Vice President - Creative Development

Vice President - Creative Development

Role Description: Huitt-Zollars is exploring the establishment of a Creative Development Division to expand the firm's capabilities within themed entertainment, hospitality, destination mixed-use, experiential, cultural, and integrated commercial environments. This division is intended to bridge creative storytelling and experiential strategy with the firm's architectural and technical expertise.

The Vice President - Creative Development will serve as the senior leader responsible for business development, operational leadership, project delivery, and client relationship strategy for this new division. The role will collaborate closely with the SVP of Commercial Practice and work across Huitt-Zollars' national network to shape, launch, and grow Creative Development as a core practice vertical.

This position is based in the Orlando office, with regular collaboration across Huitt-Zollars locations and potential support for broader growth in Los Angeles and Dallas.

Location: Orlando, Florida

Employment Type: 40 FT Hours

Compensation Type: Salary

Education: Bachelor's in Architecture required

Duties:

Leadership & Strategy

• Serve as the primary leader of the Creative Development Division, helping define strategic direction, service offerings, staffing plans, revenue goals, and market positioning.
• Partner directly with the SVP, Commercial Practice to align creative development initiatives with business strategy, operational goals, and firmwide priorities.
• Represent the Creative Development discipline within Commercial Practice leadership and serve as a strategic voice for experiential and thematic work across the firm.

Business Development

• Lead business development efforts for the Creative Development vertical, including:
  • Cultivating relationships across owners, developers, IP holders, cultural institutions, brand partners, and operators.
  • Participating in major industry convenings such as IAAPA, TEA events, global destination summits, and investment forums.
  • Developing pursuit strategies, partnership frameworks, proposal responses, and opportunity-tracking processes.
• Advance active opportunity pipelines, including RD&E districts, hospitality destinations, cultural districts, branded lifestyle projects, sports-driven mixed-use environments, IP-led attractions, and entertainment master plans.

Operational & Project Leadership

• Oversee leadership of the division's core delivery functions:
  • Project Management
  • Technical Directors
  • Estimating & Scheduling
  • Account / Client Management
  • Project Foundation & Startup Protocols
• Ensure alignment between creative intent, feasibility, schedule, budget, and technical delivery.
• Guide teams during early-phase development, including master planning, story and program development, attraction definition, and architectural strategy integration.

Cross-Practice Collaboration

• Collaborate with Huitt-Zollars studios and offices to integrate Creative Development into multidisciplinary project workflows.
• Provide internal support and coordination in areas such as:
  • Technical documentation
  • BIM and visualization
  • Environmental graphics and signage
  • Interior design and material selection
• Promote shared delivery methodologies that unify creative and architectural perspectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Takes active steps in the pursuit of winning new business or additional opportunities with existing clients and may be responsible for a stated portion of office sales goal. Assists and/or leads team in pursuit of new work (repeat work, SOQ and Proposals). Develops and/or executes project Win strategy.
• Successfully and consistently functions as Lead Principal-in-Charge for their designated Practice Area in geographic market.
• Competent, knowledgeable, service leader in the market(s) they service.
• Understands and follows HZ QMS and Quality initiatives. Ensures quality control measures are being adhered to on projects and daily operations.
• Prepares and follows comprehensive Project Framework Instructions and proper work planning for a project. Ensures proper staff is assigned and utilized on their projects.
• Reviews project reports and performance metrics to track project progress and budget. Leads successful projects (profit, on-schedule, quality, satisfied client). Verifies client satisfaction routinely and shares feedback with team.
• Proactively works with PM to strategize resolving issues that impact project performance. Reviews progress with PM at least monthly (including & completes vs. % spent) and that PM is adhering to weekly rhythm.
• Successfully contributes to the overall profitability and financial performance on projects.
• Oversees staff deliverables and production assigned to their projects to ensure client, legal, and company requirements are met.

