Davidson Hospitality logo

Director of Transitions, Openings and Operational Initiatives

Job Overview

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Employment Type

Full-time
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Compensation

Salary
Range $135,000.00 - $145,000.00
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Work Schedule

Standard Hours
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Benefits

Medical Coverage
dental coverage
vision coverage
Telehealth service
Pet insurance
hotel discounts
Tuition Reimbursement
Paid Time Off
401k Match

Job Description

Davidson Hospitality Group is a leading hospitality management company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. With a strong presence in the hotel and resort management industry, the company manages a diverse portfolio of properties across the United States. Davidson Hospitality Group is recognized for its innovative approach, delivering comprehensive and results-driven services to each property under its care. Known as a preferred operator for some of the most prestigious brands such as Hilton, Hyatt, Kimpton, Marriott, and Margaritaville, the company provides a unique entrepreneurial management style combined with the personalized service of a boutique firm and the resources of a larger organization. With specialized divisions including Davidson Hotels, Pivot, Davidson Resorts, and Davidson Restaurant Group, the company offers a wide range of hospitality services that span full-service hotels, lifestyle properties, resorts, dining, and entertainment venues. Davidson Hospitality Group fosters a collaborative and supportive environment that encourages creativity, professional growth, and employee engagement. The company prides itself on its commitment to excellence in guest service, operational performance, and financial results, providing fulfilling career paths for those passionate about the hospitality industry. Employment opportunities are available in various sectors including operations, sales and marketing, revenue management, finance, and human resources, making Davidson an ideal workplace for motivated and talented individuals seeking to advance their hospitality careers.

Davidson Hospitality Group is seeking an experienced and dynamic hospitality leader to join its team as the Director of Transitions, Openings & Operational Initiatives. This critical role contributes directly to the company’s success by overseeing hotel openings and property transitions for a fast-growing portfolio of full-service, lifestyle, and resort properties. Reporting to the Senior Director of Openings & Transitions, the Director will serve as the primary liaison among ownership groups, asset managers, brand partners, general managers, and corporate leadership to ensure seamless operational readiness and successful launches. This position is ideal for a hospitality professional who thrives in fast-paced and complex environments and enjoys extensive travel, with 80 percent plus travel expected. The Director of Transitions will work hands-on with hotel teams on site across the country, directing the coordination of multiple stakeholders, managing project timelines and budgets, ensuring brand compliance, and driving operational excellence. Key responsibilities include managing transition strategies, overseeing pre-opening, training and operational readiness programs, and continuously improving transition processes. Candidates must bring deep hotel operations expertise, including leadership experience in rooms, food and beverage, and overall hotel management, along with exceptional project management and communication skills. The compensation for this role ranges from $135,000 to $145,000 base salary plus bonus, reflecting the high level of responsibility and expertise required. Joining Davidson Hospitality Group means becoming part of an award-winning organization that values entrepreneurial spirit and offers a rich benefits program including multiple tiers of medical coverage, dental and vision coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, 401K match, and more. Employees at Davidson enjoy a vibrant and supportive culture where work is seen as both a career and a calling, contributing to the company’s mission of redefining quality hospitality. Davidson Hospitality Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Job Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience
  • Extensive hotel operations experience, including leadership roles within rooms, food and beverage, and overall hotel operations
  • Demonstrated experience leading hotel openings, property transitions, or large-scale operational initiatives within a hospitality organization
  • Proven ability to serve as a trusted partner to senior executives, asset managers, ownership groups, and brand partners
  • Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills
  • Strong project management and coordination skills
  • Experience developing and managing transition budgets and operational readiness plans
  • Ability to interpret operational and financial data
  • Strong leadership presence
  • Highly motivated self-starter
  • Ability to travel extensively with 80 percent plus travel required and spend extended time on property during critical phases
  • Passion for hospitality and operational excellence

Job Qualifications

  • Extensive hotel operations experience, including leadership roles within rooms, food and beverage, and overall hotel operations
  • Demonstrated experience leading hotel openings, property transitions, or large-scale operational initiatives within a hospitality organization
  • Proven ability to serve as a trusted partner to senior executives, asset managers, ownership groups, and brand partners
  • Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and align diverse teams
  • Strong project management and coordination skills with the ability to manage complex initiatives, multiple timelines, and cross-functional teams
  • Experience developing and managing transition budgets, operational readiness plans, and project critical paths
  • Ability to interpret operational and financial data to support hotel performance and transition success
  • Strong leadership presence with the ability to guide General Managers and property teams through complex operational changes
  • Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience
  • Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-travel environment
  • Passion for hospitality, operational excellence, and delivering successful property launches

Job Duties

  • Lead and oversee hotel openings and property transitions, ensuring operational readiness and successful launches across Davidson’s portfolio
  • Serve as the primary coordination point between ownership groups, asset managers, brand partners, General Managers, and corporate teams throughout the transition process
  • Direct and manage critical paths, project timelines, and transition strategies for hotel openings and management transitions
  • Lead cross-functional teams to ensure all transition milestones, operational requirements, and brand standards are achieved
  • Establish, refine, and manage pre-opening and transition checklists, project plans, and tracking tools to drive consistency and scalability
  • Coordinate and lead recurring critical path meetings with corporate leaders, brand partners, and property teams to monitor progress and resolve issues
  • Oversee development and management of pre-opening and transition budgets, ensuring financial discipline and alignment with company objectives
  • Partner with Strategic Sourcing teams on OSE specifications, vendor selection, procurement strategy, and budgeting
  • Ensure brand compliance and operational standards are met through audits, implementation support, and on-site engagement
  • Provide operational guidance to Design and Technical Services teams during model room reviews and back-of-house planning
  • Lead the development and execution of multi-week training programs and operational readiness plans for new openings and transitions
  • Support property leadership teams through transition announcements, onboarding, operational ramp-up, and go-live execution
  • Utilize project management tools to maintain accountability, transparency, and milestone performance across active projects
  • Drive continuous improvement of openings and transitions processes, including development of best practices and operational playbooks
  • Analyze operational and financial performance data to ensure successful integration and strong property performance post-transition
  • Identify operational gaps and collaborate with corporate leaders to enhance standard operating procedures (SOPs), training programs, and operational processes
  • Support broader Strategic Operations initiatives, including enterprise systems implementation and operational improvement projects

Job Criteria

Experience

Expert Level (7+ years)


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