Senior Business Improvement Manager

Travelodge Hotels Limited; Thame; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to £70,000 & Annualise Bonus

Contributory pension scheme

Hybrid working - minimum of 60% in office

50% discount for hotel bookings

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Focus on learning and career development

Job summary

A leading hotel chain seeks a Senior Business Improvement Manager to drive strategic change in hotel operations. This role involves leading initiatives focused on automation and digitization, influencing cross-functional teams, and optimizing operational models. Candidates should hold Lean Leadership or Six Sigma qualifications and demonstrate a strong track record in process improvement. The position offers a competitive salary of up to £70,000, hybrid working, and generous employee benefits including a contributory pension scheme and discount privileges.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of driving process improvements in a service environment.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Experience in designing innovative solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of initiatives for strategic productivity targets.
• Design trials for new products and processes.
• Sell innovative propositions to Directors.
• Matrix-manage cross-functional teams for operational improvements.
• Optimize the cost model and hotel operations.

Skills

Lean Leadership (LCS 1C)

Six Sigma Green Belt qualification

Commercial acumen

Data-driven decision making

Job description

Are you a process improvement expert who thrives on transforming complex challenges into elegant, efficient solutions? We are looking for a high-impact leader to join our Business Change function and help shape the future of our hotel operations.

What’s it all about?

In this role, you won't just be tweaking the edges—you’ll be redeveloping the core operating model of a major brand, identifying multi-million pound initiatives, and leveraging automation to enhance the journey for thousands of customers and colleagues alike.

As a Senior Business Improvement Manager, you are a critical architect of change. Your mission is to identify, shape, and lead strategic programmes that transform how we operate. You will sit at the intersection of innovation and execution, designing the "next generation" of our service model.

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic Innovation: Leading the development and testing of initiatives to meet our 5-year strategic productivity and customer satisfaction targets, with a heavy focus on automation and digitisation within our hotel operations.
• Trial & Design: Designing robust trials to test new products and processes, defining the commercial business cases required for full-scale implementation and using a data driven approach.
• High-Level Influence: Selling innovative propositions and commercial cases to Directors and the Operating Board.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Matrix-managing teams of 20+, including external tech providers and internal departments (Finance, Marketing, People, and Tech Services), to bring improvements to life in our hotels.
• Operating Model Excellence: Constant optimisation of our cost model and hotel operations to ensure we remain agile and customer-centric.

Why Travelodge?

We believe in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their true self and belong. We work hard to improve the diversity of our teams and celebrate our differences. And we care about our colleagues’ wellbeing, so we ensure there are plenty of resources available so everyone can look after their emotional, physical, financial and work wellbeing. We call this “Better Me”.

Who will this appeal to?

As a passionate self-starter, you possess the rare ability to balance high-level strategic thinking with a hands-on, results-driven mentality. You don’t just identify problems; you design innovative solutions and have the tenacity to see them through to full-scale delivery. With a Lean Leadership (LCS 1C) or Six Sigma Green Belt qualification, you bring a proven track record of driving process improvements within a fast-paced, customer-centric service environment.

You are a master of commercial acumen, capable of translating complex data into compelling, multi-million-pound business cases that win buy-in at the Board and Director level. Your natural gravitas allows you to influence cross-functional teams and external partners with ease, ensuring every initiative is simple, pragmatic, and robust. Ultimately, you are a decisive leader who moves with speed to cut through complexity and deliver tangible value for both the business and the customer.

What are the extra benefits of working for Travelodge?

• Up to £70,000 & Annualise Bonus
• Contributory pension scheme
• Hybrid working - a minimum of 60% of your time should be spent in the office and or visiting suppliers
• 50% personal discount for hotel bookings and great friends and family discounts too!
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays, increasing with length of service
• A focus on learning and career development