VP & Senior Counsel Ops
***This role is based at our corporate office in McLean, VA***
As a VP & Senior Counsel Operations, US & Canada, you will be the attorney for our managed properties in the U.S. and Canada. You will work with Hilton's Development, Operations, Brands, Commercial Services, Procurement, Safety & Security, and other teams to provide strategic legal guidance on operations-related matters. On the Operations Legal team reporting to the SVP & Asst General Counsel Labor Relations & Operations, you will advise hotel management about legal matters involving guests or third parties, reviewing or negotiating important business-related agreements, and supporting hotels with licensing needs, sales, and marketing efforts.
What will I be doing?
What your day-to-day will be like:
- Primary legal liaison for U.S. and Canada managed hotels, supporting AVPs and functional leaders
- Lead and supervise U.S. Operations Legal team, ensuring responsive, efficient legal support aligned with priorities
- Provide business-oriented legal counsel on hotel operations contracts, including commercial and vendor agreements
- Oversee licensing support for hotels (e.g., liquor, business, and spa licenses)
- Advise on Owner Relations and property-level legal matters, including guest disputes, evictions, and reputational issues
- Support regulatory compliance, including federal, state, and local matters, in partnership with Government Affairs
- Partner with Corporate and Property Sales teams on legal issues affecting group business and guest relations
- Deliver legal training across properties and above-property teams
- Review and approve property contracts, including vendor agreements and leased labor issues
- Lead time-sensitive legal projects and guide process improvements to enhance operational effectiveness
How you will collaborate with others:
- Work with the Legal Operations team, including colleagues across global offices
- Collaborate with teams in legal development, employment, compliance, privacy, commercial services, dispute resolution, and brands
- Work with business partners leading hotel operations, and across other departments critical to Hilton's wider business
What deliverables you will take ownership of:
- Provide primary legal support for implementation of initiatives to improve the consistency of the customer experience
- Provide primary legal support for implementation of technological and other innovation projects
- Establishing and implementing focused prioritization of legal support offered to managed hotels
What are we looking for?
You have these minimum qualifications:
- Juris Doctorate (JD) from ABA-Accredited law school
- Five (5) years of experience as an Attorney
- Ten plus (10+) years of professional experience, either in a Corporate or Law Firm environment
- Active bar license
- Eligibility for in-house practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Travel up to 10%
It would be useful if you have:
- Fifteen plus (15+) years of experience advising operations leaders and senior managers in a customer-facing environment
- Experience in the Hospitality or related industries (food service, gaming)
- Experience supervising attorneys and other legal professionals
What is it like working for Hilton?
Hilton is proud to support the mental and physical wellbeing of all Team Members so they can Thrive personally and professionally in a diverse and inclusive environment, thanks to our benefits such as the Go Hilton travel program, employee stock purchase program, and paid time off including parental leave.
Hilton, the #1 World's Best Workplace, is a leading global hospitality company with a diverse portfolio of world-class brands. Dedicated to filling the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, we have welcomed more than 3 billion guests in our more than 100-year history. Hilton is proud to have an award-winning workplace culture and we are consistently named among one of the World’s Best Workplaces. Check out the Hilton Careers blog and Instagram to learn more about what it’s like to be on Team Hilton!
We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position and provide other benefits and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable law. Please contact us if you require an accommodation during the application process.