Senior Director, Growth Initiative

Job Summary

Provides leadership for the development, implementation, and operations of software/technology integrations to support all current and future growth initiatives including but not limited to mergers, acquisitions, and Marriott Growth Platform (MGP). This role will be responsible for engineering strategy, planning, software quality, and management of new integration initiatives. This role will also be responsible for driving collaboration with and supporting technology teams across the Core Platforms and CTO organizations.

This position manages day-to-day relationships with executive leadership, stakeholders, providers, and information technology teams to drive seamless integration of new software products and platforms into Marriott’s technology ecosystem. Key responsibilities include developing a strategy for replicable integration, defining integration patterns, guiding orchestration, ensuring scalability and alignment with strategic goals laid out for Marriott Growth Platform and Travel Innovation Platform (TIP). It also entails continuous optimization of system integration processes by promoting pluggability and future-proofing Marriott’s technology ecosystem. Implementing and managing continuous improvement programs to drive operational excellence and safeguard business continuity. Ensuring steady improvement of application and technology platform quality, consistency, and security. Establishing and leading a Quality Engineering Center of Excellence catering to all engineering teams across the CTO organization. Developing and maintaining run standards through management of day-to-day application/platform performance through SLAs and other metrics. Working with service providers to address day-to-day issues and priorities.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Required

Education and Experience

• 10 years of software technology leadership experience, executing various approaches of Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) (e.g., Agile and Waterfall)
• Five years recent experience as a primary point of accountability for one or more business functions catering to multiple customer groups
• Demonstrated expertise of industry application platforms, trends, and best practices
• Direct management of cross functional, sourced, or matrixed teams
• Experience with and knowledge of IT outsourcing activities in a managed services environment
• Seasoned technology leader well versed in IT strategy, with a good grasp of customer experience
• Product development and integration
• Best practices in technology standards and processes
• Direct management of complex budgets in direct and indirect costs
  
  

Preferred

• Experience in travel and hospitality software technology systems/products
• Hands-on experience in innovation initiatives
• Proven executive experience in strategic planning and budgeting within one or more business groups
• Experience with and knowledge of IT outsourcing activities in a managed services environment
• Strong process management, negotiating, influencing and problem resolution skills
• Proven ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• Experience in business systems and process planning
• Knowledge of business environment, service requirements and hospitality culture
• Demonstrated ability to assess customer/client needs, creatively approach solutions, and decide/influence appropriate courses of action
• Ability to understand and communicate the lifecycle of technologies and applications and to translate into business strategies for the client organizations
• Solid understanding of IT financial structures and ability to manage to corporate financial processes and standards - including drivers of process costs
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical ideas in easy-to understand business terms
• Ability to accomplish results through others, particularly by establishing relationships, effective controls and leading in a managed service environment
  
  

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

Managing Day-To-Day Relationships with IT Teams, Discipline Partners and Service Providers

• Manages application development projects in partnership with IT teams, discipline partners, and service providers
• Manages software engineering teams that design, build and maintain technology products across portfolio of services and applications
• Provides overall project management of business projects/portfolios
• Defines and oversees effective reporting to the key IT and discipline partners
• Leads project reviews with Technology Products teams and business stakeholders on application development projects
• Manages day-to day relationships with all IT teams (e.g., Security, Infrastructure, Shared Platforms, Products) to promote the delivery of services that meet or exceed the client expectations
• Monitors all projects for alignment with defined business case process
• Drives timely resolution of escalated service delivery problems and minimizes the impact of any client service delivery issues
• Defines, manages, and improves service level reporting for application development
• Provides early warning to the appropriate Technology Product and Business leaders and team regarding degraded or missed service levels
• Leads application development and maintenance of service provider project management standards and tools
• Participates in client portfolio and demand management processes, and engages service providers to ensure client satisfaction
• Works with application development service providers
• Ensures the service provider(s) performs the services agreed to by the master services agreement in a manner that is consistent with both the spirit and the letter of the agreement
• Works with all IT teams to progress the service providers services to match client needs
• Facilitates team and service provider compliance with the agreement
• Ensures service levels meet business needs
• Supports the IT organization
• Participates in the creation and maintenance of IT’s business strategy and planning
• Supports and follows defined IT Governance decision rights, standards and practices
• Emphasizes accuracy and effectiveness of estimating and planning management with team
• Assists all IT teams with the preparation and monitoring of business/discipline and continent IT budgets
  