Role Competencies:

• Sharing Information: Conveying up-to date information in the most efficient and useful manner to the appropriate stakeholders.
• Critical Thinking: Analyzing problems and solutions by evaluating the quality of the information available from different sources and avoiding decision-making bias.
• Executes Strategy: Ensuring that people remain focused on accomplishing strategic goals by thoughtfully planning tasks and overcoming obstacles.
• Fosters a Learning Culture: Creating an inspiring and engaging atmosphere where people feel motivated to grow, experiment, and learn new skills.
• Identifies Talent: Actively maintaining awareness of internal and external talent, current abilities, and hiring needs.

Qualifications:

• 12+ years of experience in themed entertainment, experiential destination development, hospitality, cultural attractions, mixed-use environments, or related sectors.
• Demonstrated leadership managing multidisciplinary teams and large-scale, multi-stakeholder development projects.
• Strong business development record with the ability to cultivate and sustain high-trust client relationships.
• Deep understanding of the project development cycle, from feasibility and concept strategy through execution.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established industry network in LBE, cultural, hospitality, branded destination, resort, sports/venue, or entertainment markets.
• Experience collaborating with or within:
  • IP owners
  • Developers and capital partners
  • Entertainment operators
  • Fabrication and show integration partners
• Familiarity with IAAPA, TEA, AIA, or adjacent professional communities.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic relationship-builder and strong communicator.
• Comfortable engaging with C-suite leaders, creative partners, and technical teams.
• Operates effectively in environments requiring vision, diplomacy, steady leadership, persuasion, and long-term relationship-building.

This position is also required to adhere to Huitt-Zollars' Core Value Competencies

About Huitt-Zollars:

• Huitt-Zollars, Inc. is a privately held, 100% employee-owned leading Architectural and Engineering (A/E) firm since being established in 1975. Since then, our firm has been providing innovative planning, engineering, architectural and interior design, construction and program management, and design-build services to our clients.
• Located in more than 20 locations throughout 10 different US states, Huitt-Zollars holds a vision to improve the environment in which we live, work, and play. Employees/co-owners can expect to collaborate with their team, listen to client and community needs, and deliver world-class professional services. Learn more about a career with #teamHZ by viewing our LinkedIN Life page.

Benefits & Perks:

• Health insurance (BCBS TX BlueChoice PPO)
• Dental insurance (BCBS TX BlueChoice PPO)
• Vision insurance (BCBS TX BlueChoice PPO)
• MDLive Telehealth
• Employer-Paid Short- & Long-Term disability
• 8 Paid Holidays
• Employee Morale/Teambuilding events and activities
• Paid Vacation/Annual Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Commuter Benefits
• Professional Societies and Registrations Fee Reimbursements
• Term Life / AD&D insurance
• Cancer and Specified Disease insurance
• Two retirement plans: 401(k) and an ESOP

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds on occasion
• The employee must be able to concentrate on details, work under deadline pressures, apply sound logic and judgment, and prioritize tasks and responsibilities

Applicants must be legally authorized to work for Huitt-Zollars in the U.S. without employer sponsorship. Currently, Huitt-Zollars does not sponsor H1-B or any other work visa petitions.

Huitt-Zollars does not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters without a previously signed third-party agreement. Any unsolicited third-party resumes forwarded by recruiters to any Huitt-Zollars hiring manager or employee will be considered public information, may be treated as a direct application from the person identified in the resume, and will not be eligible for placement fee payment to the agency submitting the unsolicited resume. Huitt-Zollars will not pay a fee to a third-party recruiter or agency that has not coordinated their recruiting activity with the appropriate member of the Human Resources team and without an active, fully executed service agreement.

Huitt-Zollars is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin or any other legally protected status. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the company will make reasonable accommodations to assist in the application process upon the request of an applicant. No question on this application is intended to secure information to be used for discriminatory purposes. This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 60-300.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of protected veteran status or disability and require affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. #IND