** This role is not eligible for sponsorship **
Who are we looking for?
Choice Hotels—one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors—has an exciting opportunity for a Director, Enterprise Architecture within our IT Strategy organization. The Enterprise Architecture team designs how our applications, data, and platforms fit together to deliver guest, franchisee, and associate experiences at scale—while guiding smart investments that modernize our technology portfolio.
As a key member of Enterprise Architecture, you will lead “Architecture 2.0” in the age of AI—driving adoption of AI‑assisted standard work, building a living map of systems and capabilities that agents can query, and accelerating strategic decisions across applications, technologies, and business/technology capabilities.
Are you a builder–leader who blends enterprise architecture mastery with cloud fluency, AI curiosity, and the courage to simplify? Do you inspire teams, persuade diverse stakeholders, and deliver results through hands‑on proofs of concept (POCs) using vibe or spec coding? If so, apply today and #MakeItYourChoice.
Your Responsibilities
- Lead Architecture 2.0: redefine EA standard work with AI tools so architects focus on high‑value strategy, outcomes, and storytelling.
- Make architecture knowledge agent‑ready: establish and maintain a living system/application capability map (dependencies, integrations, SLAs) that AI agents can use to answer questions and propose options.
- Portfolio strategy with financial acumen: drive application rationalization, balancing innovation, risk, and total cost of ownership (TCO).
- Reference architectures: define and govern across cloud (AWS/Azure/GCP), SaaS (Salesforce, Workday, ServiceNow), data, and integration platforms.
- Outcome‑driven roadmaps: partner with product, platform, security, and finance to translate business outcomes into capability‑based roadmaps and investment proposals.
- Hands‑on validation: accelerate delivery with POCs using vibe/spec coding and agent‑assisted development; graduate successful POCs into pilots and scale‑ups.
- AI‑DLC transformation: evolve Choice’s SDLC into AI‑Driven Lifecycle practices across architecture and engineering with copilots and agents.
- Reduce friction with agents: deploy task‑specific and orchestration agents (e.g., mapping, standards compliance, diagramming, and documenting) to automate repetitive steps and surface decision‑ready insights.
- Innovation culture: encourage experimentation with generative AI, automation, and composable platforms while ensuring accountability.
- Develop talent: coach architects in business architecture, application design, data/AI, and persuasive storytelling; champion inclusion and value differences.
- Executive storytelling: communicate architectural vision in business terms; persuade and align decisions through crisp narratives and visuals.
Your Experience, Skills & Competencies
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, or related field; Master’s preferred, or equivalent experience.
- 10+ years in enterprise/solution architecture leadership with proven impact on transformation and modernization.
- Deep expertise in Enterprise Architecture, Cloud Architectures, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Enterprise SaaS.
- Hands‑on experience with modern cloud architectures (AWS/Azure/GCP), SaaS ecosystems (Salesforce, Workday, ServiceNow), and integration patterns.
- Use AI tools daily to accelerate core EA tasks—discovery, dependency mapping, diagramming, documentation, scenario analysis, and executive storytelling.
- Leverage AI‑assisted architecture tools for dependency mapping and model generation; apply digital twin modeling to simulate change impact; use data‑driven design to guide modernization decisions.
- Design and operate agent‑based workflows that decrease friction across the architecture lifecycle—task agents for diagram generation and standards checks, research agents to synthesize patterns and options, and orchestration agents to route work, capture decisions, and maintain the living capability map.
- Work comfortably in Agent based IDEs such as VS Code, Kiro, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code or Cline to pair‑program with copilots/agents, automate repetitive coding tasks (spec/vibe), enforce standards templates, and streamline diagram/asset generation directly from the development environment.
- Strength in capability mapping, application strategy, governance, and articulating technology in business‑value terms.
What Sets You Apart
At Choice Hotels, our Director, Enterprise Architecture is more than a technical expert—they are a catalyst for transformation and a champion of innovation. Here’s how you’ll make an impact:
- Drive Strategic Transformation: Lead the charge in modernizing our technology landscape, translating business vision into actionable architecture strategies that deliver measurable results.
- Champion AI & Emerging Tech: Pioneer the adoption of AI, agent-based tools, and automation to accelerate architecture analysis, modeling, and decision-making.
- Inspire Engagement & Collaboration: Energize teams and stakeholders, building a culture where everyone is empowered to contribute, innovate, and deliver their best work.
- Demonstrate Financial & Portfolio Acumen: Make strategic decisions that balance innovation, risk, and total cost of ownership—ensuring technology investments drive long-term value.
- Communicate & Persuade with Purpose: Articulate architectural vision through compelling narratives and visuals, building consensus and inspiring action across diverse audiences.
- Deliver Results with Accountability: Set high standards, follow through on commitments, and relentlessly pursue excellence—turning vision into transformative outcomes.
- Develop Talent & Foster Inclusion: Mentor and grow future leaders, championing diversity and continuous learning to build a resilient, high-performing team.
- Navigate Ambiguity & Lead Change: Thrive in complexity, guiding teams through uncertainty with clarity, composure, and a focus on business impact.
- Model Integrity & Organizational Savvy: Build trust, act with courage, and leverage networks to advance architectural priorities and organizational goals.
In this role, you’ll be more than an architect—you’ll be a visionary leader, a change agent, and a mentor. If you’re ready to shape the future of enterprise architecture in the age of AI, we invite you to join us.
Your Team
This is a leadership role that will report to the Senior Director, Enterprise Architecture. You will have direct reports and collaborate with cross‑functional departments on a regular basis.
** This role is not eligible for sponsorship **
Choice prioritizes our associate wellbeing by offering a comprehensive benefits program that is both competitive and flexible to help you achieve your wellbeing goals - here are just a few:
- 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
About Choice
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With 7,500 hotels in 45+ countries and territories, we offer a range of high-quality lodging options in the upper upscale, upper midscale, midscale, extended stay, and economy segments. We’re the hotel company for those who choose to bet on themselves — the striver, the dreamer, the entrepreneur — because that’s who we are, too.
At Choice, we are united by the simple belief that tomorrow will be even better than today — for associates, our company, and our franchisees. At our worldwide corporate headquarters in North Bethesda, Maryland, at our technology center in Scottsdale, Arizona, and through our associates around the globe, every voice is heard and every idea is listened to, no matter what area of the company they come from. We are united in supporting the entrepreneurial dreams of our thousands of franchise owners, which propels us forward — giving our work at Choice a purpose larger than our business.
Our corporate office locations:
North Bethesda, MD — Located at Pike & Rose, our worldwide headquarters is less than 15 miles from Washington, D.C., one block away from the North Bethesda Metro station, with easy access to I-495, complimentary parking, electronic charging stations, restaurants and retail.
Scottsdale, AZ — Located at the northwest corner of Loop 101, the Scottsdale office is home to our technology, eCommerce and customer service organizations, with easy access to complimentary parking, electronic charging stations, restaurants and retail.
Minneapolis, MN — Select roles are based in our Minneapolis office on Highway 394, near the intersection with Highway 100, only five minutes from downtown.
Field/Remote — Select roles designated as field/remote will require associates to work from a home office, connecting virtually with Choice team members and leadership on Zoom, with possible required travel depending on the role.
Choice’s Cultural Values
Welcome and Respect Everyone | Be Bold | Be Quick | Listen | Be Curious | Show Integrity
Choice’s Leadership Principles
Act with Intention | Lead with Authenticity | Grow & Deliver