Vice President, US Market Development - Green Key Global

About Us:  

Co-operated by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), Green Key Global (GKG) is a leading international environmental certification body that offers standardized programs and resources, designed specifically for the hotel and meetings industries. Green Key’s mission is to be positioned in the lodging industry as a leader in corporate social responsibility certification, through education, collaboration and promotion.  

Green Key Global is at an exciting inflection point. AHLA recently entered into a partnership with the HAC to establish a North America-wide solution for sustainability certification for hotels. Green Key Global is now poised for rapid expansion and is undertaking a major scale up effort.  

About the Role:  

AHLA is currently seeking a Vice President, US Market Development to lead expansion of the Green Key Global certification in the United States. Reporting, initially, to the Managing Director, Green Key Global, the VP of US Market Development will represent the Green Key Global brand within the AHLA organization and will be responsible for driving strategic company growth in a period of rapid expansion.  

 The Vice President of US Market Development will be responsible for supporting the attainment of Green Key’s financial targets in the US by fostering key industry relationships, working with the Managing Director to execute the organization’s comprehensive business plan, and by ensuring that the needs of the market are represented within the program’s value proposition.   

The ideal candidate will have previous experience & a track record of success with key sales and account management, ideally in a high growth / start-up environment. 

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:  

Scale Up Effort:  

• Identify key priorities and projects to position the organization for success in the US market  
• Develop/refine the organization’s scale up plan, leading the execution of the plan  
• Responsible for overall scale up performance, reporting and tracking against established KPIs  

Sales & Account Management 

• Working with AHLA membership team to integrate Green Key Global into programs & operations of existing MSA accounts 
• Working the Director of Business Development, Green Key Global, to identify and collaborate on new sales opportunities 
• Collaborate with the Green Key Global team to ensure that sales material and collateral is reflective of market needs 

Financial Management 

• Work with the Managing Director on developing, implementing and monitoring budgets  
• Assist the Managing Director in supervising the operation of a cross-border, multi-currency financial management system  
• Lead / support the development of board presentations 

Subject Matter Expert  

• Act as the face and voice of Green Key Global in the US by presenting at and participating in panels at brand, member and industry conferences 

People Leadership  

• Hire and oversee the US Program Manager, ensuring effective management and successful execution of program initiatives. 

Knowledge & Skills Required:

• Proven experience in senior management role, ideally in high-growth environments  
• Strong leadership & people management skills  
• Strategic thinker  
• Results-oriented; strong track record of executing large projects  
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written)  
• Comfortable with technology, including learning new software  
• Proficient with MS Teams, Zoom and other collaboration platforms  
• Previous experience in sustainability, associations, or similar roles would considered be an asset  
• Previous experience with certification programs would be considered an asset  

Requirements:  

• Degree in business, hospitality or a related field; equivalent experience also considered.  
• Minimum 10+ years of sales & client facing experience.  
• Knowledge of environmental sustainability practices and standards would be a benefit.

Other:

• Position based in Washington DC
• Moderate travel required - 50% 
• Rotating hybrid work schedule: In-office Tues-Thurs and Mon-Thurs every other week; remote option for the right candidate
• Salary: $135,000-$185,000

AHLA is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you will help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. 

 EOE 

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Work From Home
• Free Food & Snacks