakeholders informed of project status and ensure projects are adhering to budgets and deadlines.

• Proactively identify resolve and escalate risks and system performance issues as appropriate to ensure on time and on budget execution of deliverables with minimal or no disruption to guest services and revenue generation.

• Conduct cost-benefit analyses and identify cost saving and revenue producing opportunities through the efficient use of technology in collaboration with vendors and Marriott HQ partners to strategize optimal solutions and support hotel leadership decision making for the project.

• Completes written reports in English detailing work completed outstanding issues and recommendations for each property visit. Distribute to hotel regional offices and other stakeholders as needed.

• Provide a seamless response to the information technology needs of opening hotels in conjunction with other Marriott IT functions and vendors.

• Provides post implementation support to the property as assigned by the Director CALA New Property Openings & Conversions or asked by hotel within scope of the project.

• Ensure successful handover of new hotel/conversion.

• Ensure the successful onboarding of Application Champions Property Systems Managers and other key associates of new hotels including timely and effective delivery of training documentation and business relationship turnover to CALA IT Field Operations Area Director.

Technical Project Execution

• Leads successful implementations and operations of IT eco-system. Ensures connectivity of centralized systems and applications between property and network center

• Manages and completes project tasks for Opera conversions/installations.

• Coordinates the successful configuration of applications

• Coordinates the connection of various hotel systems to Marriotts central systems

• Coordinates and supervisors all technical phases of installation process including data collection of pertinent items benchmark pre-arrival items in cooperation with the Hotel IT Manager

• Communicates Marriotts technology standards to construction companies reviews design for accuracy

• Reviews infrastructure and application contracts to ensure compliance with Marriott International (MI)

• Assists with the update of installation documentation as required.

• Coordinate the systems implementation at Marriott International locations in the Caribbean and Latin America including coordination with certified vendors and IT trainers/installers and planning their scheduled work with onsite staff in collaboration with the Property Systems Manager

• Performs Systems audits

• Performs quality assurance and acceptance testing of installed systems.

• Coordinates integration or interfacing where required to third party installed solutions

• Drives and executes the installation of Marriott standard systems and applications

Training & Marriott Technology Standards Compliance

• Delivers or coordinates high quality consistent training experiences to staff so they can effectively understand and apply the subject matter on the job in accordance with Marriott processes and standards.

• Certify internal staff and IT Trainers on successful training completion

• Communicate Marriotts technology standards to Property IT Managers vendors and all other relevant personnel and ensure compliance through on-site visits and design review. This includes adherence to:

• Marriott International Policies (MIP)

• Information Security Manual Initiatives (ISM)

• Brand standards

• Local requirements

Global Technology Business Support

• Contribute to ongoing leadership discussions and regular Global Technology Opening collaborations to facilitate best practice sharing and guide technical operational and strategic decisions that benefit the CALA continent

• Stays abreast of new processes actualizations and knowledge of the systems related to IT discipline and apply learnings to process improvements and cost saving or revenue generating opportunities for the business.

• Conduct and/or support pilot testing of new products and initiatives as needed.

• Ensure any local statutory requirements for data privacy/protection and fiscal regulations are met and escalate compliance discrepancies as needed.

• Provide ad-hoc support to hotel openings conversions and special projects worldwide as required by business demands.

MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES