Senior Project Manager- Creative Development Lead

Huitt-Zollars•Orlando, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Huitt-Zollars, Inc. is seeking a Senior Project Manager/Creative Development Lead with over 20 years of relevant creative development experience, to be based in-office in either Orlando, FL or Los Angeles, CA. This role is pivotal in the themed entertainment sector, focusing on translating intellectual property (IP) into immersive built environments. The position bridges creative storytelling and structural execution, overseeing master planning, environmental design, and construction. It is responsible for establishing and executing the creative vision across themed entertainment, experiential environments, hospitality, and destination-based mixed-use projects within the Commercial Architecture Practice. This role provides lead creative oversight within the Creative Development Division team, ensuring storytelling, guest experience, and environmental design are integrated into the architectural delivery process. The full-time position encompasses creative leadership, team management, project integration, and scope development. Key duties include developing creative concepts and story frameworks, overseeing design quality and standards, coordinating with architectural and engineering teams, leading creative staff, collaborating with specialty vendors and fabricators, and supporting project delivery from concept through implementation. The role operates in direct alignment with the VP – Creative Development to translate creative intent into executable design direction while maintaining design integrity throughout all phases.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Design, Architecture, or related field (or equivalent experience).
Minimum of 20 years of relevant experience in themed entertainment, experiential design, hospitality, or related industries.
Demonstrated leadership of multi-disciplinary creative teams.
Proven experience developing story-driven spatial design and experiential environments.
Strong portfolio showcasing thematic integration, placemaking, and guest experience design.
Ability to translate conceptual ideas into clear, executable design direction.
Experience working with architectural teams and integrated project delivery environments.
Familiarity with show systems, AV/media integration, fabrication, and installation processes.
Excellent verbal, visual, and written communication skills.
Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities with limited supervision.
Highly collaborative, detail-oriented, and proactive in approach.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work for Huitt-Zollars in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.
Huitt-Zollars does not sponsor H1-B or any other work visa petitions.

Nice To Haves

Equivalent experience to a Bachelor's Degree in Design, Architecture, or related field.

Responsibilities

Serve as the lead creative authority across all Creative Development projects, establishing vision, storytelling frameworks, and experiential strategies.
Lead the development of creative concepts, thematic direction, and guest experience design across multiple project types.
Establish and maintain creative standards, review processes, and quality benchmarks for all design output.
Oversee and mentor creative staff including show set designers, art directors, illustrators, graphic designers, and environmental designers.
Develop team structure, workflows, and cross-disciplinary collaboration models.
Collaborate with architectural and engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of creative intent into the built environment.
Provide creative oversight during all phases of design including concept, schematic design, design development, and documentation.
Lead interdisciplinary design coordination to ensure all creative and technical systems are fully integrated and aligned within the design documentation.
Support recruitment, staffing strategies, and professional development of creative personnel.
Identify opportunities to expand scope of services and support development of pricing for additional work and change orders.
Ensure creative deliverables align with project schedule, budget, and operational requirements.
Communicate creative direction clearly across internal teams, clients, and external partners.
Serve as final decision authority on design documentation, coordination, and creative standards.
Translate creative intent into coordinated, documentable, and executable design packages.
Lead coordination of design deliverables across disciplines through all documentation phases.
Ensure integration of architectural systems, show systems, and technical infrastructure within design documentation.
Undertakes Project Manager responsibilities for major projects ($1.5 million+ annual billing).
Ensures creative intent is clearly defined, documented, and maintained throughout project delivery.
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.
Contributes to successful delivery and performance of projects.
Actively participates in mentoring, coaching, and development of creative staff.
Cultivates relationships with new clients and holds strong relationships with existing clients.
Understands, follows, and enforces Huitt-Zollars' business process including weekly rhythm.
Takes active steps in the pursuit of winning new business or additional opportunities with existing clients and may be responsible for assigned 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.
Understands and follows HZ QMS and Quality initiatives.
Ensures quality control measures are being adhered to on projects and daily operations.
Actively engages and participates in the training, coaching, and mentoring of junior staff.
Understands duties and responsibilities, possesses necessary job knowledge and technical skills, maintains job knowledge current.