Job Summary:

The Senior Manager leads a team of Merchandising Managers to drive a multichannel product strategy, quarterly strategy brief, product line strategy and assortment curation for global Disney Parks, The Disney Stores (TDS) and shopDisney.com. Accountability spans multiple categories across all brands, representing the owned and operated portfolio globally. This individual will have a detailed knowledge of the multiple 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 objectives and related merchandise objectives

Responsibilities:

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

Establish the merchandising strategy and assortment curation for multiple categories, 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 a team of salaried leaders and their direct reports.

Drive a global strategy across all brands.

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 within the company by coaching and teaching team members and to identify and address gaps in organizational competencies with relevant coaching and feedback

Basic Qualifications:

6-8+ 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 to maximize value creation throughout the trend cycle.

Demonstrated ability to manage revenue creation while maintaining brand integrity.

Strong 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

Robust leadership and talent development abilities and a 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 lead 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:

This role is located in Orlando, Florida.