Vice President, Development Planning and Feasibility, Financial Analysis and Strategic Planning

Vice President, Development Planning and Feasibility, Financial Analysis and Strategic Planning

Job Description

BUSINESS CONTEXT

As part of the Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC) Finance organization, the Vice President will lead two functions in the region, including (i) Development Planning and Feasibility ("Feasibility"); and (ii) Financial Analysis and Strategic Planning ("Financial Analysis"). Both functions play an important role in the development process of new hotels for the Company's lodging brands, serving the Company's interest and the needs of hotel owners and developers, investors, lenders, and operators. Both functions are instrumental to achieving Marriott's expansion goals across the region and the overall, long-range growth strategy of the Company.

JOB SUMMARY

This is an executive position that requires an in-depth understanding of lodging market assessments and financial/investment analysis, as well as general management and supervision of key aspects of the hotel development and planning process, inclusive of support for the Asset Management department. The functions led by the Vice President support hotel development, conversion, renovation/repositioning, and renewal opportunities for all Marriott lodging products in the region, including branded residences, as well as continent-level business initiatives mainly relating to unit growth. The Feasibility function provides lodging market, competitive landscape, and economic evaluations, and is responsible for hotel underwriting, new brand positioning/strategy, and market intelligence. The Financial Analysis function conducts financial analysis of potential new development projects, including large transactions involving significant Company balance sheet exposure, analyzes profit and growth objectives as reflected in the long-range plans, assesses various loyalty partnership opportunities, and provides strategic advisory to enable the APEC leadership to make business decisions that will create the most shareholder value.

The Vice President will report to the Chief Financial Officer and will supervise numerous Feasibility and Financial Analysis Senior Director(s) and Directors on project tasks across different countries/markets. The Vice President will interface regularly with senior representatives of Asset Management, Brand, Consumer Operations, Development, Operations, Operations Finance, Global Design, Legal, Tax and Treasury departments.

The position is to be based in Singapore.

Specific Expected Contributions and Core Work Activities

• Contribute to the continent growth by providing well-considered recommendations to the leadership team and constantly leading assessments of regional destinations and demand segments, identifications and reviews of new travel/lodging trends, in-depth viability analyses of new brand launches in the continent, and any major operations initiatives in collaboration with related key stakeholders, in addition to underwriting of development and asset management projects.
• Administer the APEC Hotel Development Committee, and direct feasibility process for all new hotel projects.
• Provide ongoing consultation relative to the continent growth strategies advising on potential opportunities and risks, and providing plans for action, in collaboration with relevant disciplines such as Brand, Consumer Operations, Development, Finance, Global Design, and Legal.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of the lodging industry, specifically of global and regional lodging brands and their market positioning within the region, as well as the top active lodging markets such as Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Establish and maintain well-developed relationships with outside consulting groups and third-party hospitality market analysis firms in the region.
• Demonstrate strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills with proven analytical abilities and an understanding of economic valuation theories and processes; able to take large volumes of complex information and present it in a clear and concise manner to senior management, owners, and franchisees.
• Operate with a collaborative mindset to ensure that key stakeholders are considered; build strong relationships to leverage information and insights to anticipate and respond to stakeholder queries; influence without authority; communicate well with stakeholders and leaders; openly share and do not withhold information.
• Proactively evaluate business process to provide for the effective and efficient team management. Implement process improvements to lead, manage and monitor a large number of projects for delivery of information to senior management. Ensure appropriate measures are in place to facilitate internal reviews and assessments of project viability.
• Coordinate and direct the interface between Feasibility, Financial Analysis, Asset Management, Brand, Consumer Operations, Development, Operations, Operations Finance, Global Design, Legal, Tax and Treasury.
• Champions excellence in business ethics and integrity, social responsibility, cross-cultural effectiveness, and associate engagement.
• Train, develop, mentor, and conduct regular performance appraisals of direct reports and the larger teams.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; listens to others and effectively comprehends information.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Technical

• Thorough knowledge of the technical aspects of hotel market and impact analysis.
• Thorough knowledge of the lodging feasibility function, including pre-screening of future development projects, recommending hotel brands and facilities, underwriting financial implications, assessing major ROI opportunities, evaluating supply/demand impact situations as they occur, identifying growth opportunities, etc.
• Understanding and working knowledge of financial statements and investment return analysis.
• Thorough understanding of computer systems. Should be competent in Microsoft Office applications.
• Thorough knowledge of the broader real estate industry, travel and tourism industry, hotel development, and market analysis databases.
• Fluency in Asian language(s) is preferred.

Business

• Thorough understanding of each Marriott lodging product and development goals.
• Thorough understanding of Marriott's business objectives and development process for each lodging product.
• Thorough knowledge of the business goals and objectives within Feasibility and Financial Analysis.

Educational

• M.B.A. or B.A. or B.S. in Hotel Management or Business Administration. Concentration in Finance would be highly valued.
• Minimum 10-12 years of relevant work experience, including 6 years of supervisory responsibility, in hotel/real estate feasibility, consulting, advisory, and/or valuation. Previous financial/investment advisory experience would be highly valued.

Professional

• Strong supervisory and management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills with proven understanding of economic valuation theories and processes.
• Strong mathematical skills and analytical ability, particularly in analyzing financial statements.

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 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., Brand, HR, 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

• 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.
• Talent Management - Provides guidance and feedback to help individuals develop and strengthen skills and abilities needed to accomplish work objectives.

Learning and Applying Professional Expertise

• 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.
• General Finance and Accounting - The ability to apply knowledge of local Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (local GAAP), current company accounting policies and procedures, general accounting and financial reporting, auditing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable practices to ensure property maintenance of business unit and/or company financial information.
• Financial Analysis - The ability to develop and interpret an assessment of the viability, stability and/or profitability of a business initiative, business unit and/or company using appropriate techniques (e.g., net present value, cash flow models, valuations and return on investment).

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.

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.

About the Team

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.