Director, Search

Job Number 23045355
Job Category Information Technology
Location Marriott International HQ, 7750 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Schedule Full-Time
Located Remotely? Y
Relocation? N
Position Type Management
?JOB SUMMARY
If you're looking to build leading technology that enables the future of global travel while transforming your career - step out of the status quo and join Global Technology at Marriott International.
As a key member of the Marriott.com Product team, the Director, Search will manage our Search product roadmap, evolving the search and shopping customer experience through leveraging new platforms and tools to drive product discovery and digital revenue. S/he will partner with industry-leading digital agencies, third-party experts, and hospitality leaders to ensure our digital channels live up to the promise of our world-class properties in over 130 countries and over 30 languages. You will join a top-notch M.com team proudly serving as digital concierges at the "World's Favorite Travel Company".
You will envision the future of travel search, discovery, and product recommendations with key stakeholders across the organization (platforms, engineering, loyalty, continents, and others) while overseeing the launch of our new dynamic, contextual and personalized search experience across product categories for millions of customers.
The ideal candidate will bridge technical and business worlds to develop exceptional customer experiences centered around the greatest business opportunities and industry trends. You bring a successful product management track record, stay on top of best-in-class search and ecommerce discovery trends, are skilled at using data and insights to guide product decisions. Passionate about the user experience, relentlessly pushes to understand global customer needs via a test and learn approach and successfully balances customer and business value to prioritize in a complex and fast paced environment. Is the product evangelist and subject matter expert and serves as the "go to leader" for timely updates to internal and, where applicable, external customers. You will collaborate with our platforms, marketing, reservations, continent and other teams on global strategy, operations and launch communications.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
We're looking for someone who is a self-starter that takes initiative in an ambiguous environment to generate momentum and positive outcomes. The ideal candidate fosters a collaborative, innovative team spirit and a passion for delightful digital experiences that consumers love.
Success in this role requires strong leadership & strategic skills coupled with an astute understanding of search and ecommerce. A proven innovative leader with large global brands that can motivate large teams and demonstrates analytical and financial management acumen.
To deliver world-class customer experiences, this individual will need to work collaboratively across several Marriott departments who also impact or deliver on customer experiences (CX Research & Analytics, Global Operations, Technology, Loyalty, Hotel Brands, Revenue Management & Distribution, Marketing, Customer Service/CEC, Continent Teams, and others).
Education and Experience
- Undergraduate degree in Marketing, eCommerce, Engineering, related field, or equivalent experience/certification. MBA or advanced degree in Digital Commerce Product management desirable
- 8 years' experience in product management, strategy, or related function; portion of that experience leading or managing technology products
- 3 years' experience leading direct reports and cross functional teams with P&L responsibility
- 8 years Web / Mobile / Digital/ Technology experience; must have direct experience and fluency with the broader consumer landscape or associate experience and technology platforms
- Solid understanding of conversion rate optimization and how to maximize revenue
- Direct management of complex budgets in excess of $2M
- Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and collaborate effectively in a matrix-managed environment, with multiple complementary groups
- Entrepreneurial, startup attitude in a big company setting, self-starter who takes initiative in an ambiguous environment to generate momentum & positive business outcomes
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with ability to interpret and translate data into key learnings and execution plans that drive business results
- Customer-obsessed mindset that capitalizes on user data to make step-change experience improvements to platforms, products, and features
- Global mindset that balances global solution orientation with awareness, appreciation, and adaptability for local market & customer dynamics
Preferred
- Ideal candidate will have product experience leading or managing apps and technology solutions, leveraging the full Adobe stack, including Adobe Experience Manager and Target
- Ideal candidate will be familiar with and have worked in a scaled agile development environment, SAFe and variants
- Ideal candidate will be familiar with Adobe Analytics /Omniture and mobile analytics to support data-driven product and feature measurement, performance, and iteration
- Ideal candidate will have understanding & familiarity with technologies and solutions that enable mobile & digital experiences for retail, hospitality, and/or amusement/entertainment
- Ideal candidate will have experience with search relevancy and contextual discovery optimization
- Ideal candidate will have international experience and proficiency in translating global solutions for local markets
- Proficient with web/app/API technologies, and user interface design
- Demonstrated success developing products that consumers love and managing large-scale transactional digital platforms is required
- Strong preference for candidates with experience in SQL, Omniture, A/B and multi-variate testing with deep understanding of best practices in user experience, analytics and drivers of conversion
- Proven ability to lead and work with cross-functional teams in support of specific business priorities
- Effective written and oral communications skills, with sensitivity to global communication needs
- Ability to solve problems quickly, think creatively, and satisfy Internet speed-to- market requirements
- Ability to execute budget-sensitive product and product marketing plans with tight timelines
- Demonstrates self-confidence, energy and enthusiasm
- Demonstrated strong presentation, negotiation, and persuasion skills
- Demonstrated ability in product lifecycle management with deep demonstrated empathy for guest travel needs and desire to solve consumers problems, at scale
- Adaptable and energized by change; willingness to test new approaches and drive change
- Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
- MBA or equivalent advanced degree in Technology and/or Product management desirable
Attributes
- Deep intellectual curiosity and passion to solve core consumer problems
- Demonstrates self-confidence, energy and enthusiasm.
- Driven to hit deadlines and achieve goals
- Ability to solve problems quickly, think creatively, and satisfy Internet speed-to-market requirements.
- Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, but within a large, complex business.
