Senior Vice President, Operations

Salary Range $280,000 - $310,000/year plus Bonus and stock

*Relocation Assistance Provided

Headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, Aqua-Aston Hospitality (AAH) has a legacy stretching back to 1948. The company manages full-service resorts, stylish boutique hotels, select service properties, and condominium resorts. In addition to its proprietary brands, Aqua Hotels & Resorts and Aston Hotels & Resorts, the company is an approved, third-party operator of global hospitality brands by Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and IHG. Properties for the company include the dual-branded Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Tempe Arizona, the Hampton Inn & Suites in Kapolei, and the AAA five-diamond ultra-luxe ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki, the Aston at Kaanapali Shores and more.  Aqua-Aston Hospitality is an operating business of Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, a leading global vacation company that offers vacation ownership, exchange, rental, and resort and property management, along with related businesses, products, and services. MVW supports Aqua-Aston with certain corporate resources including, but not limited to, finance and accounting, legal, human resources, information technology, safety and security and procurement.

As a senior member of the professional staff, contributes expertise in a discipline (e.g., Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Information Resources, Operations Planning & Support, Sales & Marketing) area to support function and/or discipline objectives. Works with a high degree of independence, developing short-term, medium-term and long-term goals for own department(s) and monitoring the flow of work between own department and others in alignment with broader business objectives, selecting, and developing effective managers and work teams, and managing own organization through reliable systems and processes. Is a recognized authority in area of specialty, often serving as discipline interface with other areas.

Specific Job Summary

Reporting to the Managing Director, Aqua-Aston Hospitality, the Senior Vice President, Site Operations is primary responsible to lead and oversee the planning, development, and implementation of the Company’s overall property/site strategies and operations. Establishes and ensures compliance with brand standards, operational efficiency standards, site related operating procedures, and sets business objectives.  Leads site operations team and the condo administration teams in managing relations with Homeowner Associations (HOAs & AOAOs). This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong and proven background in hospitality management and a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Key Results

• Owner satisfaction
• Associate satisfaction
• Financial performance
• Engages and exemplifies company values
• Consistent application of brand standards and SOPs

• AAH’s Executive Management Team
• VP, Finance & Accounting
• Property Operations Team
• Property Associations & Owners
• Commercial & Revenue Team
• Chief Development Executive
• MVW’s Legal Team

Expected Contributions

• With a general planning horizon of 0 – 3 years, sets direction for area(s) of responsibility to achieve desired goals in alignment with function and/or discipline strategy.
• Leveraging knowledge and experience in area of expertise:
  • identifies and implements improvements to business processes.
  • evaluates alternatives and makes judgements on a full range of business issues.
  • provides ongoing advice and guidance to the business concerning issues related to area of specialty.
• Manages large and/or multiple departments, processes and/or projects that have a broader function and/or discipline impact. Generally, influences work of cross-functional or extended teams.
• Makes department/multi-department resource decisions that have a financial impact as well as an impact on meeting discipline and/or business goals.
• Works to enhance the organization’s capabilities through effective staffing and development of others by:
  • developing recruiting strategies based on evolving needs and profile of the business.
  • using appropriate MVW interviewing tools to hire the best managers available from inside or outside.
  • setting and maintaining high standards for team and individual performance.
  • providing timely coaching and feedback.
  • making and rewarding distinctions in performance.
• Assists senior management in achieving business results by:
  • contributing to the development of long-term function and/or discipline strategy.
  • sharing relevant information to help others understand and support business objectives.
  • achieving results against budget within scope of responsibility.
  • building relationships across the organization to align own technical area with broader organization direction and facilitate own function and discipline goals.
  • contributing on a regular basis to operating efficiencies by recommending new and creative business management techniques.
  • removing barriers to achieve greater performance.
• Readily critiques own behavior to acknowledge mistakes, improve future leadership performance, and acts independently to improve and increase skills and knowledge.
• Performs other duties as appropriate.

Specific Expected Contributions

• Leads and manages the planning, development, and execution of AAH’s overall enterprise-wide operations strategies/plans for all properties.
• Key member of the AAH executive committee responsible for driving the overall organizational strategy and culture, including setting strategic priorities and objectives.
• Leads and manages the Operations management team. Responsibilities include the development of short- and long-range plans for performance and profitability of all properties.
• Accountable for overall relations with all owners, both individual condo owners as well as hotel owners and associations. Informs AAH’s executive committee of critical issues. 
• Reviews and evaluates financial performance and other important performance measures (engagement ratings, turnover, budgets, revenue performance, RevPAR share, etc.) against trends and results of each property. Implements strategies and changes to improve performance results.
• Partners with the Finance, Commercial & Revenue Management teams to achieve AAH revenue and financial goals, including the maximizing of revenue and profitability. 
• Collaborates with the Communications team, property General Managers and others on delivering effective communications and presentations to hotel and condominium owners, rental advisory committees, and property boards of directors.
• Oversees development of brand standards, both physical and operational for all brands and ensures compliance with the various franchise brand standards.
• Drive initiatives to enhance the guest experience, ensuring that service levels exceed industry standards.
• Identifies growth opportunities within existing inventory as well as within the competition and market. Actively participates in development of new business pipeline with the Chief Development Executive and works with other executives in the evaluation of new opportunities.
• Provides recommendations to company strategic plans; prepares action plans for approval as needed and implementation.
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing operations team, with a focus on developing a pipeline/bench of qualified talent for succession planning.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging innovation and the adoption of best practices throughout the organization.
• Works closely and collaboratively with the AAH Executive Committee members, Team HQ associates, and property management teams.
• Performs other similar duties as assigned.

Successful candidates should possess knowledge and experience and demonstrate strong leadership and relationship skills as follows:

Typically, a senior position requiring significant knowledge and experience in one or more disciplines as well as associate and/or organizational management experience. College degree required. Advance degree or professional certification may also be required.

Specific Candidate Profile

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Tourism, Business Administration, Hospitality Management or related discipline or equivalent work experience.
• Master’s degree in business administration or related discipline preferred.
   

Related Work Experience

• At least 12 years of progressive experience in hospitality operations with a proven track record of at least 5 years in senior leadership roles. 
• Extensive experience managing multi-property operations in the hotel or condo hotel industry
• Proven track record of successfully managing multiple properties and leading large, diverse teams and driving organizational change.
• Experience in Hotel Management, Vacation Rental, Hospitality preferred.

Skills and Attributes

• Strategic mindset with an ability to make difficult decisions. Passion for strategic involvement in the creation and execution of departmental and company-wide goals and objectives.
• Knowledge of hotel, vacation rental trends and practices within the industry. Strong knowledge of property operations, policies, practices, and procedures.
• Proven skills building and nurturing relationships at all levels of the organization through collaboration, negotiation, and mentoring. Integrates and balances priorities, work activities and resources for the benefit of multiple key stakeholders.
• Strong financial acumen and experience with budget management and financial analyses.
• Proven ability to proactively influence and shape the thinking of senior leaders that drives the right type of decision making to garner positive business results.
• Proven leadership, management, and communication skills creating a work environment where associates are empowered and aligned action or purpose. Understands how to manage in a culturally diverse work environment.
• Knowledge of Hawaii’s hospitality market and regulatory environment a plus.
• High level of facilitation, oral presentation, and training skills. Effective written and verbal communications skills.
• Skilled in decision-making and conflict resolution in a fast paced, continuously changing, customer focused environment.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capability to manage and prioritize multiple and conflicting priorities and tasks.
• Computer literacy on Microsoft Office products, e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams

Marriott Vacations Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture.