JOB SUMMARY:
The Opening Services Project Manager serves as the primary project manager for new construction, conversion, and rebranding hotel projects. This role directly supports net unit growth and revenue goals by delivering monthly, quarterly, and annual opening targets. The Project Manager maintains full portfolio visibility across all brands and provides regular updates through weekly leadership and compliance meetings. The role partners closely with Onboarding Project Directors, Area Directors, and New Construction Project Managers to successfully open properties and achieve ramp-up targets.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Conduct initial project analysis to develop a tailored opening strategy based on project scope, contractual deadlines, franchisee experience, and business objectives.
Partner with Onboarding Project Directors and Franchise Development teams during initial franchisee outreach to set the foundation for timely and successful openings.
Manage franchisee access to systems and resources including Rules & Regulations, vendor contacts, Performance Zone, Choice University, and Okta.
Advise franchisees, appointees, and management companies on project management best practices through consistent and proactive communication.
Manage relationships with qualified vendors and cross-functional internal partners including SkyTouch, Franchise Lifecycle, Operations and Portfolio Strategy, Procurement, Franchise Performance, Billing, Legal, Risk, and Design.
Serve as a subject matter expert to resolve complex or unique obstacles to opening by leveraging historical data and prior experience.
Independently manage a portfolio of 40-50 projects, maintaining schedules for consultations and inspections with minimal supervision and providing regular status updates to franchisees and department leadership.
Negotiate and apply opening incentives and adjust key levers to accelerate openings and meet opening targets.
Manage online processes for presell and commencement date activations.
Facilitate revised PIP items and timelines, producing post-executed addenda used for Opening Day inspections and Performance Zone scorecards.
Direct the Franchise Lifecycle Team to activate, rebrand, or suspend properties not yet open, as needed.
Lead rebrand openings in partnership with Area Directors, collaborating in advance on key markets and prominent clients.
Report project status and risks to the Compliance Committee for not-yet-open projects.
Additional Responsibilities
Ensure data integrity across company systems to accurately reflect the opening pipeline and forecasted openings.
Maintain accurate project status and required legal documentation within Salesforce.
Request and process legal addenda including room count, address, entity, and assumption changes.
Travel up to approximately 10% (3-6 times per year) for project sites, team meetings, and company conventions.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Education & Experience
Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience, with 5-8 years of project management experience required.
Hospitality industry experience preferred.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Demonstrated ability to manage the complexities of hotel openings, including construction timelines, design submittals, and FF&E selection and procurement.
Strong customer focus with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced, shifting environment.
Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence without authority.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and demonstrate accountability.
Commitment to company values, including collaboration, performance excellence, sense of urgency, inclusion, integrity, customer focus, and respect.
LOCATION & HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE:
Location:
This role is based in Pike & Rose (Rockville, MD).
Hybrid Work Schedule:
This position follows a hybrid work schedule and requires regular, in-person presence at the Pike & Rose office Monday through Thursday, with remote work on Fridays. Candidates must be able to reliably commute to the office and work on-site as required to support collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and business needs.
COMPENSATION & SALARY RANGE:
Salary Range: $65,698 - $77,000 annually
Pay ranges listed are what Choice Hotels reasonably expects to pay. Actual pay may be higher or lower and ranges may be adjusted in the future. Pay positioning within the range is influenced by factors including-but not limited to-education, experience, skills, certifications, performance, geographic location, business needs, seniority, and travel requirements.
Choice prioritizes our associate wellbeing by offering a comprehensive benefits program that is both competitive and flexible to help you achieve your wellbeing goals - here are just a few:
Competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage
Leave and paid time-off for holidays, vacation, personal, family, volunteer, sick, jury duty, bereavement, military, and religious observance
Financial benefits for retirement and health savings
Employee recognition programs
Discounts at Choice hotels worldwide
About Choice
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With 7,500 hotels in 45+ countries and territories, we offer a range of high-quality lodging options in the upper upscale, upper midscale, midscale, extended stay, and economy segments. We're the hotel company for those who choose to bet on themselves - the striver, the dreamer, the entrepreneur - because that's who we are, too.
At Choice, we are united by the simple belief that tomorrow will be even better than today - for associates, our company, and our franchisees. At our worldwide corporate headquarters in North Bethesda, Maryland, at our technology center in Scottsdale, Arizona, and through our associates around the globe, every voice is heard and every idea is listened to, no matter what area of the company they come from. We are united in supporting the entrepreneurial dreams of our thousands of franchise owners, which propels us forward - giving our work at Choice a purpose larger than our business.
Our corporate office locations:
North Bethesda, MD - Located at Pike & Rose (https://pikeandrose.com/) , our worldwide headquarters is less than 15 miles from Washington, D.C., one block away from the North Bethesda Metro station, with easy access to I-495, complimentary parking, electronic charging stations, restaurants and retail.
Scottsdale, AZ - Located at the northwest corner of Loop 101, the Scottsdale office is home to our technology, eCommerce and customer service organizations, with easy access to complimentary parking, electronic charging stations, restaurants and retail.
Minneapolis, MN - Select roles are based in our Minneapolis office on Highway 394, near the intersection with Highway 100, only five minutes from downtown.
Field/Remote - Select roles designated as field/remote will require associates to work from a home office, connecting virtually with Choice team members and leadership on Zoom, with possible required travel depending on the role.
Choice's Cultural Values
Welcome and Respect Everyone | Be Bold | Be Quick | Listen | Be Curious | Show Integrity
Choice's Leadership Principles
Act with Intention | Lead with Authenticity | Grow & Deliver
