Job Summary:

The O&O Merchandising Manager drives a multi-channel product strategy, quarterly strategy brief, product line strategy and assortment curation for global Disney Parks, The Disney Stores (TDS) and shopDisney.com. Accountability lies within a category that spans across all brands, representing the owned and operated portfolio globally. This individual will have a detailed knowledge of the product categories, intimate understanding of global consumer trends and competition, and an overall sense of the marketplace. This individual will critically evaluate the assortment and understand quarterly brand and category performance, while leveraging hindsight and learnings to inform future seasonal direction. This individual will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the connection between financial strategies and related merchandise objectives.

Responsibilities:

Drive assortment strategy by category across brands and curate a global line that meets the financial goals for global Parks, TDS, & shopDisney.

• Establish the merchandising strategy and assortment curation for a category, enabling one global line for Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disney Signature Experiences, The Disney Store, ShopDisney.com & global Parks/Disney store leveraging & integration.
• Lead category line curation that supports a global go-to-market approach from Flagship to Outlet locations including regional nuances
• Lead the identification of seasonal big bets globally; partner cross-functionally to align on investment and activate marketing to support
• Build and curate multi-category consumer-centric, global assortments that support strategic intent of the brand and drive growth at retail for each region / site.
• Drive partnership with site & regional buying and planning to build and implement new initiatives to drive increased value and capture, to unlock white space opportunities and to inform inventory investment
• Define seasonal product flow strategy that supports company content calendar including; film, TV, synergy, attractions, entertainment, anniversaries, historical needs, and addresses regional holiday/seasonal selling patterns.
• Develop and deliver cohesive seasonal product brief to Brand team that ensures site needs are addressed across brands, franchisees and categories while maximizing item productivity, and capitalizing on key successes across multiple regions / sites.
• Develop effective partnerships across TWDC and in particular with the global merchant, buying and planning teams for each region of Parks & Disney stores on points of exclusivity including assortment opportunities, launch timing, and target guests.
• Synthesize global business results to inform key business decisions to hindsight performance and learnings to inform future seasons.
• Be the expert on the competitive environment - actively participate in market shopping and stay abreast of macro, micro, and consumer/fashion trends.

Lead Merchandising and Collaboration for Parks specific activations.

Drive the best expression of our brands through unique Park and Attraction based retailing. Build product strategies for categories that are designed for a fully immersive space through well-executed activations that maximize capture within the attraction while building equity and desire for future interaction with products in our unique specialty retail environment.

• Lead team to build category/collection/item level product brief that supports the immersive Parks-specific experiences. For Park intellectual property, work directly with Parks Design team to build collections that meet the business needs.
• Partner with WDI and merchant teams for each brand to ensure the products we build continue to story tell and complete the experience for our valuable Parks guests
• Attract and convert new consumers though the creation of product strategies designed for the Parks retail space globally. Leverage synergy between Parks.
• Develop category level global merchandising strategic landscape ensuring quarterly / annual growth targets are achieved
• Partner with Commercial and Marketing teams to drive awareness and influencer plans globally

Develop high performing teams and bench to support organizational growth needs.

• Lead your team of Associate Managers and/or Assistant Merchants.
• Lead by example as a key change agent; create a culture that fosters teamwork, and innovation while driving accountability to results.
• Act as a role model by coaching and teaching team members with regular feedback.

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Product Merchandising, specialty retail & product assortment strategy
• Experience leading and developing high performing teams
• Experience in curating a global product line that is both globally leveraged and locally relevant
• Experience in Merchandising for vertical specialty retail environment
• Demonstrated ability to identify market trends and consumer zeitgeist to maximize value creation throughout the trend cycle
• Demonstrated ability to manage revenue creation while maintaining brand integrity
• Working knowledge of the omni-channel marketplace globally
• Strategic thinker with the ability to drive execution against a financial plan
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence a diverse audience including experience working with external partners and business owners to bring product and assortments to the market
• Successful experience working, and thriving, in a highly matrixed company structure
• Collaborative and effective management style
• Strong Team Player – The ability to build & foster collaborative partnerships across functions & departments within The Walt Disney Corporation
• Well-developed Communication Skills
• Proven ability to think creatively and disruptively to bring and infuse new ideas to the business
• Experience in multiple segments, brands and channels within the global market
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to the organizational and cultural change efforts needed to ensure new, innovative concepts, business practices, and technologies are fully adopted and integrated into the business
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally

Required Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Merchandising, Business, Retail Management or related fields

Additional Information:

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

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About Parks, Experiences and Products:

The Parks, Experiences and Products segment includes Disney’s iconic travel and leisure businesses, which include 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. Disney’s global consumer products operations include the world’s leading licensing business across toys, apparel, home goods, digital games and apps; the world’s largest children’s publisher; Disney store locations around the world; and the shopDisney e-commerce platform.

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 with the following business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. 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 Development and Creative, Inc., which is part of a business segment we call Parks, Experiences and Products.

Disney Global Product Development and Creative, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. 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.