Regional Director of Operations

REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Donohoe Hospitality Services

7101 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 700
Bethesda, MD 20814, USA

Department: Operations


Reports To: Vice President of Operations

FLSA: Exempt


Employment Type: Full-Time
Position Summary

The Regional Director of Operations oversees all hotel operations across an assigned portfolio of properties spanning multiple brands, tiers, and market segments. This leader is accountable for driving operational excellence, financial performance, guest satisfaction, and talent development across their region. The role serves as the primary link between property-level leadership and corporate strategy, ensuring brand standards are upheld while adapting to local market conditions.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership

• Provide direct oversight and strategic direction to General Managers across a portfolio of 7-10 properties, including full-service, focused-service, extended stay, lifestyle, and independent hotels.
• Conduct regular property visits to assess operational health, guest experience, and team performance; provide structured feedback and action plans.
• Ensure all properties adhere to brand standards, franchise agreements, and company operating procedures.
• Partner with GMs to resolve operational challenges, escalate critical issues, and implement corrective action plans as needed.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement by identifying best practices within the portfolio and driving cross-property adoption.

Financial Performance

• Own and manage the P&L for the regional portfolio, including revenue, EBITDA, labor efficiency, and capital expenditures.
• Review and approve annual property budgets and forecasts; hold GMs accountable to financial targets.
• Monitor RevPAR, ADR, occupancy, CPOR, GOP, and other KPIs; identify trends and implement strategies to optimize performance.
• Partner with Revenue Management and Sales teams to maximize top-line revenue across all segments and channels.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising guest experience or team morale.

Guest Experience

• Maintain a relentless focus on guest satisfaction scores (GSS, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, OTA ratings) across the portfolio.
• Drive accountability for service recovery programs and ensure properties operate with strong foundations in service cultures.
• Oversee quality assurance programs, including brand audits and internal inspections; develop remediation plans for underperforming properties.
• Champion accessibility, inclusivity, and personalized service standards as brand differentiators.

Talent Development & Team Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing General Managers; build a deep bench of leadership talent across the region.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide ongoing coaching and mentorship to property leaders.
• Collaborate with HR on succession planning, compensation benchmarking, and organizational design.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture that attracts and retains top hospitality talent.
• Lead by example in modeling the company's core values and expected leadership behaviors.

Strategic Initiatives & Development

• Partner with the development and acquisitions team on new property openings, transitions, renovations, and rebrandings.
• Provide market intelligence and operational insights to support investment decisions and capital planning.
• Lead or contribute to company-wide operational initiatives, task forces, and pilot programs.
• Build and maintain relationships with ownership groups, asset managers, and brand representatives.

Qualifications
Required

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• Minimum 8-10 years of progressive hotel operations experience, with at least 3-5 years in a multi-unit leadership role.
• Proven track record managing a mixed-brand or multi-segment hotel portfolio.
• Deep proficiency in hotel financial management, P&L ownership, and operational KPIs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop General Managers and senior property leaders.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency in hotel technology platforms (PMS, RMS, POS) and Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Business, or a related discipline.
• Experience with major franchise brands (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Choice, or similar).
• Familiarity with lifestyle, boutique, or independent hotel operations.
• Experience with hotel pre-openings, renovations, or brand conversions.
• Certification in hotel management (CHA, CHDM, or equivalent).

Core Competencies

• Strategic Vision - Translates corporate goals into actionable regional and property-level plans.
• Business Acumen - Strong command of hospitality financials and market dynamics.
• People Leadership - Builds high-trust relationships; develops and empowers others.
• Results Orientation - Drives accountability and executes with urgency and precision.
• Adaptability - Thrives in a fast-paced, multi-brand, multi-market environment.
• Guest-Centric Mindset - Keeps the guest experience at the center of every decision.
• Communication - Influences and aligns stakeholders at all levels with clarity and credibility.

Working Conditions

This position requires frequent travel throughout the assigned region (95%). The role involves visits to hotels in varied physical environments (front-of-house, back-of-house, construction/renovation sites). Occasional weekend and evening availability may be required based on business needs.
Who We Are

Donohoe Hospitality Services, one of five divisions of The Donohoe Companies, Inc., was formed in 2005 to specifically provide excellence in hospitality management. Donohoe Hospitality has become a leading hospitality management firm, not only regionally, but also nationally. Keeping with the fundamental values of The Donohoe Companies, Donohoe Hospitality treats it associates with the highest level of respect.
Why You'll Love Working with Us

For over a century, Donohoe has been a well-respected member of the community, and we continue to engage in the communities where we live and work. In our hotels, offices, and on company job sites, we pride ourselves on a collaborative, diverse, and engaging culture that starts with our interview process and continues all the way through to your day-to-day.


Benefits and Perks

DHS is pleased to offer employees a comprehensive Benefits Package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, leaves of absence, 401 (k) retirement plans, commuter benefits, vacation time, holidays, cellphone and hotel discounts, annual performance-based incentive, and MORE! Through this selection of benefits and perks, we strive to provide employees with options that will enhance their quality of life in and out of work. Come join us to experience all the reasons why we were voted one of The Washington Business Journal's Best Places to Work!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.