Lead Concept Designer, Creative Development

As Lead Concept Designer, Creative Development you will be the creative force behind the conceptual vision and design intent for major capital projects across United Parks & Resorts. From blue-sky ideation to production handoff, you will drive the creative intent, ensuring world-class narrative design, placemaking, and attraction development. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Attraction Design & Development, you will play a pivotal role in defining the next generation of guest experiences.

Core Duties / Responsibilities

• Drive Creative Intent – Drive the visual look and conceptual development of new attractions, rides, and placemaking experiences, ensuring alignment with brand values and guest expectations.
• Visual Storytelling – Produce design materials using a variety of visual mediums that clarify design intent, including sketches, highly illustrative concept art, mood boards, style guides, animatics, color studies, and storyboards from blue-sky to production to communicate creative intent to senior leadership, stakeholders, and vendors.
• Design Development – Define the cohesive visual language for experiences from concept through production, including ride and show design, architectural elements, graphic design, scenic treatments, and environmental storytelling.
• Creative Collaboration – Partner with Creative Managers, vendors, and internal departments to clarify, protect, and execute design intent while balancing budget, schedule, constructability, and operational needs.
• Mentorship & Leadership – Guide junior designers and interns, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
• Research & Reference – Conduct in-depth visual and thematic research to support design decisions and enhance narrative authenticity.
• Presentation Excellence – Develop compelling presentation packages that communicate vision and inspire buy-in across all levels and departments of the organization.

What it takes to succeed:

A self-motivated, highly driven, skilled design professional whose attributes include:

• Visionary thinker with a deep understanding of narrative placemaking and immersive storytelling.
• Excellent grasp of color theory, composition, form language, and visual hierarchy.
• Strong communication skills — both visual and verbal — to articulate concepts across disciplines.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Proactive, solution-oriented, and adaptable to creative challenges.
• Proven ability to translate narrative concepts into compelling physical spaces and guest experiences.
• Proficiency in 2D digital design tools including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and at least one 3D software (Blender, Maya, Rhino, 3ds Max, SketchUp, etc.).
• Ability to interpret shop and construction drawings.
• Familiarity with emotional design and narrative design principles to create meaningful and memorable guest connections.

Professional Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration, Architecture, Interior Design, Theater/Production Design, or related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in themed entertainment, attraction design, concept art, or related disciplines.
• Strong portfolio that unequivocally demonstrates expertise in concept art, illustration, environmental design, graphic design, and/or 3D modeling.
• Flexibility in schedule for business travel, domestic and international

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience creating conceptual architectural or show set drawings for themed entertainment.
• Proven experience in graphic design for themed entertainment environments.
• Proven experience in scenic murals/scenic art/poster art, for themed entertainment environments.
• Experience working on habitat designs for Zoos and/or Aquariums.