Development Director, Luxury - Europe & Africa

Join Hilton’s Luxury Brands Expansion Team

About Hilton

Hilton is one of the largest and fastest growing hospitality companies in the world, with over 9,000 properties and 1.3 million rooms in 138 countries and territories. We have defined the hospitality industry and established a portfolio of 25 world-class brands, including our flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand. We have more than 200 million members in our award–winning customer loyalty program, Hilton Honors, and are consistently named among the World’s Best Workplaces.

Position Statement:

Sets strategy, plans, directs and manages the expansion of Hilton Brands through the issuance of management agreements and franchise license agreements for new hotels or qualified conversions of existing hotel units across Europe and Africa. Ensures all development goals, key measurements and targets are met or exceeded. Works with the VP to manage and set development strategy for Hilton’s luxury brands across the region.

Position Summary:

• Planning Activities 25%

  • Evaluates and identifies business opportunities for further expansion of Hilton’s luxury brands and directs accordingly.
  • Assists the strategic planning, development and coordination of activities in the region to advance Company goals, while communicating key messages to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Sets long term goals for Europe and Africa that become the basis for short term goals and annual operational planning.
  • Determines the appropriate objectives for the business and how those objectives are going to be accomplished.
  • Establishes strategies and directions for the development team to promote the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization.
  • Helps establish procedures and processes in relation to the development goals.

• Organizing Activities 20%

  • Works with Brand, Project Management, Regional Human Resources, Legal and Finance leadership to ensure the overall strategic direction of the Development team is consistent with and supported by these areas.
  • Works with key stakeholders and departments within the Global Design and Regional Operations structuring the resources and activities in Europe and Africa to ensure objectives are achieved.
  • Leads the grouping and assignment of tasks, while ensuring optimal allocation of resources.
  • Establishes the flow of authority and communication between position and levels within the organization.
  • Streamlines business processes to maximize efficiency and effectiveness within the department.
  • Implements measurements of company policy to ensure effectiveness, usage and awareness.

• Directing Activities 25%

  • Works with the VP to close high profile or complicated development deals.
  • Works to expand the relationships with existing owners and actively build relationships with new ownership groups.
  • Takes ownership of bespoke RFP submissions ensuring accuracy and high quality outputs that are “on-brand”.
  • Influences division, departments and individual team members to accomplish the organization’s mission, goals and objectives through motivation, communication, group dynamics and leadership.

• Staffing Activities 15%

  • Works with others within the region on goals to assist in accomplishing department initiatives, and their own career objectives.

• Controlling Activities 15%

  • Oversee proper controls to ensure that the reported performance numbers are correct and transparent.
  • Review and evaluate systems to ensure proper reporting.
  • Translates organizational goals and objectives into performance standards for division, departments and individual positions.
  • Assesses actual performance against standards to determine whether the department is on target to reach its goals and takes corrective actions as necessary.
  • Works with regional corporate senior team to support possible management contract agreements.
  • Ensures business plan and goals are being followed and achieved, providing feedback or revising the plan, if needed.
  • Establishes and enforces policies and procedures that will improve the overall operation and effectiveness of the Company.
  • Ensures return on invested capital and time resources.
  • Reviews and makes appropriate adjustments in activities and expenses throughout the fiscal year to ensure optimal financial results.

What are we looking for?

Applicants will ideally come from a hotel or hospitality background and must have relevant, proven development experience gained from working within a consulting firm or another similar in-house role. The ability to operate successfully leading and transacting deals within the luxury hospitality space is essential. Additional language skills, particularly Italian, will be advantageous. Other skills and experience include the following:

• Ability to close franchise and management contract deals as needed and assist the team in doing so.
• Excellent presentation and public speaking skills; includes ability to identify message points for presentations and ability to proactively identify appropriate opportunities to share those messages with all stakeholders.
• Ability to initiate and direct collaborative efforts of multiple teams throughout the Hilton organization, including internal resources and external resources.
• Ability to analyze departmental financial data to make strategic and tactical decisions.
• Set standards for leadership by example, including ability to effect change, resolve conflicts and ensure collaboration within appropriate executive levels of enterprise; includes maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity.
• Absolute discretion and confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
• Ability to take initiative to identify, prioritize and implement all elements required for team to fulfill responsibilities in keeping with core strategic goals.
• Strong problem-solving skills, including ability to effectively address any issue in collaboration with others as appropriate; ability to proactively identify and prevent potential problems; ability to develop problem solving skills among direct reports and other team members.
• Ability to advocate and implement professional development for self, direct reports and others, including capability to work with peers and other resources to provide development and mentoring opportunities; includes adherence to organization’s standards for performance feedback.
• Ability to evaluate and identify opportunities from a strategic perspective, including ability to develop, prioritize and implement plans to meet organization’s core strategic goals.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Significant experience in hotel investment and development negotiations.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Fluency in English at a minimum and fluency in Italian or another European language preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree favourable.
• 15 years of experience in the development and/or investment sector of the hospitality industry.
• Demonstrated track record of management contract negotiation and franchise sales.