Who are we looking for?

Choice Hotels, one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors, has an exciting new opportunity as our Senior Director, International Finance and Commercial Strategy, to lead the Finance and Commercial Operations teams of our International Division. These teams sit within our International Division business unit and supports the entirety of Choice Hotels’ business outside of the United States. As a key member of our International Division, you will define and ensure execution of the business strategy and set guidelines to drive performance in Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Canada.

Are you a proven leader with skills in the areas of finance, data analytics, and online marketing & distribution with an aim at achieving business goals and driving performance and top line growth? We invite you to apply today for our Senior Director, International Finance and Commercial Strategy role today and #MakeItYourChoice.

Your Responsibilities

Management and Leadership

• Provide financial and business leadership to the International team and business partners across the organization. The Sr. Director is expected to be both a manager and a mentor. Building high performance teams and developing talent while leading is a must for this role.

• Help set the strategy and operational priorities across the Int’l regional teams.

• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders across the company through strong leadership and operational experience, helping them meet business objectives and drive top line growth.

• Manage employee life cycle process (recruiting, managing performance, talent development and career management).

• Be able to influence the Center of Excellence teams in the US to deliver international projects also acting as a liaison between them and the International Regional Teams.

Finance

• Responsible for leading CHI’s international division FP&A and strategic finance team working with the regional finance teams in developing and maintaining the forecast, annual budget, long-range plan, and deal value model.

• Supervise monthly reporting, variance analyses, and financial results of the division.

Online Marketing and Distribution

• This leader collaborates and provides guidance to the team defining and executing international commercial initiatives:

• Applies excellent program management skills and can work in a multi-cultural environment with different stakeholders across the globe.

• Drives initiatives to improve our international value proposition in partnership with local leaders.

• Ensures product delivery is conducted in a timely manner and execution is delivered with minimal operational issues that are controllable.

• In collaboration with global teams, Enterprise M&D and Technology teams, and internal stakeholders, this leader needs to manage and prioritize the development of the international roadmap for feature enhancements required on key centralized technology platforms (e.g., PMS/CRS).

Data Analysis

• Overall leadership and management for international business intelligence and data infrastructure. Oversight includes architecture, design, development, deployment, maintenance, and enhancement of the analytics infrastructure.

• Define, design, develop and maintain a high-performance analytic environment, responsible for continuous performance tuning and resolving production data issues. Enhance the integration of market information with data from other sources including Finance, Reservations, etc.

• Provides best-in-class analytical support to drive strategic and operating decisions in support of Choice’s corporate goals across the business. Lead the analytical services arm to the overall operations team in support of franchisee segmentation, portfolio management and brand and other programs.

Your Experience, Skills & Competencies

• Bachelor's degree in related field required; MBA preferred.

• Minimum 10-12 years of experience in business operations, online Marketing & Distribution, franchise operations or franchisee services provider, demonstrating progressive career growth and a pattern of exceptional performance and service levels, with minimum 5 years at management level.

• Demonstrated experience in developing creative and agile action plans which have resulted in measurable increased revenue performance.

• Demonstrated experience in creating and executing value add propositions for franchisees.

• Highly developed leadership skills, including ability to create and articulate a compelling vision. Demonstrates flexibility in approach and balanced judgment under pressure, and able to influence and motivate others across functional boundaries.

• A savvy, energized self-starter with proven ability to diplomatically manage multiple stakeholder priorities simultaneously, who thinks and acts as a company-wide leader, comfortable in challenging organizational norms and addressing difficult issues to improve effectiveness.

• Possess strong business and financial acumen skills that include good knowledge of business economics and understanding of return on investment to positively impact the department’s P&L.

• Understands financial and valuation theory, is capable of building and auditing financial models, and is familiar with investment analysis concepts such as NPV, IRR, EVA, and ROIC.

• Strong management skills with ability to balance creativity with pragmatic business considerations to transform strategic thinking into executional tactics. Has a cross-disciplined and global view of ideas and solutions, and is knowledgeable about Choice’s brands, systems, programs and technology.

• Language skills are highly desired but not a requirement (i.e., English, German, Dutch, French, Spanish).

• Proficient in the use of MS Office applications such as Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Knowledge and experience with travel distribution and consumer engagement technology platforms is desired.

• Hotel or travel industry experience would be a definite asset. Other franchise industries such as retail and food & beverage will be considered.

• Must have a valid passport with the ability to travel globally up to 20-30% of the time.

Your Team

This is a leadership role that will report to the SVP & General Manager, International. You will have 3 direct reports and collaborate with cross functional departments on a regular basis.

Your Work Location

As our Senior Director, International Finance and Commercial Strategy, 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.

Remote consideration will be offered to internal associates.

About Choice

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 as of September 30, 2022, the Choice® family of hotel brands provides business and leisure travelers 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. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty program offers members a faster way to rewards, with personalized benefits starting on day one. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com.

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, we keep Choice Hotels thriving by serving as a champion for our franchisees and providing cutting-edge technology.

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 (https://investor.choicehotels.com/news/news-details/2024/Choice-Hotels-International-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-And-Full-Year-2023-Results/default.aspx) to review highlights of our Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Results.

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

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

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Visit http://careers.choicehotels.com to learn more.