Senior Manager - Retail Innovation & Design - Driving Consumer-Centric Growth through Trend Analysis, Product Development, and Immersive Retail Experiences at The Walt Disney Company

Shape the Future of Retail with The Walt Disney Company

At The Walt Disney Company, we're not just a business - we're a storyteller, a dreamweaver, and a creator of unforgettable experiences. Our Disney Consumer Products team is on a mission to inspire imagination around the world and bring captivating, inspiring, and inclusive products into the daily lives of families and fans. We're looking for a talented Senior Manager - Retail Innovation & Design to join our team in Kissimmee, FL, and help us shape the future of retail.

About the Role and Team

As a Senior Manager - Retail Innovation & Design, you'll play a critical role in researching the consumer landscape, building innovation strategies, and bringing Blue Sky concepts to life. You'll be the pulse on cultural dynamics, trends, and opportunities both internal and external to the Disney Parks Brands, and partner closely with multiple teams to craft compelling offerings and recommendations. This role will report to the Director of Retail Innovation and Commercialization and be a key driver of innovation pipeline development and execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive business relevance and growth by identifying, forecasting, and articulating disruptive consumer culture, lifestyle, and industry trends into long-term business opportunities for retail across WDW, DLR, and DSE.
• Synthesize, manage, and translate multiple data inputs into future-focused, actionable insights by leveraging internal consumer data, secondary sources, and primary social analysis.
• Track and foster strategic signal spotting of Disney-specific behaviors, attitudes, and aesthetics that unlock fresh, own-able trends and opportunity spaces for parks/DSE retail.
• Develop and maintain a compelling organization-wide trend database that houses team-generated comprehensive reports, synthesized insights, and inspiration built specifically for cross-category teams in Parks/DSE organization.
• Collaborate with partners across Key Product categories, Consumer Insights, Measurement, and Analytics, and other relevant teams to understand broad consumer trends and business opportunities.
• Bring data to life through dynamic, clearly articulated creative outputs designed for functional, organization-wide engagement.
• Articulate/design concepts, initiatives, and BlueSky concepts through mood boards, pitch decks, strategic roadmaps, etc.
• Develop and drive work that champions consumer centricity and translates into broader business opportunities for the organization.
• Collaborate with the Director with the development and execution of the Innovation pipeline to inspire a new generation of consumer-centered products and experiences.

Essential Qualifications and Skills

To succeed in this role, you'll need:

• 6+ years of related experience in product development, immersive retail design & development, and visual graphic storytelling, consumer trend analysis.
• Experience with design thinking methodologies, foresight, trend forecasting, social listening, Blue Sky design, and creative development.
• Demonstrated depth of knowledge in deciphering broad signals and trend identification with the ability to utilize design to translate into actionable opportunities and evidence-based designs.
• Diverse design skillset with competencies across graphics, 3-D design, product, environmental design, and themed entertainment design.
• Deep knowledge of Disney Parks/DSE consumer and landscape.
• Experience presenting and collaborating with teams and leaders across TWDC.
• Demonstrated depth of knowledge and experience in consumer behavioral trends and how to translate to retail and product whitespace, while driving commercialization business value.
• Proven analytical and innovation BlueSky capabilities.

A Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience is required for this role.

What We Offer

At The Walt Disney Company, we offer a rewards package that helps you live your best life. This includes:

• Health and savings benefits to support your well-being.
• Educational opportunities to help you grow professionally.
• Special extras that only Disney can provide, making your work-life experience truly magical.

Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

Career Growth Opportunities and Learning Benefits

As a Senior Manager - Retail Innovation & Design, you'll have the opportunity to drive business growth, develop innovative products and experiences, and work with cross-functional teams across the organization. You'll also have access to Disney's extensive training and development programs, designed to help you grow professionally and personally.

Work Environment and Company Culture

At The Walt Disney Company, we're committed to creating a work environment that's inclusive, diverse, and supportive. Our culture is built on the principles of innovation, teamwork, and creativity, and we're passionate about fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Compensation and Perks

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package that's designed to reward your skills and experience. You'll also enjoy the perks of working for a world-renowned brand, including access to exclusive Disney events, discounts on Disney products and services, and more.

Join Our Team!

If you're a creative, innovative, and consumer-centric professional with a passion for retail and product development, we want to hear from you! Please submit your application, including a portfolio that showcases your work in product development, immersive retail design & development, and visual graphic storytelling, along with your understanding of the Disney consumer.

Don't miss this opportunity to shape the future of retail with The Walt Disney Company. Apply today and join our team of talented professionals who are dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences for families and fans around the world.