What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vice President, Sustainability & Impact position at Starwood Hotels?
Come grow with a company where purpose and possibility meet. Starwood Hotels is home to some of the most dynamic brands in the world. We exist to improve the planet—one hotel at a time—and we’re defined by impact, purpose, and a deep respect for the world around us. (And yes, we even compost our bad ideas.).
1 Hotels invites guests to live in rhythm with nature—offering spaces that restore, inspire, and come alive from day to night, where sustainability, wellness, and social energy exist in thoughtful balance.
Treehouse Hotels brings back the wonder of childhood hideaways—cozy, curious, and just a little mischievous. It’s a place to play, dream, and drift off the script, where handcrafted details and nostalgic touches turn every stay into a story.
Baccarat Hotels carries forward a 250-year legacy and the spirit of l’art de vivre—the French art of celebrating life—with beauty, ritual, and moments of delight.
Recognized by Newsweek as a 2024 Most Loved Workplace, Starwood fosters a culture where creativity thrives, collaboration is second nature, and people are valued for who they are and what they bring. If you’re ready to bring your whole self to a team where thoughtful work leaves a lasting mark—you belong here.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Starwood Hotels is seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Vice President, Sustainability & Impact to lead the vision, execution, and evolution of sustainability across our global portfolio.
This role will shape how sustainability is embedded across development, operations, brand storytelling, food and beverage, engineering, and guest experience. Working closely with executive leadership, property teams, and cross-functional partners, the Vice President will turn ambitious environmental and social goals into practical, measurable action.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Operations, this leader will also partner closely with the Sustainability Governance Committee to ensure our commitments are translated into clear standards, strong performance, and meaningful outcomes across our hotels and teams.
This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who can think strategically, operate cross-functionally, communicate clearly, and help define the future of responsible hospitality at Starwood Hotels.
WHAT YOU’LL OWN
Strategy, Governance & Reporting
- Help shape and advance Starwood Hotels’ sustainability strategy across all brands and properties
- Build and maintain a clear sustainability framework with measurable goals, KPIs, and reporting structures
- Establish policies, standards, and governance practices that support consistent execution across the portfolio
- Oversee environmental performance tracking, including energy, water, waste, recycling, and food waste
- Lead the consolidation, analysis, and interpretation of sustainability data to guide strategy and performance
- Prepare executive-level reports, presentations, and updates for leadership, investors, and key stakeholders
- Partner with Investor Relations and other internal teams on sustainability communications and reporting materials
Operations & Property Partnership
- Serve as the primary sustainability partner for property teams across the portfolio
- Work with Corporate Operations and People Operations to develop SOPs, tools, and accountability measures tied to sustainability goals
- Identify operational opportunities to improve resource use, waste reduction, and overall environmental performance
- Support annual KPI reviews and portfolio-wide performance assessments
- Create and deliver training for property leaders and operational teams
- Maintain a central platform of resources, best practices, and communications to support property-level execution
Brand Narrative & Communications
- Help define and lead the sustainability narrative across Starwood Hotels and its brands
- Translate programs, progress, and performance into clear, compelling storytelling for guests, media, investors, and internal teams
- Partner with Marketing and Communications on campaigns, press materials, and brand storytelling
- Maintain a strong library of sustainability stories, data, and impact metrics for internal and external use
- Evaluate the effectiveness of sustainability communications and refine the approach over time
- Develop partnerships and community engagement opportunities that strengthen our impact platform
Development & Owner Engagement
- Support Development teams with sustainability materials for presentations, owners, and prospective partners
- Participate in conversations with developers, owners, consultants, and project teams to align on Starwood sustainability standards
- Help integrate sustainability principles into the planning, design, and development of new properties
- Articulate both the strategic and business value of responsible hospitality
Food & Beverage Sustainability
- Evaluate food and beverage practices across properties to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement
- Develop initiatives that strengthen both the environmental performance and the guest-facing story of our F&B programs
- Review progress through audits, assessments, and ongoing performance tracking
- Provide guidance and training to property-level F&B teams
- Review products, suppliers, and partnerships for alignment with sustainability standards
- Partner with Marketing and Communications to bring sustainability to life in the dining experience
Design, Engineering & External Expertise
- Partner with Engineering teams to monitor building performance and environmental metrics
- Turn sustainability data and project outcomes into actionable insights, case studies, and scalable best practices
- Work with Interior Design, Marketing, and Guest Experience teams to highlight sustainability through digital, in-property, and press storytelling
- Help develop project-based sustainability stories that can be shared across brand and media channels
- Manage external consultants supporting benchmarking, measurement, certifications, and annual reporting
WHO YOU ARE
- Experienced in luxury hospitality or design-led brands
- Experienced working across global portfolios or multi-property organizations
- Familiarity with sustainability reporting frameworks, benchmarking tools, and third-party certifications
- Experienced shaping sustainability storytelling for guests, media, or investors
WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE UNIQUE
- Shapes sustainability as a core business driver, not a standalone function
- Operates across the full hospitality ecosystem (development, operations, F&B, engineering, guest experience)
- Translate sustainability goals into measurable, operational outcomes
- Partners closely with executive leadership, owners, and cross-functional teams
- Defines how sustainability is experienced by guests, not just reported
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
- Builds governance, KPIs, and reporting frameworks to drive accountability
- Bridges data and storytelling for guests, investors, and stakeholders
- Influences sustainability integration across new developments and global expansion
- Positions the company as a leader in responsible hospitality
- Balances purpose-driven initiatives with business performance and growth