Manager, Design & Product Development

Choice Hotels International • North Bethesda, MD

20h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager of Design & Product Development leads a team of creative professionals and consultants to shape the future of Choice Hotels’ brand environments through innovative design and product development. This role combines design excellence, strategic leadership, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver compelling, brand-aligned solutions that enhance guest experience and drive franchisee ROI. The Manager oversees FF&E design packages, vendor programs, and prototype development while championing continuous improvement and innovation across the Choice portfolio.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Minimum 7+ years of relevant experience in hospitality design, with a strong portfolio demonstrating strategic and creative leadership.
• At least 2 years of experience managing teams and external consultants in a design-driven environment.
• Proficiency in Smartsheet, Microsoft Office Suite; Adobe Creative Suite and 3D modeling tools (SketchUp, AutoCAD) preferred.
• Strong visualization and hand-sketching abilities.
• Expertise in architecture, interior design, and FF&E specifications.
• Strategic thinker with ability to balance creativity, business goals, and operational feasibility.
• Skilled in developing scalable design systems and cost models.
• Demonstrates ability to lead a broader team, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and drive enterprise-level initiatives.
• Builds trust, fosters creativity, and maintains high standards under pressure.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills to engage senior leadership.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.
• Must uphold Choice Hotels’ Values & Performance Principles: collaboration, integrity, inclusion, customer focus, and respect.
• Candidates must reside in the Washington, D.C. metro area and commit to a hybrid work schedule consisting of four days per week onsite at our Pike & Rose headquarters in North Bethesda, Maryland, and one day working remotely from their home office.
• This role is not eligible for sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and FF&E product development for new and existing brand packages, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and operational feasibility.
• Oversee concept generation, prototype development, and creation of design guides, toolkits, and standards.
• Manage vendor qualification and approval processes, optimizing timelines and quality through data-driven dashboards.
• Direct consultants and internal teams to deliver high-quality, on-brand design outcomes within budget and schedule.
• Monitor hospitality, design, and cultural trends to inform brand evolution and maintain market competitiveness.
• Translate consumer insights and operational needs into design frameworks and innovation roadmaps.
• Drive continuous improvement through evaluation of adoption trends, product performance, and stakeholder feedback.
• Maintain material libraries and design labs to support experimentation and prototype development.
• Lead and develop a broader team, fostering creativity, accountability, and collaboration.
• Partner with Brand, Development, Procurement, and Lifecycle teams to ensure design initiatives support enterprise goals.
• Communicate updates to brand standards and design programs across the organization.
• Support major initiatives, including annual convention and enterprise-wide design programs.

Benefits

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees