Director, Openings (India) & Operations Support APAC

Description

We are looking for a cross-culturally versed, process and relationship-focused leader to join Hilton as Director, Openings (India) & Operations Support APAC based in India.

This corporate leadership role is responsible for spearheading opening excellence and successful project execution across the region. Your leadership will play a pivotal role in maintaining the high standards and performance of our opening team and supporting functional teams. Your expertise will be driving the meticulous execution of Hilton’s values, objectives, and brand-specific standards, to ensure an exceptional stay and work experience for both guests and team members alike.

You will collaborate closely with General Managers and their hotel leadership teams, senior operational leaders, functional experts, and hotel owners, tapping into your planning and relationship-building skills to execute our opening priorities in a way that aligns seamlessly with Hilton’s overarching company objectives. 

Reporting directly to the Senior Director, Openings APACx and Operations Support APAC, the incumbent will be responsible for:

the opening and integration of new managed and leased hotels within India in APACx;

the creation and maintenance of openings initiatives and disciplines across APAC; and

the implementation of various functional initiatives across the APAC trading estate.

This will frequently involve being the Operational lead of a cross-functional team that is tasked with the delivery of on-time, on-budget, and on-brand hotel Openings plus the effective deployment of assorted trading estate projects.

As a pivotal intermediary between Owners, Development, Architecture, Design & Construction (AD&C), Operations, Brand, and other Corporate/Regional Teams, the role will especially involve the planning and execution of activities that ensure the smooth integration of new assets into the APACx portfolio - each opening to be aligned with all stakeholder expectations whilst maintaining brand integrity.

What will I be doing?

As Director, Openings (India) & Operations Support APAC, you will be responsible for performing the following tasks to the highest standards:

Openings, India

• Coordination and execution of various Opening hotel activities (whether new development, rebrand or conversion) through both their ‘pre’ and ‘post’ trading cycles
• Provision of coaching and support to the General Manager and leadership team of the hotel
• Action as primary contact with Owners for such activities – developing strong working relationships, attending regular meetings and communications to build cooperation, ensure alignment of objectives, and drive mutually successful outcomes
• Provision of oversight and Operations expertise to all contributing disciplines (Brand, Commercial, Finance, HR, and IT) and strong collaboration with all other stakeholder departments (AD&C, Development, and Legal)
• Support to various elements as agreed with each such department – e.g., Brand (Standards Compliance), Finance (Pre-Opening Budgets), HR (Manning Guides, Team Member Recruitment, and New Markets Research)
• Maintenance of alignment and awareness at a corporate and regional level to provide opening hotels with the resources and support required to successfully manage and meet targeted opening dates and operational/commercial/brand objectives 
• Maintenance of alignment and awareness at a corporate and regional level to6 ensure external stakeholders (e.g., Owners) are engaged and communicated in an aligned and effective manner.

Operations Support, APAC

• Ongoing development and deployment of sophisticated Project Management services that promote a consistent and comprehensive application of
• Opening disciplines across APAC – not exhaustively to include an established critical path, a single source of information, and a rigorous reporting dashboard
• Ensuring the use of these Opening tools and processes leads to the early identification and proactive resolution of all potential issues encountered
• Ensuring the use of these Opening tools and processes leads to accelerated pre-opening ramps and accelerated achievement of stabilized trading performance that is optimized in terms of Revenue, Profitability, and Brand Compliance
• Assistance to multiple Corporate functions with their introduction, coordination, and implementation of varied initiatives to the APAC trading estate
• Representation of Operations across the review of such initiatives whether pre-, during, or post their adoption.

Requirements

What are we looking for?

A Director, Openings (India) & Operations Support APAC serving Hilton Brands is always working on behalf of our Guests and working with other Team Members. To successfully fill this role, you should maintain the attitude, behaviors, skills, and values that follow:

• Senior leadership experience as General Manager or in a comparable senior corporate role; preferably 5 years or more
• Hotel opening experience
• Considerable project management experience
• Ability to build an excellent network and strong business relationships 
• Proven management of owner relations
• Proven collaboration across functional disciplines in a matrixed environment
• Excellent presentation, public speaking, and written communication skills
• Diverse and international geographical experience
• Diverse family of brands experience
• Ability to travel when required

What will it be like to work for Hilton?

Hilton is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For nearly a century, Hilton has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. Hilton is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Our vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality unites us as a team to create remarkable hospitality experiences around the world every day. And, our amazing Team Members are at the heart of it all!