Who are we looking for?

Choice Hotels, one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors, has an exciting new opportunity as our Partnership Strategy & Operations Senior Manager in the Corporate Development & Strategic Alliances team. The Strategic Alliances team is focused on reimagining partnerships to create value for all key stakeholders of Choice Hotels – guests, franchisees, partners, associates, and shareholders - leveraging partnerships capabilities to expand the universe of value generating opportunities for Choice Hotels and our partners while evolving the platform to position Choice Hotels on the forefront of partnership growth. As a key member of our Strategic Alliances team, you will define, design and deliver key strategic initiatives for existing partners and drive the new partner implementation framework.

Are you the most adept at bringing structure to framing complex issues, seamlessly switching between detailed tasks and rigorous high-level strategic implementation discussions with a proven ability to drive collaboration externally and across various business units internally to achieve mutually beneficial partnership outcomes? If your answer is yes, we invite you to apply today for our Partnership Strategy & Operations Senior Manager role today and #MakeItYourChoice.

Your Responsibilities

Partnership Strategy & Operations

• Leverage data to drive the formulation and execution of strategic initiatives that align with the Partnership Team and Choice Hotels’ overall business goals and objectives
• Support the optimization of operational processes impacting the Strategic Alliances function to ensure efficiency, scalability, and continuous improvement
• Lead and manage strategic projects from conception to completion, ensuring timely delivery and successful outcomes; champion innovation and drive operational effectiveness
• Establish performance dashboards and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of strategic initiatives and operational improvements
• Develop and own the end-to-end execution of the Strategic Partnerships playbook, partnering with internal key stakeholders to identify and document required partner launch, onboarding, customer care, performance measurement and retention strategies
• Review partner integration, launch protocols, customer care processes and support operational activities on a frequent basis to advise leadership on the implementation of beneficial continuous improvement initiatives
• Effectively communicate recommendations to Senior Leadership and external relationships.

Relationship & Stakeholder Management

• Develop and sustain long-term relationships with key partners, ensuring mutual growth and success
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to optimize existing relationships and generate incremental value for both parties
• Support quarterly business reviews to discuss current business performance and joint initiatives to drive in year performance growth
• Collaborate with internal teams, including legal, distribution, marketing, and technology, to ensure seamless coordination on partner-related initiatives
• Navigate internal and external organizations to identify the key stakeholders and decision makers, unblock issues when they arise and manage accordingly
• Develop visually engaging and concise presentations that effectively communicate the business and financial merits and considerations associated with recommended partnership strategies to senior leadership and potential partners.

Business Development - Underwriting and Inorganic Growth Support

• Underwrite partnership (and periodically M&A) opportunities to evaluate financial outcomes and assess the feasibility of proposed terms
• Prepare presentations to executive leadership illustrating the risk/return characteristic of alliance opportunities
• Participate in the negotiation of contracts with new and existing partners, coordinating closely with legal, finance, technology, and distribution strategy
• Produce tailored pitch decks which demonstrate the strategic value of key initiatives designed to attract new and enhance existing partnerships.

Your Experience, Skills & Competencies

• Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year college or university in Finance, Business Management, Hotel Management, or a relevant field of study is required
• MBA/Project management certification a plus
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in Strategy, Partnership Program Implementation/Integration, Partnership Operations, and related fields. Experience within the hospitality/hotel management/travel industry is preferred
• Background in the consulting field with a proven ability to build presentations and articulate recommendations to a senior level audience preferred
• Experience managing multiple competing priorities with a proven ability to successfully drive medium to large sized operational projects with external partners and cross-functional internal key stakeholders
• Proven ability to collaborate with and influence internal partners across the enterprise to identify and deliver process optimization strategies/efficiencies
• Ability to concisely communicate complex topics including senior leadership and all internal constituents
• Financial savvy with ability to articulate the strategic and financial merits/considerations of prospective relationships to internal and external stakeholders, including potential partners
• Strong strategic thinker who can translate market trends, partner priorities and internal focus areas into actionable strategic roadmaps
• Strong analytical acumen; ability to translate data into insight and excellent attention to detail
• Strong will to win, attention to detail, focus on efficient management and willingness to roll up your sleeves
• High degree of intellectual curiosity, comfort with ambiguity, ability to bring structure to complex and disjointed processes
• The ability to excel in a highly dynamic, fast-paced and ambiguous space. Highly proactive and comfortable acting with autonomy.

Your Team

This is an individual contributor role that will report to the Senior Director of Strategic Alliances and closely coordinate with the Senior Director of Commercial & Franchise Care Operations to drive new partner implementation, manage end-to-end partner programing playbooks, performance measurement, and ensure the efficiency and productivity of new and existing partners. You will have several peer teammates and collaborate with a variety of cross functional departments on a regular basis.

Your Work Location

As our Partnership Strategy & Operations Senior Manager, you will be based in our beautiful, state-of-the-art worldwide corporate headquarters in North Bethesda, MD. Less than 15 miles from Washington, DC, we’re located one block away from the North Bethesda Metro station, with service on the Red Line and the MARC Brunswick line, easy access to I-270, and plenty of free parking provided by Choice Hotels.

Right now, our associates in corporate headquarters are working in a hybrid environment, up to 4 days per week in the office and virtually from your home office the remaining days. We provide flexibility and encourage ongoing communication with your leadership to establish expectations about your unique needs.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $112,803 to $132,000 annually. In addition to the annual salary, this role is eligible for an annual bonus based on the terms of Choice's Management Incentive Plan (MIP).

The pay range listed is for this position and is what Choice Hotels reasonably expects to pay. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the pay range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, and business or organizational needs.

Choice prioritizes our associate well-being by offering a comprehensive benefits program that is both competitive and flexible to help you achieve your well-being goals - here are just a few:

• Competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Leave and paid time-off for holidays, vacation, personal, family, volunteer, sick, jury duty, bereavement, military, and religious observance
• Financial benefits for retirement and health savings
• Employee recognition programs
• Discounts at Choice Hotels worldwide

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With nearly 7,500 hotels, representing nearly 630,000 rooms, in 46 countries and territories, with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upper upscale, upper mid-scale, midscale, extended-stay, and economy segments. We’re the hotel company for those who choose to bet on themselves – the underdog, the dreamer, the entrepreneur – because that’s who we are, too.

At Choice, we are united by the simple belief that tomorrow will be even better than today – for associates, our company, and our franchisees. At our worldwide corporate headquarters in North Bethesda, MD and St. Louis Park, MN as well as our technology center in Scottsdale, AZ, and through our associates around the globe, every voice is heard, and every idea is listened to, no matter what area of the company they come from. We are united in supporting the entrepreneurial dreams of our more than 18,000 franchise owners, which propels us forward – giving our work at Choice a purpose larger than our business.

About Choice Hotels Financial Performance

Record total revenues grew 10% to $1.5 billion for full-year 2023 compared to the same period of 2022. Adjusted EBITDA for fourth quarter 2023 increased 11% to $125 million from the same period of 2022. Fourth quarter 2023 adjusted diluted EPS increased 14% to $1.44 compared to the same period of 2022. Please click here to review highlights of our Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Results.

• PLEASE NOTE: This role is not eligible for sponsorship ***

Ability to model Choice’s Cultural Values: Welcome and Respect Everyone, Be Bold, Be Quick, Listen, Be Curious and Show Integrity.