Senior Director, Project Delivery - Mattel Adventure Park
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, Glendale, AZ, United States
Overview
The Role:
Mattel Adventure Park at VAI Resort brings iconic brands to life through immersive attractions and memorable guest experiences. Senior Director of Project Delivery
leads the execution of major park attractions, from final design coordination through fabrication, construction, installation, testing, and operational handoff. Based in Glendale, AZ, this role oversees a team of Project Managers and partners with ride manufacturers, contractors, creative teams, and operations leaders to ensure attractions are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and ready to wow guests on opening day. This role is ideal for a seasoned attractions leader who thrives in complex themed entertainment projects and loves bringing ambitious ideas to life. What You’ll Do
Deliver World-Class Attractions Lead delivery of major attractions and themed environments from final design coordination through commissioning and operational handover Act as the primary delivery lead with ride manufacturers following system selection Oversee ride installation, site readiness, logistics, and integration with architecture, show systems, and base building construction Lead the Project Delivery Team Manage and mentor a team of Project Managers responsible for individual attraction scopes Maintain alignment across schedule, budget, safety, quality, and guest experience objectives Lead construction progress and coordination meetings with contractors and vendors Manage Construction & Vendors Coordinate contractors, ride vendors, and specialty trades during installation and commissioning Oversee project administration including RFIs, submittals, change orders, and documentation Manage capital budgets, procurement processes, and vendor performance Prepare for Opening Day Oversee attraction testing and commissioning including factory and site acceptance testing Partner with Operations and Technical Services to ensure attractions support safe, efficient operations Integrate operational needs such as guest flow, ride capacity, maintenance access, and staffing Keep Projects Moving Serve as a central coordination point between creative teams, technical partners, vendors, and leadership Provide clear reporting on schedule, budgets, risks, and mitigation strategies Experience & Background 15+ years delivering large-scale projects in themed entertainment, theme parks, attractions, hospitality, or experiential developments Proven experience delivering theme park attractions from design coordination through installation and commissioning Direct experience working with ride manufacturers and attraction installation Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing multiple Project Managers Strong background managing large capital budgets and vendor contracts Technical Knowledge Strong understanding of ride systems, themed environments, show systems, and AV integration Familiarity with ride manufacturer processes including design, fabrication, testing, and installation Knowledge of coordination across architecture, engineering, ride systems, and show control Working knowledge of ASTM ride standards and NAARSO safety practices Experience with attraction commissioning including factory and site acceptance testing Leadership Attributes Strong leadership and team development skills Excellent communicator across executives, vendors, creatives, and technical teams Highly organized and detail-oriented Calm and solutions-focused in complex project environments Collaborative mindset focused on delivering exceptional guest experiences Additional Requirements Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to ride manufacturers and partners Comfortable working in a fast-paced development environment Salary starting from $170,000+ depending on experience.
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The Role:
Mattel Adventure Park at VAI Resort brings iconic brands to life through immersive attractions and memorable guest experiences. Senior Director of Project Delivery
leads the execution of major park attractions, from final design coordination through fabrication, construction, installation, testing, and operational handoff. Based in Glendale, AZ, this role oversees a team of Project Managers and partners with ride manufacturers, contractors, creative teams, and operations leaders to ensure attractions are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and ready to wow guests on opening day. This role is ideal for a seasoned attractions leader who thrives in complex themed entertainment projects and loves bringing ambitious ideas to life. What You’ll Do
Deliver World-Class Attractions Lead delivery of major attractions and themed environments from final design coordination through commissioning and operational handover Act as the primary delivery lead with ride manufacturers following system selection Oversee ride installation, site readiness, logistics, and integration with architecture, show systems, and base building construction Lead the Project Delivery Team Manage and mentor a team of Project Managers responsible for individual attraction scopes Maintain alignment across schedule, budget, safety, quality, and guest experience objectives Lead construction progress and coordination meetings with contractors and vendors Manage Construction & Vendors Coordinate contractors, ride vendors, and specialty trades during installation and commissioning Oversee project administration including RFIs, submittals, change orders, and documentation Manage capital budgets, procurement processes, and vendor performance Prepare for Opening Day Oversee attraction testing and commissioning including factory and site acceptance testing Partner with Operations and Technical Services to ensure attractions support safe, efficient operations Integrate operational needs such as guest flow, ride capacity, maintenance access, and staffing Keep Projects Moving Serve as a central coordination point between creative teams, technical partners, vendors, and leadership Provide clear reporting on schedule, budgets, risks, and mitigation strategies Experience & Background 15+ years delivering large-scale projects in themed entertainment, theme parks, attractions, hospitality, or experiential developments Proven experience delivering theme park attractions from design coordination through installation and commissioning Direct experience working with ride manufacturers and attraction installation Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing multiple Project Managers Strong background managing large capital budgets and vendor contracts Technical Knowledge Strong understanding of ride systems, themed environments, show systems, and AV integration Familiarity with ride manufacturer processes including design, fabrication, testing, and installation Knowledge of coordination across architecture, engineering, ride systems, and show control Working knowledge of ASTM ride standards and NAARSO safety practices Experience with attraction commissioning including factory and site acceptance testing Leadership Attributes Strong leadership and team development skills Excellent communicator across executives, vendors, creatives, and technical teams Highly organized and detail-oriented Calm and solutions-focused in complex project environments Collaborative mindset focused on delivering exceptional guest experiences Additional Requirements Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to ride manufacturers and partners Comfortable working in a fast-paced development environment Salary starting from $170,000+ depending on experience.
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