Vice President Delivery & Design

Introduction

To bring The Stitch vision to life, Stitch Inc. is seeking a highly motivated and dedicated individual to fill the role of Vice President of Design & Delivery. The VP of Design & Delivery will report to the President/CEO of Stitch Inc. and will manage all phases of project development to guide the Stitch through planning, design, permitting, bidding, construction, and completion. Stitch, Inc. desires to fill this position before July 1, 2026.

The successful candidate will possess the ability to succeed in a dynamic and fast-paced culture and easily network and establish rapport and connections with key individuals and groups. They will be committed to implementing practices, as well as a culture that reflects the values of The Stitch. Most importantly they are an impassioned city-builder who is optimistic and excited about the vision of The Stitch Master Plan and the future of Atlanta and Downtown.

About Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc.

Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc. (Stitch Inc.) is a not-for-profit corporation with the mission of aiding The City of Atlanta in executing The Stitch, as envisioned in the Stitch Master Plan. The organization was fully-established in 2026 by The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District and is governed by a 9-member board of directors comprised of downtown property owners within the Stitch Special Services District (SSD). The SSD generates the primary revenue source for Stitch Inc. and is comprised of commercial taxable properties within approximately ½ mile of future park site. The organization currently shares resources with Downtown Atlanta Inc. a Community Improvement District (CID) that strives to create an attractive, safe and livable environment for Downtown and has advanced The Stitch concept for over 20 years.

Background

The Stitch is delivering new infrastructure, policy improvements, and community programming in Downtown Atlanta with the goal of reconnecting this divided area of the City and catalyzing inclusive and vibrant growth in the area with a focus on creating new housing. The centerpiece of the initiative is building a new 17-acre park atop a series of interconnected bridges over Interstate 75/85 (the Downtown Connector) between Ted Turner Drive and Piedmont Avenue. The project has been an idea shepherded by Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (CAP/ADID) going back 20 years. In 2025, The Stitch Master Plan was adopted by the City of Atlanta as a part of its Comprehensive Development Plan and the City entered into agreements with The Atlanta Downtown Stitch Inc. (D.B.A. Stitch Inc., a 501c3 non-profit corporation) to execute The Stitch Master Plan on its behalf. The goals of the Master Plan are generally as follows:

• Redressing the long-standing physical separation characterized by large-scale infrastructure, noise, pollution, and flooding in the community created by the construction of a 16-lane interstate highway
• Repurposing and revitalizing underutilized assets, including the air space over the Connector, the Civic Center MARTA Station, the surface streets currently solely dedicated to vehicular throughput, and acres of nearby vacant private land.
• Improving access to jobs by fostering transit-oriented development and introducing an off-street local and commuter bus facility for improved passenger connections.
• Creating quality, accessible urban greenspace and civic infrastructure to improve the quality of life and health and wellness for current citizens and those enticed to relocate here to occupy newly built housing in the preeminent intown location.
• Improving the resilience of Downtown Atlanta by locally addressing flooding and mitigating noise and air quality impacts, while broadly lowering emissions, increasing pedestrian and bicycle use, and incorporating innovative climate change mitigation strategies.

In 2024, CAP/ADID in partnership with the City of Atlanta and Georgia Department of Transportation began preliminary engineering of phase 1 of 3 of The Stitch project. 30-60% concept-level design of phase 1, which includes 5 acres of park between Peachtree and Courtland St. and 8-miles of downtown street improvements is nearly complete. Current agreements with GDOT and the City plan for the project “cap” (the bridge & tunnel infrastructure) to be delivered by GDOT via their Innovative Delivery program (Design/Build Delivery approach) with the park to be constructed by Stitch Inc and street improvements to be constructed by ADID. The current schedule anticipates finalizing design and beginning construction in 2027.  

Essential Functions

This role will be the primary staff person responsible for advancing the delivery of The Stitch project on behalf of Stitch Inc. in conjunction with all project partners and with the support of other organizational staff.

Leadership

Be the catalyst for the advancement of delivery of the Stitch to bring the capital projects identified in The Master Plan to fruition.

• As required, represent the Stitch vision and its tenets - and by association Stitch Inc. - in a range venues and conversations, including but not limited to elected officials, community organizations, technical stakeholders, project champions, the media, etc.
• Direct and advance day-to-day activities through planning, pre-development, pre-construction, construction, closeout and pre-operation phases of the project.
• Support fundraising endeavors among public, private and philanthropic sources.
• Advance, track and report project status to all relevant parties, notably CAP/ADID leadership and stakeholders and key partners including the City of Atlanta, Georgia DOT, and MARTA.
• Work to promote familiarity and positive perceptions of the Stitch in coordination with marketing and communications support team.

Technical

• Manage existing and future project funding & compliance from local, state, or federal sources.
• Assume primary responsibility for scoping and administering design and construction contracts in a manner that complies with company, partner, and funding source regulations.
• Manage project schedule, budget, and risk in a manner consistent with industry best-practices and project goals.
• Direct the entitlement process, including representation before municipal and other regulatory boards, working with attorneys, consultants, partner agency managers, and local officials.
• Secure appropriate approvals, certifications, permits, etc. from state, city and other government agencies as required.
• Coordinate with projects by other agencies that may conflict with The Stitch project.
• Manage project construction from procurement to close-out in a manner that complies with applicable regulations and meets or exceeds project goals, schedule, and budget. This includes management of Stitch Inc.’s construction liabilities.

Work Experience and Skills Desired

This position requires a combination of skills, experience and education including, but not limited to the following.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Real Estate Development, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, or related major. Advanced Degree preferred.
• Minimum of fifteen years' experience in infrastructure design and construction with a focus on project management. Experience with projects over $50M in value involving complex infrastructure, preferably including park, street, and bridge components.
• Experience with projects involving public agency oversight & regulations. Federal agency, state department of transportation, and major city project experience a plus.
• Entrepreneurial, confident, relationship-oriented, enthusiastic personality.
• Proven track record of leadership, teamwork and a collaborative approach to all phases of design and construction; Seasoned ability to troubleshoot issues that arise during design and construction.
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, networking and presentation skills.
• Impassioned city-builder who is optimistic and excited about the future of Atlanta and Downtown.

Compensation & Additional Details

Employment, including benefits, is provided through The Atlanta Downtown Stitch, Inc. Stitch Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, disability, religion, creed, political affiliation, race, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin. Stitch Inc. offers employees a competitive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, short-term disability, and a 401(k) savings program. The starting salary range for this role is between $130,000 and $150,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Applicant Instructions

Interested applicants should e-mail a letter of interest and their resume to stitchincjobs@downtownatlantainc.com.  Only those applicants deemed qualified will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide professional references for contact, and Stitch Inc. reserves the right to conduct a full background check on finalist candidates.