Sr. Director Business Development

The Howard Hughes name is synonymous with an unrelenting passion for excellence. While his achievements in aviation and on the silver screen are legendary, it was his investments in real estate that form the foundation of our company. With passion, determination, and limitless imagination, he built one of the great American empires of the 20th century.

Today, our company carries forward the collective legacy of four innovative placemakers—James Rouse, George Mitchell, Victoria Ward, and Howard Hughes—who transformed the idea of what a community can be, envisioning a self-sustaining ecosystem that prizes inclusion, conservation, and innovation and fosters a strong social fabric to improve the lives of all residents, consumers, and tenants.

Dedicated to innovative placemaking, Howard Hughes owns, manages, and develops award-winning large-scale master planned communities and mixed-use developments including : the Seaport in New York City; Downtown Columbia® in Maryland; The Woodlands®, The Woodlands Hills®, and Bridgeland® in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin® in Las Vegas; Teravalis™ in the Phoenix West Valley; and Ward Village® in Honolulu, Hawai'i.

At Howard Hughes, our mission is to help people discover new ways of experiencing life. We aspire to be the most creatively driven real estate company and are committed to a culture of that fosters curiosity and empowers every employee to find their story in this great organization.

About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled and results-driven Senior Director of Business Development to lead the strategic direction and operational execution of the Business Development team, with a focus on maximizing revenue and ensuring exceptional execution of third-party events and advertising deliverables. This role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration to meet and exceed the Business Department's annual revenue goals. The Senior Director will lead the Event Manager, guide key client relationships, and work closely with other internal departments to ensure smooth, successful events and advertising initiatives. Additionally, this role will include responsibilities for forward thinking strategic decision-making, financial oversight, and elevate Downtown Summerlin’s position as a premier destination.

This position is located in the Summerlin master planned community, which is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. This job requires in-office attendance.

What You Will Do :

Develop and execute a comprehensive business development strategy to expand the portfolio of clients, maximize event revenue and growth opportunities, contributing to the Business Department’s overall revenue goals.

Continuously assess and set competitive, profitable rates for available space, driving growth across the portfolio.

Identify new opportunities within the commercial sector, targeting event organizers, brand activations, and local businesses to curate experiences to drive incremental traffic visits to Downtown Summerlin.

Cultivate and maintain a book of clients, utilizing existing relationships and business networks to drive sales and growth within Downtown Summerlin and other Summerlin commercial cores.

Negotiate contracts, terms, and conditions for new business ventures, utilizing advanced negotiation skills and a proven track record of closing deals that are mutually beneficial for both parties, balancing client needs with the business's goals.

Leverage a strong network of industry contacts to identify, engage, and secure new business opportunities, ensuring Downtown Summerlin maintains its status as a premier business and event destination.

Represent Howard Hughes at industry events, conferences, and networking functions to foster relationships and stay on top of market trends.

Collaborate with the marketing and operations teams to create customized solutions for event activations and other commercial opportunities that align with Downtown Summerlin’s brand and objectives.

Maintain ongoing communication with permanent leasing agents to stay updated on space availability, merchandise mix goals, and identify incubation candidates for new opportunities.

Leadership & Strategic Oversight

Lead and mentor the Event Manager, to ensure alignment with business goals and successful execution of all events.

Partner with management, including the Director of Marketing, General Manager and, VP of Operations to ensure objectives for Downtown Summerlin are being met.

Foster a high-performance culture by setting clear expectations, providing consistent feedback, and encouraging continuous improvement across all areas of responsibility.

Visual Merchandising & Operations

Oversee all aspects of visual merchandising for the Business Development program ensuring displays and setups meet the brand’s aesthetic and operational standards.

Oversee that Howard Hughes partnerships are protected, and competing businesses are not being approved through third-party activations

Ensure temporary retailers and events are in alignment with Howard Hughes Operational Guidelines to maintain consistency and quality across the assets.

Marketing & Promotion

Diligently canvass and distribute Business Development program collateral materials to effectively market and attract new business.

Collaborate with the Marketing department to ensure ongoing marketing of the program through digital and printed collateral and onsite exposure opportunities.

Work in partnership with the Marketing Teams and Digital Marketing Manager to maximize revenue opportunities through joint department projects, integrating both physical and digital strategies.

Prepare sales decks and event recaps to highlight successes and communicate performance metrics to internal and external stakeholders.

Financial Reporting & Measurement

Prepare and manage an annual income and expense budget for the Business Development department.

Develop and maintain monthly and quarterly forecasts to track program performance and identify any necessary adjustments.

Ensure collection of monthly tenant sales reports, as well as prospecting reports, to track progress and provide performance insights.

Monitor monthly billings to ensure accurate billing and adherence to budget guidelines.

Prepare annual goals and objectives for the program, conducting mid-year and year-end self-reviews to evaluate performance.

Ensure all documentation, permitting and insurance requirements for all clients are met and kept up to date.

Client Relations

Provide excellent customer service throughout the process, from initial inquiries to post-event follow-up, ensure clients have a smooth and positive experience and proof-of-performance

Conduct meetings as needed with temporary tenants to ensure both the merchants’ and Howard Hughes’ business objectives are met.

Fosters open communication channels with the Howard Hughes team and the clients to ensure the best experience is being provided to guests, clients, and the on-site operational teams.

Format and share updates on client trends and growth opportunities across the portfolio to maintain alignment and enhance business performance.

About You :

Proven Sales Experience : A demonstrated track record of success in business development and sales, with the ability to build and manage a substantial client base. Existing relationships with commercial activations, event organizers, or corporate partners in the area are highly preferred.

Proven Ability to Negotiate Contracts : Extensive experience in negotiating contracts, closing high-value deals, and ensuring both client satisfaction and organizational profitability. Comfortable with complex negotiations and contract terms.

Client Network : Strong, established network of industry contacts within commercial real estate, retail, and event management sectors. A book of clients and a history of successfully leveraging relationships to secure new business is essential.

Strong knowledge of the Summerlin area, particularly Downtown Summerlin, and the local Las Vegas and regional cities commercial real estate landscape.

Ability to think strategically and creatively to identify and capitalize on new business opportunities. Understanding how to align our space with the brands of potential sponsors or advertising clients.

Results-oriented with a strong drive to meet and exceed sales goals and targets.

Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to handle complex negotiations, resolve customer complaints and manage engagements with the public.

Experience in visual merchandising and temporary retail management is a plus

8-plus years of experience in business development or sales, preferably in commercial real estate, event management, or a related field.

Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, real estate, or a related discipline is preferred.

This job description is not meant to be an “all-inclusive” list of the duties and responsibilities of this job. Other related duties and responsibilities may be assigned. Howard Hughes reserves the right to change or modify job duties as necessary based on business necessity.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES