Product Design and Development Manager - Softlines (12-month FTC)

Job ID 10101255 Location London, United Kingdom Business Disney Experiences Date posted Oct. 02, 2024

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Job Summary:

About The Role & Team

This role will collaborate with the Senior Product Design and Development Manager/Product Design and Development Director, Softlines to lead the product design and development of all products within relevant category for the region/market.

This role is a Fixed-Term Contract to cover Parental Leave for 12 months, and will require you to be onsite 4 days a week.

What You Will You Do

Working in collaboration with the senior PD manager and our Partner licensing team to ideate drive and form company wide product campaign creative and development.
Following through from ideation to final product approval, liaising with; multiple stake holders, internal and external including marketing, commercial, legal, and brand management with support from senior PD manager.
Identify new product opportunities, produce first class conceptual designs and pitch to prospective/existing partners
We develop and manage the creative output from licensees ensuring product innovation, brand consistency and compelling execution within a commercial context
Establish and maintain relationships with retailers, internal collaborators/partners and global and international creative teams
Lead and develop team, ensuring consistent and appropriate creative direction and feedback is given on all product submissions
Lead and implement as required, the approval process from initiation to production in a timely manner
Ensure all licensee product submissions are routed through Disney’s Online Product Approval system (OPA) as per global product integrity guidelines
Ensure licensees are provided appropriate creative assets for product development, developing new assets as required against the specific needs of the category and inputting into style guide needs
Lead all design projects (e.g. product toolkits, product pitches, inspiration boards) within category, utilising internal and external resources as the need arises
We identify market product design trends, using them to drive creative strategy, identify new areas of business and establish design requirements
Develop and maintain an expert knowledge of Disney’s characters, films, properties, heritage and creative assets to assist in their usage on consumer products
As required, 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
Provide design and trend direction, ideation sessions, inspiration & feedback to licensees on both 2D application and 3D product submissions to drive product quality
Identify new product opportunities, produce first class conceptual designs and pitch to prospective/existing teams within Disney's Partnerships
Establish and maintain relationships with our Partnerships, internal stakeholders/partners and global and international creative teams
Manage and develop teams, ensuring consistent and appropriate creative direction and feedback is given on all product submissions

Required Qualifications & Skills

Ability to communicate a clear design brief that meet all criteria
Ability to communicate design ideas using CAD drawing, computer techniques and/or third party design resources
Excellent design and conceptual skills as demonstrated in portfolio
Understanding of fabric, colour and product design
Shown experience of crafting prototypes or models
Advanced knowledge of Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Office
Excellent organisational skills and ability to handle and build effective relationships with team members at all levels
Exhibits ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness
Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA

Preferred Qualifications

Degree educated in related field (product design, etc.) and/or equivalent experience in lifestyle product company
Proven commercial design experience related to relevant category, essential, with the ability to brief and manage external/internal designers and/or agencies
Previous experience managing and developing the performance of a product development team, essential
Experience within a similar role within a consumer products commercialisation environment
Proven experience of building effective relationships, leading and managing change and collaboration across departments

The Perks

25 days annual leave
Private medical insurance & dental care
Free Park Entry: the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
Disney Discounts: 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, our new disability & neurodiversity focused group - 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.

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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.