FLEX Technical Deployment Specialist

Marriott Hotels Resorts•Bethesda, MD

About The Position

This is a temporary position. JOB SUMMARY Manages and provide technology deployment services for managed, franchised and above property locations in the US and Canada The candidate’s initial primary assignment will be to execute work supporting the successful implementation of the Power of M project across U.S. and Canadian hotels. This role includes collaborating with internal project leaders and key property stakeholders, contributing to process improvement workstreams, and completing other assigned tasks. All work will be delivered in alignment with service level agreements, internal departmental standards, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction. Models aspects of a project planning framework to ensure the functionality, deployment and support needs are well documented, communicated and met accordingly. Facilitates the successful execution of all deployment activities for assigned projects. Liaises with peers with the US/CAN technology team and broader global technology and operations organizations as required. Manages vendor responsibilities when applicable. Occasional travel may be required. CANDIDATE PROFILE Required Experience & Education Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of education, technical training, or work/military experience 3+ years’ experience managing technical and/or technical implementation/deployment projects that include software and hardware upgrades 3+ years’ experience/proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, Skype, Visio, Teams) Ability to travel occasionally Availability to work outside of traditional business hours to facilitate project events as needed Preferred Qualifications and Experience Working knowledge FOSSE and/or Lightspeed PMS Strong business acumen and understanding of hotel operations and processes Experience with agile concepts Experience in developing effective business relationships with peers, stakeholders, and other leaders Experience in managing a project team, including problem identification/resolution, negotiation, and conflict management skills Working knowledge of Marriott Information Technology standards Experience in change control processes Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication and presentation skills Candidate Attributes: Input to strategic planning and thought leadership Excellent listening and documentation skills Solid organizational and analytical skills for planning, coordinating and monitoring implementations Ability to identify and recommend approaches to address risks in a positive manner Effective presentation and public speaking skills Negotiate issues resolution with key stakeholders, including senior leaders Ability to consistently negotiate a “win-win” outcome Ability to work independently with minimal supervision CORE WORK ACTIVITIES Leadership Represents the stakeholders’ technical and operational interests in the development and design, functionality, deployment and support of initiatives Aligns and partners with project teams and change management forums to contribute to the overall messaging. Functions as a key resource in managing change for US & Canada stakeholders Communicates and leads change management efforts for stakeholders in support of technology initiatives Serves as the liaison across disciplines as needed for successful project deployment and operations. Participates in beta and pilot processes, evaluating the product capabilities against functional requirements, operational and technology standards Reviews and improves implementation methods to reduce project costs and increase effectiveness without jeopardizing objectives Collaborates with designated business, brand and operations representatives to ensure systems are evaluated, and operations are ready to receive new technology and upgrades. Managing Execution/Building Relationships Identifies deployment opportunities and partners with various teams to evaluate and implement solutions. Manages the deployment plan and schedule for software, bug fixes and hardware upgrades Establishes a communication plan for various stakeholder groups and properties; sets meaningful expectations. Assesses hotel infrastructure and hardware to inform deployment and support needs Serves as an escalation point-of-contact for the Continent teams and is a liaison between business sponsor, IT and hotel stakeholders and provides recommendations for remediation. Sets priorities and communicates needs with US & Canada IT Leadership, and Corp IT teams. Evaluates and forecasts deployment project needs and engages resources as appropriate. Driving for Results Participates in functional and technical requirement management processes to ensure stakeholder needs are met; aligns with stakeholders and project team to accomplish stated goals. Consults with property and regional leadership on needs in support of their business processes and represents solutions to meet the business need. Develops/refines execution framework for project delivery, aligned with overall continent goals and objectives, creates success metrics. Functions as an influencer and negotiator to provide a technical and operational perspective to inform needs with a cost/benefits understanding. Leads large project from inception to completion with a keen focus on managing budget, timeline and scope Business Functional Goals Consolidates and prioritizes open issues, action items and requirements Identifies and prioritizes areas of focus, including functionality, operations, deployment and support Provides capital and operational budget guidance to hotels Influences and leverages initiative funding to focus effort on continent valued deliverables Provides status reports and communicates effectively across the organization broadly on design, deployment and support needs Establishes metrics and tracking process to identify and manage business and financial risks Identifies and leverages best practices and repeatable deployment processes to share with stakeholders Partners with business sponsors, change management and communications teams Identifies pre-deployment opportunities and collaborates with the appropriate teams to package and implement solutions Performs other duties, as assigned to meet business needs At Marriott International, we are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all and providing access to opportunity. We actively foster an environment where the unique backgrounds of our associates are valued and celebrated. Our greatest strength lies in the rich blend of culture, talent, and experiences of our associates.  We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, including disability, veteran status, or other basis protected by applicable law.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of education, technical training, or work/military experience
3+ years’ experience managing technical and/or technical implementation/deployment projects that include software and hardware upgrades
3+ years’ experience/proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, Skype, Visio, Teams)
Ability to travel occasionally
Availability to work outside of traditional business hours to facilitate project events as needed

