JOB SUMMARY

Applies advanced computational techniques in the development of business solutions to data-intensive problems in the hospitality industry. This rewarding position provides a career as part of a team that makes a direct revenue impact on Marriott hotels, globally, by providing tools that facilitate data-driven decision making in the disciplines of pricing, revenue management, sales and reservations. Works as part of a team supporting revenue-impacting data analysis and modeling applications, provides pricing and statistical modeling and technical expertise; performs undirected research on large volumes of data to reach business conclusions and recommendations; contributes complex programming and analysis in revenue management and sales systems; analyzes data and builds innovative models to deliver business solutions; functions as a subject matter expert in all phases of the project lifecycle – inception, prototyping, design, testing, rollout and support. The Operations Research team seeks a flexible candidate with a willingness to learn that brings unique perspectives to enable creative data-driven solutions to the challenges at Marriott.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience

Required:

• Graduate degree in a rigorous quantitative, technical or scientific subject, including Operations Research, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Data Engineering, Computer Science or Engineering. Bachelors’ degree 5 years’ experience in the field can be substituted for the advanced degree requirement
• 2 years’ industry or research experience; applying analytical and programming skills with data-intensive, complex modeling or systems development problems. Experience designing or supporting analytical systems, focusing on model quality and code efficiency
• Software engineering skills (e.g. distributed computing, object-oriented development, data cleansing, algorithms, and data structures) with 2 years development experience
• Knowledge and experience coding with Python (pandas / Numpy / SciPy), Java or C/C , SQL at an advanced level with an understanding of complexity theory
• An inherent curiosity in researching and developing solutions to complex and often open-ended business problems
• An ability to explain and present mathematical concepts and results to technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong communications skills and ability to work within a team
• Knowledge of relational databases

Preferred:

• Experience performing predictive modeling, forecasting, or statistical analysis on large scale datasets.
• Experience with Big Data platforms (i.e. Hadoop)
• Experience with Machine learning tools and techniques (e.g. k-nearest neighbors, random forests, ensemble methods, etc.)
• Experience in developing analytic driven solutions to business problems
• Understands complex, discrete data sets with subtle underlying biases
• Experience with linear, mixed integer, non-linear or dynamic programming models and familiarity with optimization software (CPLEX, Gurobi).
• Readiness to debug existing codes to identify source of reported application issues

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

Technical Leadership

• Trains and/or mentors other team members, and peers as appropriate
• Provides leadership on solution structure, tasks, timeline and estimates for revenue management deliverables
• Partners with planning teams to articulate possible solutions to business problems and to develop requirements for new models

Delivering Technology

• Formulates methods for measuring the effectiveness of pricing and revenue management activities.
• Prepares detailed specifications for translation of complex business processes into models and prototypes
• Develops and implements efficient, scalable algorithms using appropriate technologies/software/architectures
• Writes software and utility software tools to create and test new models
• Assists the Application Delivery teams in support of operations
• Assists the Application Delivery team in the maintenance of existing models
• Provides work/cost estimates for client requests
• Prepares documentation for client review.
• Conducts reviews, discusses findings, risks and challenges and establishes courses of action

IT Governance

• Follows all defined iT standards and processes and provides input for improvements to the appropriate process owners as needed
• Maintains a proper balance between business and operational risk
• Follows the defined project management standards and processes

Service Provider Management

To the extent that this role interacts with service providers:

• Validates that Service Providers develop and manage respective aspects of a project plan, including schedules, deliverables, and appropriate metrics.
• Makes short term plans for the team to effectively utilize resources
• Monitors Service Provider outcomes
• Reviews estimates of work effort for client project provided by Service Providers for accuracy
• Facilitates timely resolution of service delivery problems and minimizes the impact to clients

MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

Leadership

• Communication - Conveys information and ideas to others in a convincing and engaging manner through a variety of methods.
• Leading Through Vision and Values - Keeps the organization's vision and values at the forefront of employee decision making and action.
• Managing Change - Initiates and/or manages the change process and energizes it on an ongoing basis, taking steps to remove barriers or accelerate its pace; serves as role model for how to handle change by maintaining composure and performance level under pressure or when experiencing challenges.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; obtains and compares information from different sources to draw conclusions, develops and evaluates alternatives and solutions, solves problems, and chooses a course of action.
• Professional Demeanor - Exhibits behavioral styles that convey confidence and command respect from others; makes a good first impression and represents the company in alignment with its values.
• Strategy Development - Develops business plans by exploring and systematically evaluating opportunities with the greatest potential for producing positive results; ensures successful preparation and execution of business plans through effective planning, organizing, and on-going evaluation processes.

Managing Execution

• Building a Successful Team - Uses an effective interpersonal style to build a cohesive team; inspires and sustains team cohesion and engagement by focusing the team on its mission and importance to the organization.
• Strategy Execution – Ensures successful execution across of business plans designed to maximize customer satisfaction, profitability, and market share through effective planning, organizing, and on-going evaluation processes.
• Driving for Results - Sets high standards of performance for self and/or others; assumes responsibility for work objectives; initiates, focuses, and monitors the efforts of self and/or others toward the accomplishment goals; proactively takes action and goes beyond what is required.

Building Relationships

• Customer Relationships - Develops and sustains relationships based on an understanding of customer/stakeholder needs and actions consistent with the company’s service standards.
• Global Mindset - Supports employees and business partners with diverse styles, abilities, motivations, and/or cultural perspectives; utilizes differences to drive innovation, engagement and enhance business results; and ensures employees are given the opportunity to contribute to their full potential.
• Strategic Partnerships - Develops collaborative relationships with fellow employees and business partners by making them feel valued, appreciated, and included; explores partnership opportunities with other people in and outside the organization; influences and leverages corporate and continental shared services and/or discipline leaders (e.g., HR, Sales & Marketing, Finance, Revenue Management) to achieve objectives; maintains effective external relations with government, business and industry in respective countries; performs effectively as a liaison between locations, disciplines, and corporate to ensure needed resources are received and corporate strategies are understood and executed.

Generating Talent and Organizational Capability

Learning and Applying Professional Expertise:-

• Continuous Learning - Actively identifies new areas for learning; regularly creates and takes advantage of learning opportunities; uses newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learns through their application.
• Technical Acumen - Understanding and utilizing professional skills and knowledge in a specific functional area to conduct and manage everyday business operations and generate innovative solutions to approach function-specific work challenges
  • Technical Intelligence: Knowledge and ability to define and apply appropriate technology to enhance business process
  • Development Methodologies: Knowledge of general stages of SDLC framework and the application tiers within the development space.
  • Information Security: Knowledge of the security considerations relevant within the development space, including industry best practices related to information security
• Business Acumen - Understands and utilizes business information to manage everyday operations and generate innovative solutions to approach business and administrative challenges.
• Basic Competencies - Fundamental competencies required for accomplishing basic work activities.
  • Basic Computer Skills - Using basic computer hardware and software (e.g., personal computers, word processing software, Internet browsers, etc.).
  • Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly, correctly, and in a way that allows one to solve work-related issues.
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.