Director of New Builds + Transitions | PM Hotel Group | Chevy Chase, MD

The Corporate Director of New Builds & Transitions provides strategic leadership for all hotel development openings, acquisitions, brand conversions, ownership transitions, and operational onboarding activities. This position serves as the central link between Development, Construction, Operations, Brand Partners, Ownership Groups, and Corporate Support Teams to ensure properties open and transition successfully, on schedule, on budget, and in full alignment with PM Hotel Group standards.

Key Leadership Responsibilities:

• Lead all phases of new hotel developments from planning through stabilization.
• Establish and manage pre-opening critical paths, project schedules, readiness assessments, and milestone tracking.
• Monitor construction progress, contractual obligations, quality standards, budget performance, and project risks. Perform punches for projects as required.
• Direct acquisitions, dispositions, transitions, and brand conversions with minimal disruption to hotel operations.
• Conduct due diligence reviews and identify operational, financial, and brand compliance risks.
• Coordinate staffing strategies, executive recruitment timelines, onboarding plans, and pre-opening training programs.
• Oversee procurement activities, FF&E installation readiness, technology implementation, and systems activation.
• Support pre-opening sales, marketing, revenue management, and commercial strategy initiatives.
• Collaborate with Operations, Finance, HR, Revenue Management, Food & Beverage, Technology, Risk Management, and Sales teams.
• Provide executive-level reporting to ownership groups, brand partners, and PM Hotel Group leadership.
• Develop and continuously improve standardized opening and transition procedures and best practices.
• Work with Facilities team to maintain contracts and MSA agreements for the portfolio.

 TRANSITIONS & CONVERSIONS

• Lead onboarding and integration of new hotels into PM Hotel Group systems, culture, policies, and operating standards.
• Ensure successful implementation of operational, financial, technology, sales, and distribution platforms.
• Conduct transition orientations and educate hotel teams on PM Hotel Group expectations and brand standards.
• Build long-term relationships with franchise partners, owners, and hotel leadership teams.
• Work with Capital Projects team to assist with PIPs as needed

FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT

• Develop, monitor, and manage pre-opening and transition budgets.
• Track expenditures against plan and implement recovery strategies when necessary.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities while preserving quality and brand standards.
• Support achievement of opening GOP, RevPAR, and guest satisfaction objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 8–12+ years of progressive hospitality leadership experience.
• Extensive experience with hotel openings, renovations, conversions, and operational transitions.
• Proven ability to manage complex, large-scale projects from conception through implementation.
• Strong financial, organizational, analytical, and project management capabilities.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Leadership
• Project Management
• Financial Acumen
• Executive Communication
• Relationship Management
• Change Management
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
• Negotiation & Conflict Resolution
• Team Leadership & Collaboration
• Adaptability & Resilience

SUCCESS METRICS

• On-time project completion
• On-budget project delivery
• Opening readiness compliance
• Brand standard achievement
• Owner and brand satisfaction
• Year-one operational performance targets

 

Salary Range: $90,000–$120,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.