Vice President of Business Development

CROSSWORD PARTNERS | EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT
Vice President Business Development
EMPLOYMENT TYPE - Full-Time
WORK ARRANGEMENT - Remote / Up to 60% Travel Required
■ ABOUT CROSSWORD PARTNERS
CrossWord Partners is a hospitality management and consulting company built around a simple belief: strong partnerships create stronger performance.
We partner with hotel owners and investors to protect and enhance their assets through disciplined operations, commercial strategy, financial accountability, and genuine hospitality. Our approach combines institutional-level thinking with the accessibility, transparency, and entrepreneurial mindset of an owner-focused management company.
Our goal is straightforward: to become the management company owners rely on most. In order to do that, we start with out people. We believe great people can come from anywhere and that each person brings unique strengths that contribute to a larger purpose. We look beyond titles, backgrounds, and assumptions to recognize character, potential, and performance. In the end, we believe that great teams are built one person at a time. Because of that, we're committed to offering a culture where a person can thrive based on their collaborative contributions, drive, passion and unique perspectives.
Every piece Matters.
■ THE OPPORTUNITY
CrossWord Partners is seeking a Vice President of Business Development to lead the growth of our hotel management portfolio and help build the next generation of our company.
This is not a traditional hotel sales position.
The Vice President of Business Development will develop relationships with hotel owners, investors, developers, lenders, brokers, brand representatives, asset managers, and other industry partners to identify and secure new management and consulting opportunities.
The right person will be comfortable opening doors, building relationships long before an opportunity becomes a transaction, understanding the economics of a hotel investment, and working directly with ownership groups to determine where CrossWord Partners can create value.
As an early member of a growing company, this individual will also have the opportunity to help shape our business development strategy, processes, relationships, and reputation in the marketplace.
■ EXECUTIVE SCOPE
Build the Pipeline
Identify and pursue hotel management, consulting, pre-opening, and special-project opportunities.
Develop a consistent pipeline of prospective hotel owners, investors, developers, lenders, asset managers, brokers, and other industry partners.
Prospect independently through industry relationships, research, referrals, conferences, networking, and direct outreach.
Maintain disciplined pipeline activity and opportunity tracking within CrossWord Partners' CRM.
Identify ownership groups and assets that align with CrossWord Partners' operating capabilities and growth strategy.
Develop relationships before an active management opportunity exists, creating a long-term network of prospective partners.
Build Relationships
Establish trusted relationships with hotel owners and investment partners.
Develop referral relationships with hotel brokers, lenders, attorneys, consultants, franchise representatives, developers, and other professionals who influence hotel transactions and management-company selection.
Represent CrossWord Partners at hospitality conferences, ownership meetings, industry events, property visits, and networking opportunities.
Maintain relationships throughout the ownership lifecycle, not simply during an active sales process.
Serve as an ambassador for the CrossWord Partners brand and our approach to owner relationships.
Develop Opportunities
Understand a prospective owner's investment objectives, operating challenges, financial expectations, and priorities.
Evaluate potential opportunities in partnership with CrossWord Partners leadership and operations.
Coordinate preliminary underwriting, operating assessments, market analysis, and management-company positioning.
Lead the preparation and presentation of proposals, responses to RFPs, management presentations, and other business-development materials.
Coordinate property tours, ownership meetings, due diligence, and internal opportunity reviews.
Work with leadership to develop management fee structures, consulting engagements, transition plans, and other commercial terms.
Maintain momentum throughout the development process and ensure clear communication with prospective partners.
Win the Right Business
Lead opportunities from initial introduction through proposal, negotiation, and execution.
Participate in the negotiation of hotel management agreements, consulting agreements, and related commercial terms.
Work closely with ownership, legal counsel, operations, finance, and other stakeholders throughout the contracting process.
Maintain disciplined follow-up and clearly defined next steps for every active opportunity.
Balance portfolio growth with operational fit, financial performance, ownership alignment, and long-term partnership potential.
Help ensure CrossWord Partners grows intentionally rather than simply growing for the sake of adding properties.
Growth Strategy & Market Intelligence
Develop and continuously improve the company's business-development strategy and processes.
Provide leadership with regular reporting on pipeline activity, probability, timing, and expected portfolio growth.
Identify emerging markets, ownership groups, acquisition activity, management transitions, and other opportunities relevant to CrossWord Partners.
Collaborate with Operations, Revenue Management, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and other disciplines to develop compelling owner solutions.
Provide market feedback that helps shape CrossWord Partners' services and growth strategy.
■ CANDIDATE PROFILE & QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for someone who understands that hospitality business development is built on credibility and relationships.
The ideal candidate will bring:
Significant experience in consulting business development, hotel operations, investment, asset management, brokerage, franchise development, or a related business discipline.
A strong understanding of hotel operations and hotel financial performance.
Familiarity with business ownership structures, management agreements, franchise relationships, and the asset transaction lifecycle.
Existing relationships within the hotel ownership, investment, lending, brokerage, brand, or development communities.
Demonstrated ability to originate opportunities and develop relationships independently.
Strong financial and commercial acumen.
Experience presenting to hotel owners, investors, executives, and other senior decision-makers.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and negotiation skills.
The ability to manage multiple opportunities at different stages of development.
Comfort operating in an entrepreneurial environment where initiative and accountability matter.
Proficient in using modern technology and computer programs.
Willingness and ability to travel regularly.
Preferred Qualifications
Existing relationships within hotel ownership, investment, lending, brokerage, brand, or development communities.
Experience working directly with hotel ownership groups and hotel management companies.
Demonstrated experience securing third-party management agreements.
Experience evaluating hotel operating performance, investment objectives, and management-company fit.
■ SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE
How We Work
At CrossWord Partners, we believe great companies are built by great people. We hire the person and train the task. We believe people perform best when they understand the objective, have the tools to succeed, and are empowered to make decisions.
We value:
Partnership. We approach relationships with a long-term mindset.
Transparency. Key stakeholders deserve clear information and straightforward communication.
Accountability. We take ownership of our commitments and our results.
Empowerment. We trust talented people to make decisions and move the business forward.
Genuine Hospitality. Hospitality isn't simply something we deliver to guests. It should define how we treat owners, partners, and most importantly; each other.
Success will be measured by more than the number of agreements signed.
The Vice President of Business Development will be expected to build a healthy and sustainable pipeline, develop meaningful industry relationships, generate qualified opportunities, convert the right opportunities into CrossWord Partners engagements, and contribute to long-term portfolio growth.
Most importantly, this pers

Work arrangement
Yes