Managing Director

Additional Information: This hotel is owned and operated by an independent franchisee, Vivant Hospitality. The franchisee is a separate company and a separate employer from Marriott International, Inc.  The franchisee solely controls all aspects of the hotel’s employment policies and practices, including hiring, firing, discipline, staffing, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.  If you accept a position at this hotel, you will be employed by a franchisee and not by Marriott International, Inc.

Step into the realm of Alma San Juan, where we transcend boundaries and embrace the liberating art of free-spirited hospitality.

Alma San Juan is a 56-room lifestyle hotel located in the heart of Old San Juan, designed to celebrate the soul, culture, and energy of Puerto Rico. More than a place to stay, Alma serves as a social hub - anchored by three distinctive Food & Beverage outlets that engage both locals and travelers through thoughtful programming, design, and culinary expression.

The hotel is currently transitioning into Marriott’s Autograph Collection, marking a pivotal next chapter for the brand. This transition requires an experienced, hands-on General Manager with deep Marriott knowledge, strong Food & Beverage acumen, and the ability to lead a high-touch, independent-minded hotel while operating within a global brand framework.

1.Position Summary

The Managing Director serves as the senior on-property executive leader responsible for the overall operational performance, financial success, brand compliance, and cultural alignment of Alma San Juan - Autograph Collection.

This role functions as the primary liaison between ownership and Marriott, while ensuring seamless day-to-day execution across Rooms, Food & Beverage, Events, Engineering, and Guest Experience.

The Managing Director must be highly visible, operationally engaged, and strategically disciplined, capable of balancing Marriott brand standards with Alma’s independent identity and experiential positioning.

Full P&L accountability, owner relations, and operational excellence are critical components of this role.

Duties, Responsibility & Accountability
Business Strategy & Execution
•Develop and execute annual and long-range business plans maximizing profitability, guest satisfaction, and market share.
•Translate Marriott’s global strategies into property-level initiatives aligned with Alma’s brand positioning.
•Monitor competitive landscape, market trends, and demand drivers to identify growth opportunities.
•Hold the Executive Committee accountable for disciplined execution and measurable results.

Food & Beverage Leadership (Critical Requirement)
•Provide hands-on leadership for all F&B operations, including restaurants, bars, and experiential programming.
•Elevate F&B performance through menu strategy, cost controls, beverage programming, service standards, and brand storytelling.
•Partner with culinary and beverage leaders to drive innovation while maintaining operational discipline.
•Ensure financial performance through margin management, labor optimization, inventory controls, and revenue growth.
•Position F&B outlets as destination experiences for guests and the local community.
•Collaborate with Sales & Marketing to maximize group, event, and local demand.

Sales, Marketing & Revenue Generation
•Work with Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Management to drive top-line growth across rooms and F&B.
•Ensure effective use of Marriott’s demand engines, loyalty platforms, and distribution channels.
•Engage in proactive sales, relationship-building, and community partnerships.
•Oversee pricing, forecasting, and channel strategies to optimize ADR, occupancy, RevPAR, and total revenue.

Talent Development & Culture
•Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing Executive Committee and leadership team.
•Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, and hospitality excellence.
•Coach leaders through feedback, development planning, and performance management.
•Champion training, succession planning, and internal growth opportunities.
•Maintain strong employee engagement, retention, and alignment with brand values.

Financial & Operational Oversight
•Maintain full P&L responsibility; operate within budget while achieving profitability targets.
•Analyze financial

Aptitude Standards

Education & Experience

•    Marriott International experience strongly preferred; Autograph Collection or lifestyle brand experience highly desirable.
•    Minimum 7+ years of progressive hotel leadership experience in lifestyle, boutique, or full-service hospitality environments.
•    Demonstrated multi-department operational expertise (Rooms and Food & Beverage required).
•    Proven experience managing budgets, forecasting, labor controls, and driving profitability.
•    Experience working directly with ownership groups and executive stakeholders.
•    Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or related field preferred.
•    Preferred: Caribbean, resort, or destination market experience.

Physical Requirements

•    Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout the property for extended periods.
•    Ability to conduct operational walkthroughs across guestrooms, kitchens, public areas, and back-of-house spaces.
•    Flexibility to work extended hours, evenings, weekends, and holidays as business demands require.

Core Competencies & Leadership Profile

•    Strategic and operational thinker with strong execution discipline.
•    Owner-minded, financially astute, and results-driven.
•    Highly collaborative leadership style with strong interpersonal presence.
•    Comfortable leading within structured brand standards while honouring property individuality.
•    Strong analytical, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills.
•    Passion for experiential hospitality and Food & Beverage-driven environments.

Duties, Responsibility & Accountability

Executive Operational Leadership
•    Provide executive-level oversight of all hotel operations including Rooms, Food & Beverage, Events, Engineering, and Guest Experience.
•    Maintain strong on-property presence; actively engage with teams and guests.
•    Ensure operational continuity, alignment, and accountability across departments.
•    Lead and support department heads in execution of operational priorities.
•    Conduct routine property inspections to ensure quality, safety, and brand standards compliance.

Financial & Business Performance
•    Maintain full P&L accountability and ensure achievement of budgeted profitability targets.
•    Lead annual business planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
•    Monitor ADR, occupancy, RevPAR, F&B revenue, labor productivity, and departmental margins.
•    Translate financial data into actionable operational strategies.
•    Optimize cost control, labor management, and revenue-driving initiatives.

Food & Beverage & Experiential Oversight
•    Oversee performance and strategic positioning of all Food & Beverage outlets.
•    Partner with culinary and beverage leadership to ensure financial discipline and brand storytelling.
•    Support programming and experiential initiatives that position Alma as a destination within the local market.
•    Ensure F&B profitability through margin management, labor controls, and inventory oversight.

Talent Development & Culture
•    Build and maintain a high-performing leadership team aligned with Alma’s values and Marriott standards.
•    Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and hospitality excellence.
•    Provide coaching, performance management, and succession planning support.
•    Promote employee engagement, retention, and professional growth.

Owner & Brand Relations
•    Serve as primary operational liaison between ownership and Marriott.
•    Provide transparent, data-driven performance updates.
•    Balance ownership priorities with brand compliance requirements.
•    Ensure successful execution of Marriott Autograph Collection standards and audits.

Guest Experience & Community Engagement
•    Maintain high visibility and active guest engagement.
•    Lead service recovery initiatives and uphold brand standards.
•    Strengthen relationships with local partners, community leaders, and cultural organizations.
•    Support PR, marketing activations, and experiential programming initiatives.

Compliance & Risk Management
•    Ensure compliance with health, safety, labor, and regulatory standards (OSHA, local regulations, etc.).
•    Oversee cleanliness, maintenance standards, and operational readiness.
•    Support risk mitigation, incident response, and operational audits.

Communication Lines
•    Vertical up to: Ownership Group / Board of Directors and Marriott Regional Leadership
•    Downward with the supervision of: Executive Committee Members, Department Heads (Rooms Division, Food & Beverage, Sales & Marketing, Finance, Engineering, Human Resources), and all on-property associates
•    Lateral with fellow: Marriott Managing Directors, General Managers within the Autograph Collection portfolio, Corporate Functional Leaders, and Ownership Representatives
•    Dotted-line communication with: Marriott Brand Standards, Revenue Management, Sales & Distribution, Human Resources Support, and Corporate Compliance Teams
•Communicates operational, financial, and guest experience updates to ownership and brand representatives.

The position offers a salary of $100,000 - $130,000 (based on experience) and includes 15 days of vacation per year, 12 sick days, 100% employee coverage under our medical plan, parking, a $50/month phone allowance, a birthday day off with a $50 bonus, holidays with a compensatory day off, and benefits at our restaurants and within the hotel (complimentary meals at the restaurants and, for executives, a 30% discount on hotel nights). Once the transition to Marriott is completed, the employee will also receive all applicable Marriott benefits, relocation is negotiable.

This company is an equal opportunity employer.

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The Autograph Collection is a growing collection of four and five-star independent hotels, each offering unique and memorable experiences. Each hotel is thoughtfully chosen for its quality, originality, bold character, and ability to offer today’s traveler a range of unique experiences suited to their individual sense of style and adventure. All Autograph Collection hotels look to attract The Individualist, the brand's target consumer. The Individualist is someone who uses travel as an opportunity to add to their personal narrative – in essence they are hand selecting our hotels whether for personal or corporate travel because it is much more than simply a place to rest. In joining Autograph Collection, you join a portfolio of brands with Marriott International. Be where you can do your best work,​ begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global​ team, and become the best version of you.