Product Development Associate - Footwear, Accessories, Luggage (Fixed-term contract)

Job ID 10103430 Location London, United Kingdom Business Disney Experiences Date posted Nov. 20, 2024

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Job Summary:

About the Role & Team

As a Product Development Associate, you’ll support licensees and Direct-to-Retail partners by providing technical design direction, creative input, and ensuring smooth execution of the product design, development, and approval process. Join us to bring inspiring Disney products to life with quality and attention to detail.

This role is a fixed-term contract role running until the end of September 2025, and will require you to be onsite 4 days a week.

What You Will Do

Complete the approval process from initiation to production in a timely manner, ensuring all product submissions are routed through Disney’s Online Product Approval (OPA) system as per global product integrity guidelines
Strong understanding of global trend, market segmentation, country specifics, franchise diversity, and product design trends, elevating product accordingly
Diverse Product Knowledge Extensive expertise in any or all in the design and development of footwear, bags, and watches, with a strong understanding of the unique materials, construction techniques, and market trends specific to each category
Provide product design and trend direction to licensees on both 2D application and 3D product submissions to drive product quality
Participate in internal trend and design workshops throughout the year across providing product design support to the licensees and partners
Participate in comp shops, design workshops, franchise brainstorm sessions across region, collaborating and exploring untapped categories
Understanding within the licensee and partner base of what does and doesn’t work commercially in relation to style guide development, collecting hindsight and feedback to foster the style guide development process
Train and develop all new and existing licensees on the Disney brand, property portfolio, creative assets and approval systems
Responsible for ensuring licensees have the appropriate creative assets for product development
Develop and maintain successful working relationships with licensees and other internal and external partners
Build product pitches, new product design visuals, and dedicated core design mock ups under supervision of Senior Product Design and Development Manager/Product Design and Development Manager
Develop a good knowledge of Disney’s characters, films, properties, heritage and creative assets in order to assist in their usage on consumer products
Support the needs of the wider team at regional, local and global level as the need arises including involvement in design projects, as advised
As the need arises, attend ‘inspiration’ trips to broaden understanding of the EMEA marketplace, seeking out ideas and new creative solutions to better understand the industry and drive innovation and creativity

Required Qualifications & Skills

Knowledge of trends within the industry of relevant category and the broader world of design with proven understanding of common manufacturing techniques and their application in production
Communicate a clear product design brief and basic design ideas using CAD drawing, computer techniques and/or third party design resources
An ability to deliver against set deadlines and budgets as advised
Strong design and conceptual skills
Understanding of fabric, colour and product design, with an in depth knowledge of fabrics and stitching techniques, preferred
Presentation skills with the ability to optimally present design ideas to internal/external partners at all levels
Understanding of production techniques and graphic applications with a consideration for colour and shape, preferred
Computer literate including Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and MS Office
Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA
Proven commercial product development experience in relevant categories or product design role at a licensee, retail head office or supplier, beneficial
Proven experience crafting prototypes or models

The Perks

25 days annual leave
Private medical insurance & dental care
Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
Excellent parental and guardian leave
Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided the necessary accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive all benefits of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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About Disney Experiences:

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 The Walt Disney Company Limited, which is part of a business we call Disney Experiences.

The Walt Disney Company Limited is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion or belief, sex, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, disability or pregnancy or maternity. 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.

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Explore this Location EMEA

Disney EMEA aims to drive growth, innovation and brand affinity across an extremely diverse collection of countries with a team of over 6,000 employees operating in 59 markets with offices in 29 countries.