Analytics & AI Strategy Senior Manager

Job Summary The Senior Manager, Analytics & AI Strategy plays a pivotal role in advancing Choice Hotels’ enterprise transformation through analytics, AI, and emerging technologies. Sitting within the centralized Advanced Analytics team, this role ensures that data, analytics, and AI are systematically aligned with Choice Hotels’ most critical business priorities and are adopted across the organization. As a cross-functional leader, the Senior Manager connects strategy across four essential pillars: decision-centric processes, enterprise data and AI strategy, organizational enablement, and content strategy for emerging platforms. The role will identify and prioritize high-impact opportunities, guide the data and AI strategy needed to support them, lead adoption and fluency programs that drive organizational change, and ensure Choice Hotels’ content and brand are represented effectively within the evolving AI landscape. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and influencer who can operate seamlessly across teams and levels of the organization. They bring strong project management and communication skills, consulting-style problem solving, and the ability to convert complex challenges into actionable strategies that deliver measurable business impact. Primary Responsibilities Drive Strategy & Processes for Decision-Centric Analytics & AI Define the strategic framework for how Choice Hotels prioritizes and deploys analytics and AI against the organization’s most critical business decisions. Design and refine operating processes for the Advanced Analytics team to ensure resources are allocated to the highest-value opportunities and away from lower-impact work. Develop standardized methods for scoping, evaluating, and tracking use cases, ensuring clarity on business objectives, success metrics, and ROI. Lead efforts within the Advanced Analytics team to reinforce a decision-centric mindset, ensuring models, dashboards, and analytics are designed with clear business impact in mind. Create processes and/or identify tools that capture, measure, and feedback outcomes of business decisions influenced by analytics, establishing a closed loop for measurement and continuous improvement. Design and implement a portfolio management framework to oversee the lifecycle of analytics data products, ensuring alignment with enterprise priorities. Data Strategy for Analytics & AI Define the data roadmap for analytics use cases, ensuring that investments in data sources, platforms, and capabilities are aligned with Choice’s highest-value business decisions. Partner with Technology and Data Engineering to improve data accessibility, quality, and readiness for analytics and AI deployment. Establish strategy and processes for customer data activation and monetization, balancing innovation and revenue opportunities with privacy, compliance, and brand protection. Support the launch of the franchisee satisfaction program, ensuring survey design and data capture processes provide the Advanced Analytics team with a robust foundation to deliver actionable owner insights. Drive AI & Data Enablement Lead the rollout of AI fluency program to the Choice organization in partnership with HR and Technology. Drive enterprise data democratization by supporting the rollout of the data catalog and data dictionaries, making data easier to discover and use across the business. Develop and maintain common data practice guidelines and example queries that promote consistency and quality in analytics work. Refresh and maintain data literacy tools and training (e.g., SQL assessments, practice resources) to elevate foundational skills across the organization. Lead Content & LLM Strategy Own project management and coordination of the enterprise LLM content strategy, aligning stakeholders across Digital, Marketing, Distribution, Sales, Reputation Management, Analytics, Technology, and Brand. Facilitate alignment across sub-committees of the enterprise content working group, ensuring a consistent approach to LLM content visibility. Monitor generative AI and LLM industry trends, translating insights into actionable strategies for Choice Hotels. Prepare executive-ready materials and recommendations for steering committees and senior leadership to guide decision-making in this evolving space. Support Advanced Analytics Team Effectiveness Organize and deliver team-wide forums (e.g., town halls, learning sessions) to build engagement and share updates on analytics initiatives. Oversee operational processes including budget tracking, project intake, and knowledge-sharing platforms (e.g., SharePoint). Develop decision-support materials and presentations for senior leaders, ensuring complex analytics initiatives are communicated clearly and effectively. Identify and implement process improvements that enhance team efficiency and strengthen cross-functional collaboration. Qualifications Education Bachelor’s degree in Analytics, Data Science, Business, or related field or equivalent combination of education and work experience . Advanced degree preferred. Experience 5+ years of experience across consulting, analytics, AI strategy, and related fields, with a proven ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives and drive data‑informed strategic outcomes. Strong project management, consulting-style problem solving, communication skills. Exceptional storytelling and presentation (PowerPoint) skills. Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment across diverse groups. Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution. Experience leading cross-functional initiatives, building trust and alignment across diverse stakeholder groups. Demonstrated expertise in change management, with a track record of driving adoption of new processes, tools, or ways of working. Experience in hospitality, customer experience, or franchisee engagement is a plus. Knowledge of data strategy, architecture, and governance principles is preferred. This role requires on-site work in a designated office cubicle at least four days per week, availability during standard East Coast business hours, and active use of company communication tools, including enabled email and instant message notifications, throughout the workday. Technical Skills Familiarity with AI platforms, data governance, and analytics tools. Understanding of LLMs and emerging AI technologies. Competencies Strategic thinking, influence without authority, and ability to drive organizational change. Excellent collaboration and stakeholder management skills. WORK LOCATION: This position is based at Choice Hotels’ Pike & Rose headquarters in North Bethesda, Maryland. The selected candidate must be able to commit to this location requirement and adhere to the company’s hybrid work schedule, which consists of four days onsite and one day remote per week. NOTE: This position is not eligible for relocation assistance or sponsorship. Salary Range The salary range for this position is $132,000 to $155,000 annually. In addition to the annual salary, this role is eligible for an annual bonus based on the terms of Choice's Management Incentive Plan (MIP). The pay range listed is for this position and is what Choice Hotels reasonably expects to pay. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the pay range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, qualifications, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, and business or organizational needs. Choice prioritizes our associate wellbeing by offering a comprehensive benefits program that is both competitive and flexible to help you achieve your wellbeing goals - here are just a few: Competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage Leave and paid time-off for holidays, vacation, personal, family, volunteer, sick, jury duty, bereavement, military, and religious observance Financial benefits for retirement and health savings Employee recognition programs Discounts at Choice hotels worldwide About Choice Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With 7,500 hotels in 45+ countries and territories, we offer a range of high-quality lodging options in the upper upscale, upper midscale, midscale, extended stay, and economy segments. We’re the hotel company for those who choose to bet on themselves — the striver, the dreamer, the entrepreneur — because that’s who we are, too. At Choice, we are united by the simple belief that tomorrow will be even better than today — for associates, our company, and our franchisees. At our worldwide corporate headquarters in North Bethesda, Maryland, at our technology center in Scottsdale, Arizona, and through our associates around the globe, every voice is heard and every idea is listened to, no matter what area of the company they come from. We are united in supporting the entrepreneurial dreams of our thousands of franchise owners, which propels us forward — giving our work at Choice a purpose larger than our business. Our corporate office locations: North Bethesda, MD — Located at Pike & Rose , our worldwide headquarters is less than 15 miles from Washington, D.C., one block away from the North Bethesda Metro station, with easy access to I-495, complimentary parking, electronic charging stations, restaurants and retail. Scottsdale, AZ — Located at the northwest corner of Loop 101, the Scottsdale office is home to our technology, eCommerce and customer service organizations, with easy access to complimentary parking, electronic charging stations, restaurants and retail. Minneapolis, MN — Select roles are based in our Minneapolis office on Highway 394, near the intersection with Highway 100, only five minutes from downtown. Field/Remote — Select roles designated as field/remote will require associates to work from a home office, connecting virtually with Choice team members and leadership on Zoom, with possible required travel depending on the role. Choice’s Cultural Values Welcome and Respect Everyone | Be Bold | Be Quick | Listen | Be Curious | Show Integrity Choice’s Leadership Principles Act with Intention | Lead with Authenticity | Grow & Deliver