[Hiring] Systems Implementation Lead - Chief Information Officer @Smart Suites

Role Description

Smart Suites is a short-term accommodation and property management business in the middle of a significant technology transformation. We are looking for one person to own it - from where it stands today through to completion, and far beyond.

This role is structured in two phases, and both matter equally.

Phase 1

• Systems Implementation: You walk into an implementation already in progress and take full ownership of it.
• The stack is Mews PMS, Akia guest experience platform, and SiteMinder channel manager, all integrated with Zoho Books and CRM.
• Assess where things stand, build the project plan, manage the integration vendor, own the architecture, and drive everything to go-live.
• A second stage involving a cleaning and rostering platform follows immediately after.

Phase 2

• Chief Information Officer: Once the implementation is stable, you transition into the permanent technology leadership role for Smart Suites.
• Own the full technology stack, lead AI deployment across every business function, drive continuous improvement of systems and automation.
• Be the person senior leadership turns to for every technology decision.

This is not a role that ends at go-live. We are not looking for someone who oversees and delegates. We are looking for someone who gets their hands dirty in Phase 1 and has the strategic thinking to lead the technology agenda in Phase 2.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience leading a PMS, ERP, or equivalent SaaS platform implementation end-to-end.
• Experience designing and managing integrations between multiple SaaS platforms.
• Project management capability.
• Understanding of hospitality or short-term accommodation operations.
• Proven ability to work autonomously without close supervision in a remote environment.
• Clear communication with non-technical senior stakeholders.
• Genuine interest in AI tools and their application in business operations.
• Ownership mindset.

Requirements

• Direct experience with Mews PMS, Akia, or SiteMinder.
• Zoho ecosystem experience - Zoho One, Zoho Books, Zoho CRM, Zoho Flow, or related modules.
• Experience managing a third-party integration vendor as part of a project delivery.
• Background in short-term accommodation, serviced apartments, or hospitality technology.
• API-based SaaS integration experience.
• Prior experience as a technology lead, IT Director, or CIO in an SME environment.
• Familiarity with cleaning and rostering platforms such as Deputy, Tidy, or equivalent.

Technical Skills

• PMS or SaaS platform implementation (any major platform) - Proficient to expert.
• Mews PMS / Akia / SiteMinder - Functional minimum; proficient to expert preferred.
• Zoho ecosystem (Books, CRM, Flow, One) - Functional to proficient.
• System integration design and management - Expert.
• API and SaaS integration management - Proficient.
• Project management methodology - Proficient.
• Vendor management - Proficient.
• AI tools and deployment - Functional to proficient.
• Cleaning and rostering platforms - Functional.
• Technical documentation - Proficient.

What This Role Is Not

• This is not an IT support role.
• It is not a project coordinator who manages tasks handed to them by someone else.
• It is not a short-term implementation contract that wraps up at go-live.
• It is also not a pure CIO role where implementation is someone else's problem.
• Phase 1 requires hands-on ownership of the project.

Working Conditions

• Location: Fully remote based in the Philippines (must be a Filipino citizen).
• Engagement: Independent contractor - all-in rate.
• Rate: Up to AUD $4,000 per month.
• Hours: Aligned to Australian business hours; flexibility required for cross-timezone coordination.
• Tools: Microsoft Teams, Zoho ecosystem, Hubstaff (time tracking).
• Start: Immediate.