Job Summary:

Disney Streaming Services is looking for an executive with focused management expertise to deal with increased volume, velocity for all non-Studio products that account for >80% of distribution component creation.

Growth of localization complexity requires professional, single leader oversight e.g.; English language dubbing, foreign language productions and acquisitions, changes in vendor strategy, global talent availability, competitive pressures and changes in both volume and velocity (day and date).

This is a transformative senior management role responsible for coordinating and standardizing creative, technical and qualitative matters related to localization of non-Studio Branded productions. Localization constitutes >80% of component creation activity. Managing 45 languages amounting to more than 150,000 projects a year and an annual spend of >$200M across >400 vendors.

The strategic goal is to streamline and improve the reliability and transparency of localization. Planning and balancing availability of materials from production and managing global capacity (physical and talent) to meet deadlines for delivery. The latter being the basis of successfully meeting global release plans.

The group and functions will be managed in line with Content Operations goals for commonality in operating method, organizational structure, systems, and vendor partners. The reliability, consistency, flexibility and cost-effectiveness of the department is a key outcome.

The group is responsible for the localization of all products (non-Studio branded) and all aspects of localization (listed below). Scope encompasses upstream liaison with Post Production and other creative executives and extends to downstream involvement with senior distribution and business executives. The responsibilities are necessarily global in nature and the role requires close collaboration with international operations groups, vendors and Disney Character Voices International (DCVI) leaders.

Responsibilities:

• Identification, testing and on-boarding process for new systems/technology (e.g. use of synthesized voices, AI & neuro machine translation, etc.)
• Developing relationships with content producers, showrunners and other creative groups
• Regular discussions with senior executives involved in release and production planning
• On time and right first time deliveries are critical to meeting business expectations for strategic goals such as “day and date” and “premium access” windows.
• Growing the pool of directors, actors, vocalists, writers, translators, adapters, engineers, star talent relationships and music directors:

1. Drive goals for diversity
2. Ensure capacity and variety
3. Marketing and publicity support
4. Build loyalty to Disney
5. Solving talent availability conflicts e.g., sound-alike, woman for child, recast.

Deliverables

• Reliable planning and communication methods with Mastering groups for deliveries On Time and Right First Time
• Reliable planning and communication methods with Vendors for deliveries On Time and Right First Time
• Reliable planning and communication methods with internal partner groups for creative and technical support and manage a conduit to legal resources for legal issues.
• Global localization organization with clear operating process
• Optimized management and OH structure
• Process to forecast volume/velocity demands and manage capacity
• Formal quality management program
• Metrics reporting process
• Accurate reporting of costs – forecast – actuals – variance analysis

Qualitative Issues related to:

• Titles/Art
• Dubs
• Subtitles
• Metadata
• Key names and Phrases
• Language management – vernacular – idiom – slang – sensitivity

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience of international distribution business activity with a focus on localization.
• Minimum 10 years at a senior level of management within a global top-ranking motion picture, television or media production and distribution organization
• Personal Attributes:

1. Collaborative
2. Analytical
3. Persuasive
4. Decisive

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in mastering, foreign language and/or post production process.
• Working knowledge of foreign languages
• Demonstrated ability to drive technology solutions.
• Direct dealings with filmmakers and showrunners.
• Held leadership and influencing roles with direct and indirect reporting relationships with creative, operations and business executives.
• Experience in the following areas:

1. Creative, legal and technical aspects of localization
2. Supply Chain principles (beyond media delivery)
3. Planning/Forecasting
4. Organizational Design
5. Vendor management
6. Quality Management
7. Systems development
8. Business transformation
   

Required Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent years of experience required

Preferred Education

• MBA or Master’s degree preferred