**_Business Context_******
The mission of the Lifestyle Brand Team is to provide direction, vision and support to our portfolio of lifestyle hotels across a variety of strategic platforms to ensure brand differentiation, market relevance and overall profitability. This includes the development of brand-specific experiential programming, hotel development support, third party partner selection and management, strategic analysis, and operational support.
**_Brand Generic Position Summary_**
The VP Lifestyle F&B; is responsible for supporting the VP and Senior Brand Leader for EDITION Hotels in the research, development and implementation of initiatives across the MI Lifestyle portfolio with a focus on sourcing, negotiating and developing third party partnerships with the world’s leading chefs and restaurateurs for EDITION Hotels (EH). This position will also consult on an array of F&B; projects for the Autograph Collection (AK), and Renaissance Hotels (RH). Touching a wide variety of disciplines and functional expertise, this position will interact with industry leaders in hotel design and development, food and beverage, finance, project management and hotel operations. As such, the candidate must have the ability to credibly interact with these discipline experts in an informed, detail oriented manner that represents EDITION Hotels appropriately and inspires confidence in MI’s capabilities and expertise in this arena.
**_Specific Job Summary_**
The purpose of this position is to provide project support for Lifestyle Brand Team leadership across all three full service lifestyle brands (RH, AK, EH). Early focus will be on assisting with the Project Management and F&B; Partner development for the EDITION F&B; operations. This position will also consult on the implementation of the Renaissance Local Activation platform, and assist with strategic development of the Autograph Collection F&B; portfolio. She/he will play a key role in aligning key stakeholders, tracking progress across a multitude of projects, and interacting with key leaders for updates, presentations and strategy sessions.
The core accountabilities for this position fall into four major categories:
1. Partnership Sourcing, Implementation and Maintenance – Works with the VP EDITION on sourcing key appropriate F&B; partners across a wide portfolio of hotels. Maintains the relationship with the F&B; partner from selection through implementation and assists with the business and financial analysis that impacts this large sector of the hotel business.
2. Project Management Support– Participates in and leads individual components for key projects across the EDITION portfolio. Specifically, the position will be responsible for the tracking and follow-through of key components of the new-build hotel projects to ensure a proactive delivery on par with the expectations of brand partners. Partners with key stakeholders on ground-level decisions, applying operational knowledge and expertise.
3. Stakeholder Relationship Management – Build and maintain a network of internal and external partners to support project pull-through, evaluation and execution. Work to ensure cross-functional collaboration and coordination in achievement of agreed-upon priorities.
4. Creative Research & Application – This position will be tasked with research and technical problem solving across a wide swath of F&B; disciplines. The ability to creatively search, assimilate and apply findings across all projects – in and outside the company - is imperative for success.
A large segment of work will be accomplished through cross-functional teaming. Frequent partnerships will include the individual Lifestyle Brand Teams, Feasibility, Global Asset Management, Architecture and Construction and external design and development partners. This position reports to the VP and Senior Brand Leader for EDITION Hotels.
**_General Contributions_**
Manages and integrates large and/or multiple departments, processes and/or projects within a discipline. Generally influences work of cross-functional or extended teams.
Makes resource decisions that have a significant financial impact as well as an impact on meeting discipline and/or business goals.
Contributes to the development of long-term discipline, business and enterprise strategy.
Leverages own strategy through linkages with other disciplines and/or businesses.
Leads and manages important brand related initiatives
Builds relationships to establish cross-discipline support for new ideas.
Adapts to complex or ambiguous situations without losing focus of key objectives.
Anticipates and seizes opportunities to improve business performance.
Researches and tests feasibility of innovations from external companies or organizations that help improve performance; acts independently to improve and increase skills and knowledge.
Promotes an organizational environment that rapidly assimilates new information to improve performance
**_Brand-Specific Expected Contributions_**
* **Provides Consultation to Major Design Projects (EDITION Hotels, AK & RH New Builds)**
Provides project management support and programming reviews for major hotel projects
Helps source and negotiate third party contracts for EDITION Hotels
Ensures overall effectiveness of products and services i.e., profitability, feasibility and sustainability
Conducts environmental scanning to identify trends & unique ways of activating those trends
Delivers innovative, profitable and cost effective solutions
* **Establishes and Maintains Enterprise-wide Stakeholder Relationships**
Establishes strong relationships with key cross-functional partners (i.e., Architecture & Construction, Marketing, etc. to ensure alignment of efforts)
Coordinates plan reviews and foodservice equipment reviews for key development projects
Acts as a direct point of contact for all stakeholders seeking design-specific product or service support
Present conceptual product and service designs to partners, owners and franchisees
* **Strategy Execution Team**
*Managing the Work*
May manage or participate in cross-functional teams to accomplish priorities
Supports through actions a culture and process of continuous innovation and improvement
Manages the appropriate integration mechanisms to ensure smooth hand-off to key partners in Development and Deployment
Utilizes best practice work flows and processes; acts as advocate for continuous improvement
Leverages systems and processes for evaluating progress against priorities
**_Candidate Profile_******
Successful candidates should possess knowledge and experience and demonstrate strong leadership and relationship skills as follows:
Significant knowledge and experience in one or more disciplines and/or business operations as well as associate and organizational management experience. College degree required. Advance degree or professional certification is preferred.
**_Education and Experience_**
* BA in a related discipline preferred
* Industry leading proficiency in two or more of the following
Hotel Design and Development
Independent F&B; Development and Operations
Experience with Multi-Concept Operations
Hotel Project Management
Lifestyle Property Operations
Nightlife and Entertainment
* 8+ years’ experience working in Hospitality / Food and Beverage leadership role.
* Multi-Concept Operator experience preferred.
**_Experience and Knowledge_**
* Proven ability to lead and work with cross functional teams in support of specific business priorities
* Track record of creating profitable, operational, and cutting edge design solutions
* Experience managing projects to deliver against major initiatives.
* Experience interpreting trends and research to design and implement innovative products and services that support brand vision
* Experience with driving project execution in a highly matrixed and relationship-based organization
* Team player that works well with counterparts from various functions/departments and has the ability to influence the work of counterparts without direct reporting accountability
* Strong understanding and application of managerial concepts and techniques in areas such as project/change management, idea creation, employee development, coaching and cross-team effectiveness
* Exceptional skill in problem solving and leveraging resources to optimize capabilities
* Skill and experience distilling a set of data and translating findings into innovative, profitable, executable, and operationally feasible solutions
* Proven track record of translating consumer needs into creative and profitable business programs, products, and/or practices
* Demonstrated ability to build exceptional working relationships with ownership and franchisees
* Exceptional interpersonal communication and platform presentation skills
**
*Marriott International is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. Marriott International does not discriminate on the basis of disability, veteran status or any other basis protected under federal, state or local laws.*
*Job:* Brand Management
*Primary Location:* USA-NY-New York
*Organization:* Corporate
*Schedule:* Full-time
*Job Posting:* Apr 9, 2014, 7:12:09 PM
*Req ID:* 14000NTD