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge FOSSE and/or Lightspeed PMS
Strong business acumen and understanding of hotel operations and processes
Experience with agile concepts
Experience in developing effective business relationships with peers, stakeholders, and other leaders
Experience in managing a project team, including problem identification/resolution, negotiation, and conflict management skills
Working knowledge of Marriott Information Technology standards
Experience in change control processes
Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication and presentation skills
Input to strategic planning and thought leadership
Excellent listening and documentation skills
Solid organizational and analytical skills for planning, coordinating and monitoring implementations
Ability to identify and recommend approaches to address risks in a positive manner
Effective presentation and public speaking skills
Negotiate issues resolution with key stakeholders, including senior leaders
Ability to consistently negotiate a “win-win” outcome
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Responsibilities

Represents the stakeholders’ technical and operational interests in the development and design, functionality, deployment and support of initiatives
Aligns and partners with project teams and change management forums to contribute to the overall messaging.
Functions as a key resource in managing change for US & Canada stakeholders
Communicates and leads change management efforts for stakeholders in support of technology initiatives
Serves as the liaison across disciplines as needed for successful project deployment and operations.
Participates in beta and pilot processes, evaluating the product capabilities against functional requirements, operational and technology standards
Reviews and improves implementation methods to reduce project costs and increase effectiveness without jeopardizing objectives
Collaborates with designated business, brand and operations representatives to ensure systems are evaluated, and operations are ready to receive new technology and upgrades.
Identifies deployment opportunities and partners with various teams to evaluate and implement solutions.
Manages the deployment plan and schedule for software, bug fixes and hardware upgrades
Establishes a communication plan for various stakeholder groups and properties; sets meaningful expectations.
Assesses hotel infrastructure and hardware to inform deployment and support needs
Serves as an escalation point-of-contact for the Continent teams and is a liaison between business sponsor, IT and hotel stakeholders and provides recommendations for remediation.
Sets priorities and communicates needs with US & Canada IT Leadership, and Corp IT teams.
Evaluates and forecasts deployment project needs and engages resources as appropriate.
Participates in functional and technical requirement management processes to ensure stakeholder needs are met; aligns with stakeholders and project team to accomplish stated goals.
Consults with property and regional leadership on needs in support of their business processes and represents solutions to meet the business need.
Develops/refines execution framework for project delivery, aligned with overall continent goals and objectives, creates success metrics.
Functions as an influencer and negotiator to provide a technical and operational perspective to inform needs with a cost/benefits understanding.
Leads large project from inception to completion with a keen focus on managing budget, timeline and scope
Consolidates and prioritizes open issues, action items and requirements
Identifies and prioritizes areas of focus, including functionality, operations, deployment and support
Provides capital and operational budget guidance to hotels
Influences and leverages initiative funding to focus effort on continent valued deliverables
Provides status reports and communicates effectively across the organization broadly on design, deployment and support needs
Establishes metrics and tracking process to identify and manage business and financial risks
Identifies and leverages best practices and repeatable deployment processes to share with stakeholders
Partners with business sponsors, change management and communications teams
Identifies pre-deployment opportunities and collaborates with the appropriate teams to package and implement solutions
Performs other duties, as assigned to meet business needs