Developing and Managing Application Development Standards, Processes, And Tools

• Works with the Enterprise Architecture team to facilitate consistency of service delivery across client groups
• Builds and maintains a standard set of application development tools and processes that will drive consistency and predictability throughout the SDLC for all client groups including:
• SDLC standard tools and processes for both waterfall and agile development
• Estimating standard tools and processes, incorporating flexibility for small and large projects
• Deployment standard tools and processes
• Monitors projects for adherence to defined application development processes
• Works with IT organization to create broader IT-related and corporate standards and policies where necessary Communicates important application development policy changes that affect service provider and/or Marriott operations
  

Managing Day-To-Day Application Performance

• Partners with the product team to establish the priorities for multiple applications across the portfolio
• Accountable for the overall health of the application portfolio
• Builds and maintains a standard set of application delivery tools and processes that will provide the right level of governance for all IT teams, and that will promote client satisfaction
• Co-leads development and maintenance of service provider project management standards and tools
• Drives client satisfaction with Business Partnership & Planning teams through conducting project reviews, reporting metrics, and other activities
• Leads and works to minimize outages and implements recovery and contingency plans are in place
• Manages application delivery performance through SLAs and other key performance metrics
• Supports Sarbanes-Oxley, ISP, and other regulatory compliance matters with service providers
• Monitors and supports following defined service delivery processes
• Communicates important policy changes that affect service provider and/or Client operations
• Provides early warning to the appropriate Business Partnership & Planning leaders and team regarding degraded or missed service levels
• Participates in the definition of, and facilitates compliance with Service Integration standard processes and tools
• Oversees and monitors service provider problems, change management processes, and escalation procedures
• Partners with all IT teams to progress the service providers application delivery services
• Monitors the development and enforcement of IT-related standards and policies
  
  

Addressing Day-To-Day Issues and Priorities

• Acts as primary contact for managing provider incidents, problems, changes, release management, and other standard ITIL processes
• Facilitates timely resolution of escalated service delivery problems and minimizes the impact of any client service delivery issues
• Facilitates team and service provider compliance with the agreement
• Promotes business and operational viability of service levels
• Manages process for minor enhancements
• Identifies and leads application rationalization efforts
  
  

Implementing and Managing Continuous Improvement Programs

• Drives CMMi, or similar metrics to demonstrate continuous improvement and alignment with the industry
• Leads the continuous improvement cost reduction opportunities and trailing cost elimination
• Defines, manages, and improves service level reporting for application delivery services
  
  

MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

• Leadership
• Communication - Conveys information and ideas to others in a convincing and engaging manner through a variety of methods.
• Leading Through Vision and Values - Keeps the organization's vision and values at the forefront of employee decision making and action.
• Managing Change - Initiates and/or manages the change process and energizes it on an ongoing basis, taking steps to remove barriers or accelerate its pace; serves as role model for how to handle change by maintaining composure and performance level under pressure or when experiencing challenges.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; obtains and compares information from different sources to draw conclusions, develops and evaluates alternatives and solutions, solves problems, and chooses a course of action.
• Professional Demeanor - Exhibits behavioral styles that convey confidence and command respect from others; makes a good first impression and represents the company in alignment with its values.
• Strategy Development - Develops business plans by exploring and systematically evaluating opportunities with the greatest potential for producing positive results; ensures successful preparation and execution of business plans through effective planning, organizing, and on-going evaluation processes.
  
  

Managing Execution

• Building a Successful Team - Uses an effective interpersonal style to build a cohesive team; inspires and sustains team cohesion and engagement by focusing the team on its mission and importance to the organization.
• Strategy Execution – Ensures successful execution across of business plans designed to maximize customer satisfaction, profitability, and market share through effective planning, organizing, and on-going evaluation processes.
• Driving for Results - Sets high standards of performance for self and/or others; assumes responsibility for work objectives; initiates, focuses, and monitors the efforts of self and/or others toward the accomplishment goals; proactively takes action and goes beyond what is required.
  
