Hyatt Corporate Office, Chicago
The Opportunity
Hyatt seeks an enthusiastic Design Manager to join our Design Services team, supporting the construction, conversion and renovation of hotels throughout the Americas, across the portfolio of Hyatt’s full-service hotel brands. In this role, you’ll be instrumental in continuing to make Hyatt a leading hospitality company. You will be part of a team passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, committed to nurturing curiosity and new skills and building connections with stakeholders, colleagues, and guests across the organization.
Who We Are
At Hyatt, we believe in the power of belonging and creating a culture of care, where our colleagues become family. Since 1957, our colleagues and guests have been at the heart of our business and helped Hyatt become one of the world's best and fastest-growing hospitality brands. Our transformative growth and the addition of new hotels, brands, and business lines can open the door for exciting career and growth opportunities for our colleagues.
As we continue to grow, we never lose sight of what’s most important: People. We turn trips into journeys, encounters into experiences, and jobs into careers.
Why Now?
This is an exciting time to be at Hyatt. We are growing rapidly and are looking for passionate changemakers to be a part of our journey. The hospitality industry is resilient and continues to offer dynamic opportunities for upward mobility, and Hyatt is no exception.
How We Care for Our People
Our purpose sets us apart—to care for people so they can be their best. Every business decision is made through the lens of our purpose, and it informs how we have and will continue to support each other as members of the Hyatt family. Our care for our colleagues is the key to our success. We’re proud to have earned a place on Fortune’s prestigious 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the last ten years. This recognition is a testament to how our Hyatt family continues to come together to care for one another, our commitment to a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and respect, and making sure everyone feels like they belong.
We’re proud to offer exceptional corporate benefits which include:
•Annual allotment of free hotel stays at Hyatt hotels globally
•Flexible work schedules
•Work-life benefits including well-being initiatives such as a complimentary Headspace subscription, and a discount at the on-site fitness center
•A global family assistance policy with paid time off following the birth or adoption of a child as well as financial assistance for adoption
•Paid Time Off, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K with company match
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Our success is underpinned by our diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture and we are committed to diversity across the board—from whom we hire and develop, the organizations we support, and whom we buy from and work with.
Being part of Hyatt means always having space to be you. Our global teams are a mosaic of cultures, ethnicities, genders, ages, abilities, and identities. We constantly strive to reflect the world we care for with teams that achieve and grow together. To learn more about our commitments to DE&I, please visit the Why Hyatt section of the Hyatt career page.
Who You Are
As our ideal candidate, you understand the power and purpose of our Culture of Care and embody our core values of Empathy, Inclusion, Integrity, Experimentation, Respect, and Well-being. You enjoy working with others, are results-driven, and seek various opportunities to develop personally and professionally.
The Role
The Manager of Design & Planning will be responsible for the support and execution of design and technical services as part of the Americas Design Services department. This team oversees the design of all new construction, conversions and renovation projects throughout the Americas, across the portfolio of Hyatt’s full-service hotel brands.
The Manager, Design & Planning will provide support to Design Directors and above on the execution of various projects, support pre-opening activities and produce construction inspection reports on new projects, support CapEx planning and review process and independently lead renovation projects with more minimal oversight from senior team members. The Manager, Design & Planning will facilitate and support the implementation of Hyatt technical standards and brand objectives through a focus on superior design strategies and solutions, with a client-first philosophy for our brand-led, purpose driven team.
•Provide design guidance and brand fit review on multiple, concurrent full service hotel projects, including independent project management, communication, and leadership of assigned renovation projects within the team and support as needed to Design Directors and above on new build projects and pre-development reviews.
•Interface with owners, development companies, architects, interior designers, planning consultants, contractors, and public agencies in a collaborative, team-focused manner that adds value to projects and relationships.
•Provide design direction, ensure adherence to brand standards, and oversee Hyatt’s interests by advising/assisting external architecture, design and engineering consultant teams from initial space planning and concept development through all phases of design.
•Prioritize project design goals to align with scope of project and budget in a strongly client-oriented manner.
•Partner with the region’s development team to provide functional expertise on project assessment and feasibility activities, encompassing the review of projects and properties that may be considered for acquisition, management or franchise, including pre-design project review and planning, area programs, property improvement plans (PIPs).
•Collaborate with project teams including owners, design consultants, and Hyatt internal Operations teams during the entire hotel design process to facilitate and implement Hyatt brand concepts and standards, coordinating input from internal partners.
•Provide regular and contractual reviews for milestone design packages and provide Hyatt approval and/or comments.
•Review design consultant submitted drawings, interior design concepts, finishes and specifications.
•Execute and operationalize brand concepts and implement relevant regional and local brand design interpretations.
•Hold responsibility for pre-opening support of new build and conversion projects within the region including handover from Design Directors, construction progress tracking and site visits, coordination with Operations, and monitoring of timelines.
•Assist with CapEx planning, design review, project data tracking and reporting. Collaborate with property teams to ensure plans are following established capex process.
•Focus on learning and development – hospitality industry knowledge, best and current practices.
•Monitor internal processes and documentation for continued relevance and improvement.
•Demonstrate a commitment to Hyatt core values.
Qualifications
Experience
•Minimum 5-7 years’ post-graduate experience in an Architectural or Design field, with strong familiarity with all phases and aspects of the design & development process.
•Hospitality, high-end residential and/or retail experience required.
•Client facing experience required.
Education
•Architectural Design Degree – Bachelor or Master of Architecture or foreign equivalent
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
•Professional association registration preferred (AIA, NCDIQ, or similar)
Computer Skills Needed to Perform this Job
•AutoCAD, Microsoft Office skills required
•Bluebeam Revu skills preferred
Additional Comments and Requirements
•Possess excellent verbal, written and graphic communication skills
•Ability to leverage past experience within the design industry to knowledgably and credibly collaborate with owners, developers, project managers and design consultants on a wide range of topics relevant to hotel design and construction
•Flexibility to handle changing circumstances and priorities
•Ability to multitask, manage multiple and competing priorities.
•Ability to work both independently and collaboratively while exercising good judgment and critical thinking.
•Strong sense of responsibility and ownership over projects.
•Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities.
•Abilty to learn when exposed to new tasks.
•Must be available for frequent travel both domestically and abroad (50%)
•English fluency is required
•Spanish and/or Portuguese proficiency a plus
The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all-encompassing. Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessary.
We welcome you:
Research shows that women, people of color, and other historically excluded groups, tend to apply to jobs, only if they meet all the listed job qualifications. Unsure if you check every box, but feeling inspired to enhance your career? Apply. We’d love to consider your unique experiences and how you could make Hyatt even better.
