Sr. Manager Product Design – Bags, Small Goods and Footwear

Job Summary:

About the Role and Team:

Be Part of the Story at The Walt Disney Company as the Senior Manager, Product Design! This role will Lead and manage the successful operation of our Bags, Small Goods and Footwear design team. We collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure the highest quality, consumer focused, trend-right product lines across all channels of distribution (flex business models, vertical and wholesale) that build brand equity and meet financial targets.

This role reports to the Director of Product Design.

This is a full time role.

What You Will Do:

• Lead an internal team to Concept, design, sketch, prototype (including leading art-to-product, 3D modeling, sample creation, fit sessions, and electronic breadboards, where applicable) and deliver trend-right consumer centric product lines that feature market-leading innovation and great price/value for each tier of the value pyramid
• Lead and complete product and packaging approvals through online systems and collaborative approval meetings, ensuring high quality standards in character execution, in-depth storytelling, color, material, form and function while increasing profitability
• Lead multiple external vendors, including co-brands, to develop product concepts against strategic design vision for the overall product or assortment mix to deliver trend-right consumer centric product lines and complete product and packaging approvals ensuring high quality standards
• Develop and coach outstanding design talent through consistent feedback on performance and provide regular development and mentor
• Collaborate with internal partners (Creative Design, Brand Merchandising, Sourcing and Tech Design, BERGs, CBM, Legal, Business Affairs, Product Integrity, Integrated Retail, BPM, Public Affairs, D&I teams, Cultural Consultants) and external partners (Studios & Disney Channel Content Providers, Games, Publishing, Walt Disney Imagineering, Licensees, DTR Partners) to design and approve all products
• Collaborate with the greater product design and creative teams to drive up-front trends, overall creative direction and identify future areas of growth within the franchise and across product categories, including the preparation of custom design tools and retail pitches to differentiate by category
• Prepare creative/product retail custom design tools and pitches to differentiate by category
• Monitor competitors, product innovation and market dynamics
• Multi-task and prioritize multiple design projects, running simultaneously with varying levels of complexity

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• 6+ years of experience 
• Proven proficiency in bags, small goods and footwear with a focus on technical design, specializing in building utility and function
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-energy environment, adept at swiftly pivoting priorities to meet changing demands
• Extensive knowledge in hardlines/softlines categories (raw materials, plastic, textiles, print, pattern, graphic composition, manufacturing)
• Prior experience leading and managing, managing up to senior leaders and across with peers and partners
• Experience acting as a bridge between execution and strategy; to translate strategy into action
• Experience taking ownership of business results
• Experience as a day-to-day decision maker
• Experience in influencing key partners and stakeholders
• Able to filter through complex issues, find solutions, gain support and implement change
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong negotiating skills
• Strong product design skills (e.g. 3D product design, technical design, sketching, creative application and manipulation of art, final mechanical art, fabric and trim identification)
• Strong computer software skills (e.g. MS Office, Photoshop, Illustrator)

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience

Benefits and Perks:

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

#CPGPJobs, #DPEPMedia. #LI-JS7

About Consumer Products Games & Publishing:

Disney Experiences brings the magic of Disney stories and franchises to life through theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, unique vacation experiences, products and more around the world. Disney shines in the travel industry with six resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Plus, Disney’s global consumer products operations include the world’s leading licensing business; the world’s largest children’s publishing brands; one of the world’s largest licensors of games across all platforms; and Disney store locations around the world and on the web.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Disney Global Product Dev & Creative, which is part of a business we call Consumer Products Games & Publishing.

Disney Global Product Dev & Creative is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.