  

Building Relationships

• Customer Relationships - Develops and sustains relationships based on an understanding of customer/stakeholder needs and actions consistent with the company’s service standards.
• Global Mindset - Supports employees and business partners with diverse styles, abilities, motivations, and/or cultural perspectives; utilizes differences to drive innovation, engagement and enhance business results; and ensures employees are given the opportunity to contribute to their full potential.
• Strategic Partnerships - Develops collaborative relationships with fellow employees and business partners by making them feel valued, appreciated, and included; explores partnership opportunities with other people in and outside the organization; influences and leverages corporate and continental shared services and/or discipline leaders (e.g., HR, Sales & Marketing, Finance, Revenue Management) to achieve objectives; maintains effective external relations with government, business and industry in respective countries; performs effectively as a liaison between locations, disciplines, and corporate to ensure needed resources are received and corporate strategies are understood and executed.
  
  

Generating Talent and Organizational Capability

• Developing Others - Plans and supports the development of others’ skills and capabilities so that they can fulfil current or future job/role responsibilities more effectively; provides high visibility to individuals with potential; offers challenging assignments that build confidence and credibility and provides such individuals with a personal vision for their future.
• Organizational Capability - Evaluates and adapts the structure of assignments and work processes to best fit the needs and/or support the goals of an organizational unit.
  
  

Learning and Applying Professional Expertise

• Business Acumen - Understands and utilizes business information to manage everyday operations and generate innovative solutions to approach business and administrative challenges.
• Technical Acumen - Understands and utilizes professional skills and knowledge in a specific functional area to conduct and manage everyday business operations and generate innovative solutions to approach function-specific work challenges.
• Technical Intelligence: knowledge and ability to identify technological opportunities and threats that could affect the future growth and survival of the business.
• Technology Life Cycle: knowledge of the Life Cycle of technologies and how applications, infrastructure, and processes relate to these timelines.
• Development Methodologies: knowledge of development methodologies as well as new/upcoming development methodologies.
• Information Security: knowledge of the security considerations relevant within the development space, including industry best practices related to information security
• Continuous Learning - Actively identifies new areas for learning; regularly creates and takes advantage of learning opportunities; uses newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learns through their application.
• Strategy Knowledge - Understanding and utilizing professional skills and knowledge in a specific functional area to conduct and manage business operations and generate innovative solutions to approach function specific strategic work challenges.
• Basic Competencies - Fundamental competencies required for accomplishing basic work activities.
• Basic Computer Skills - Uses basic computer hardware and software (e.g., personal computers, word processing software, Internet browsers, etc.).
• Mathematical Reasoning - Adds, subtracts, multiplies, or divides quickly, correctly, and in a way that allows one to solve work-related issues.
• Oral Comprehension - Listens to and understands information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Reading Comprehension - Understands written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Writing - Communicates effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  

The salary range for this position is $147,000 to $240,600 annually. Marriott offers a bonus program, comprehensive health care benefits, 401(k) plan with up to 5% company match, employee stock purchase plan at 15% discount, accrued paid time off (including sick leave where applicable), life insurance, group disability insurance, travel discounts, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, health savings account (except for positions based out of or performed in Hawaii), flexible spending accounts, tuition assistance, pre-tax commuter benefits, other life and work wellness benefits, and may include other incentives such as stock awards and deferred compensation plans. Benefits and incentive compensation may be subject to generally applicable eligibility, waiting period, contribution, and other requirements and conditions.

The compensation and benefits information is provided as of the date of this posting. Marriott reserves the right to modify compensation and benefits at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Marriott International is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, such as disability and veteran status, or any other basis covered under applicable law.

Marriott International is the world’s largest hotel company, with more brands, more hotels and more opportunities for associates to grow and succeed. Be where you can do your best work, begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global team, and become the best version of you.