- Team player that works well with counterparts from various functions/departments and can influence the work of counterparts without direct reporting accountability
- Highly motivated individual with a strong sense of ownership, responsibility, attention to detail and demonstrated track record in managing multiple projects/tasks concurrently in tight timelines
CORE WORK ACTIVITIES
Core Work Activities
- Anticipate staffing requirements by comparing business needs against roadmap and ongoing evolution of products & features
- Develop business cases when needed for products, features, and resources
- Identifies the necessary funding and secure support and funding from across the company
- Understand how our business and technology needs are evolving and provide insights and recommendations as you partner with key stakeholders to identify short-term solves, bridge strategies, and long-term visions for assigned product(s).
- Gather and detail product requirements from stakeholders across the organization to inform roadmap items; evaluate technical complexity of requirements in order to appropriately prioritize work and manage expectations cross-functionally.
- Develop and lead the technology roadmap and backlog to implement specific product capabilities, ensuring critical requirements are identified, the best solutions for the end user are delivered every time, and alignment with broader group and portfolio objectives.
- Advocate for the end user by developing a deep understanding of their needs through feedback and research
- Collaborate with cross-functional team members to drive value and develop customer friendly features and enhancements
- Provide direction for the technology development, including cost estimation, budget management, scope and delivery strategy definition, and establish milestones/schedules
- Partner with solution architects and software engineers to determine best technical implementation methods as well as a reasonable implementation schedule.
- Plan delivery, integration & test, and post-launch support for all the elements required in product delivery and operation working with applicable teams
- Owns the quality and overall product performance, leading user testing and establishing KPI monitoring with QA partners.
- Manage project/scrum teams based upon roadmap(s). Meet regularly with the team(s) to gather work statuses, discuss obstacles, provide advice, guidance, encouragement, and constructive feedback to ensure deliverables are met timely.
- Collaborate across teams, and creatively solve problems to constructively balance priorities and overcome or remove blockers required to successfully deliver a new product or feature.
- Maintains the right level of demand management and capacity planning for the product as the owner of its KPIs inclusive of business and financial metrics and performance.
- Maintains high performance levels by attracting, developing and retaining talent, managing performance, building career paths, and aligning performance and rewards to company goals.
- Contribute to end user support artifacts/information/collateral development including feature/capability descriptions, end user business value stories, etc.
Manage and conduct Human Resources activities
- Interviews and hires employees.
- Ensures employees are treated fairly and equitably.
- Ensures that regular, ongoing communication is happening in department (e.g., pre-shift briefings, staff meetings).
- Fosters employee commitment to providing excellent service, participates in daily stand-up meetings and models desired service behaviors in all interactions with guests and employees.
- Incorporates customer satisfaction as a component of staff/operations meetings with an emphasis on generating innovative ways to continually improve results.
- Sets goals and expectations for direct reports using the performance review process and holds staff accountable for performance goals.
- Solicits employee feedback.
- Utilizes an "open door policy" and reviews employee satisfaction results to identify and address employee problems or concerns.
- Ensures policies are administered fairly and consistently, disciplinary procedures and documentation are completed according to Standard and Local Operating Procedures (SOPs and LSOPs) and supports the Peer Review Process.
- Conducts annual performance appraisal with direct reports according to Standard Operating Procedures.
- Champions change ensures brand and regional business initiatives are implemented and communicates follow-up actions to team as necessary.
- Identifies talents of direct reports and their teams and assists with their growth and development plans.
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 employee 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., HR, Sales & Marketing, 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
- Developing Others -Supports the development of other's skills and capabilities so that they can fulfill current or future job/role responsibilities more effectively.
- 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.
Learning and Applying Professional Expertise
- Continuous Learning - Actively identifies new areas for learning; regularly creates and takes advantage of learning opportunities; uses newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learns through their application.
Technical Acumen - Understanding and utilizing 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
- Business Process and Analysis - Knowledge of multiple processes within sponsor department; ability to document key process flows, recognize processes for redesign, identify opportunities and translate business processes into information system's needs. Ability to define quality measures and evaluate performance against standards and to identify issues, risks and possible paths of resolution or mitigation strategies.
- IT Business Management - Ability to monitor and evaluate trends in technology, technology delivery mechanisms and IT organizational processes and tools. This includes the ability to redefine processes, make recommendations, and perfect process governance frameworks.
- Basic Competencies - Fundamental competencies required for accomplishing basic work activities.
- Basic Computer Skills - Using basic computer hardware and software (e.g., personal computers, word processing software, Internet browsers, etc.).
- Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly, correctly, and in a way that allows one to solve work-related issues.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Presentation Skills - Prepare and communicate presentations effectively
California Applicants Only: The salary range for this position is $107,850.00 to $239,250.00 annually.
Colorado Applicants Only: The salary range for this position is $107,850.00 to $217,498.00 annually.
New York City & Westchester County, NY Applicants Only: The salary range for this position is $130,500.00 to $239,250.00 annually.
Washington Applicants Only: The salary range for this position is $107,850.00 to $239,250.00 annually. In addition to the annual salary, the position will be eligible to receive an annual bonus and restricted stock units/stock grants. Employees will accrue 0.4616 PTO balance for every hour worked and eligible to receive minimum of 7 holidays annually.
All locations offer coverage for medical, dental, vision, health care flexible spending account, dependent care flexible spending account, life insurance, disability insurance, accident insurance, adoption expense reimbursements, paid parental leave, educational assistance, 401(k) plan, stock purchase plan, discounts at Marriott properties, commuter benefits, employee assistance plan, and childcare discounts. Benefits are subject to terms and conditions, which may include rules regarding eligibility, enrollment, waiting period, contribution, benefit limits, election changes, benefit exclusions, and others.
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. Marriott International considers for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.
Marriott International is the world's largest hotel company, with more brands, more hotels and more opportunities for associates to grow and succeed. We believe a great career is a journey of discovery and exploration. So, we ask, where will your journey take you?