The Director, Sustainability – Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) functions as the business expert for Sustainability as part of the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA)’s operations team, working with stakeholders across disciplines both in Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) and the global teams at Corporate Headquarters. This individual will provide coordination, planning, execution, and continuous improvement of sustainability platforms for Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) and contribute to global solutions as needed. As a member of the overall Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) team for the company, this role will bring deep subject matter expertise, advice, and connectivity to develop and/or enhance tools, guidance, and resources to support the achievement of Marriott’s sustainability goals.

This individual must be able to independently lead projects, drive Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) regionalized global strategies, develop Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) specific implementation approaches, communicate externally and internally while also partnering with key stakeholders to support the short- and long-term goals of the company including on topics such as climate, responsible sourcing, water, waste, the built environment, and natural capital. Engagement and coordination between leaders within the continent and global teams will be critical to the success of this position.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience

Required Education:

• 4-year bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a major/focus on Science or Social Science, Business Administration, Hospitality, or related major; OR related work experience.

Required Experience:

• 6+ years of experience in sustainability, hospitality operations, or business consulting
• Expertise and proven track record in managing complex, multifunctional initiatives
• Experience in developing Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) specific or global strategies and successfully implementing in a complex organization
• Experience in planning, executing, and delivering projects on time and on budget
• Exceptional communicator, both written and verbal
• Willingness to travel up to 30% of the time

Preferred Experience:

• Strong knowledge of the competitive landscape and must be able to remain current with industry and sustainability trends
• Experience identifying emerging opportunities based on a combination of industry analysis, company analysis, stakeholder and subject matter expert input, and trend evaluation
• Proven experience introducing and implementing cutting-edge ideas; conception through final delivery
• Ability to organize and deliver presentations to senior internal and external stakeholders (leaders, customers, associates, partners)
• Ability to articulate new concepts clearly and in a compelling way
• Strong communication, influencing and problem resolution skills
• Proven ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment within budgets and timelines
• Knowledge of business environment, service requirements, and culture
• Demonstrated ability to assess stakeholder needs, creatively approach solutions, and influence appropriate courses of action
• Exceptional communicator, both written and verbal
• English – Spanish bilingual a plus

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

Strategy & Communication:

• In partnership with Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) specific and global leaders, understand and align with global sustainability strategy and develop Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) specific plans for implementation
• Function as the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) specific ambassador for sustainability, effectively communicating the company’s vision to internal and external stakeholders including customers, owners, vendors, sales and other partners
• Develop, promote and maintain key metrics and tools to measure the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA)’s progress against sustainability goals
• Educate senior leadership, managers, and associates by communicating rationale, goals, and policies
• Provide leadership and direction on Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) specific and global policies and processes, continually reviewing, developing and implementing changes
• Serve as subject matter expert and thought leader on projects, surveys, annual sustainability report, and strategic planning

• Develop or Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) specificize and deliver training to support and educate associates across disciplines and at all levels of the organization
• Partner with key operational disciplines (e.g., Procurement, Guest Experience, Global Design) to conduct qualitative and quantitative market and vendor research to continually improve Marriott’s sustainability program
• Deliver field-ready tools, strategic assessments, best practices, and benchmarking to drive progress against sustainability goals
• Build, maintain and protect Marriott’s brand equity and reputation among key partners
• Analyze trends and competitive landscape and influence changes to strategy
• Assist with the annual budget development process for Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) and hotel initiatives

Initiatives and Partnerships:

• Champion the sustainability program for associates, suppliers, and partners
• Participate in industry events, trade shows, and conferences in the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA), including boards and committees with strategic partners
• Partner with the Procurement discipline to maximize and leverage opportunities and drive positive supplier sustainability results
• Work with local governments and authorities to identify funding opportunities and subsidies available to support sustainability initiatives
• Partner with Finance to drive the sustainability agenda into existing financial processes and to support long-term planning at the hotel-level
• Advance and streamline measurement mechanisms to ensure consistent and accurate metrics
• Drive leadership accountability and engagement with sustainability initiatives across all business units to ensure continued integration, success, and credibility of the program while being held accountable for the overall program success
• Manage discipline partnerships and platforms, especially communications to drive awareness and engagement
• Represent Continent needs and perspective in global discipline forums