Director, Owned & Operated Merchandising
Parks, Experiences and Products
14,179 reviews
Ruskin, FL 33570
Parks, Experiences and Products
14,179 reviews
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Reporting to the VP of Owned & Operated Merchandising, this individual will lead a team of merchants responsible for developing the quarterly product brief, strategy, line architecture and assortment curation for our worldwide Disney Parks, The Disney Store & ShopDisney.com. Accountability will span a division of categories (hardlines, softlines or region specific) across all brands, representing the owned and operated portfolio globally. The Director will have a detailed understanding of the guest and demography to evaluate the assortment and react to in-season performance/trends and hindsight performance and learnings to inform future seasons. The Director demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the connection between financial strategies and related merchandise objectives. The Director drives the business by partnering and influencing across the various cross functional teams.
This role will be focused on the essential product strategies and initiatives that will equip TWDC in unlocking its next wave of short-term and long-term growth while delivering innovation, increased value and new businesses to the organization.
Responsibilities :
Areas of Strategic Oversight Include:
Lead divisional level creation of the O&O product brief, line architecture, assortment plan and cross-brand integration for global parks, TDS and shopDisney.com locations that delivers the best expression of our brands.
Lead the merchandising strategy and assortment curation for hardlines, softlines or region specific, enabling one global line for; Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disney Signature Experiences, The Disney Store, ShopDisney.com & International Parks/Disney store leveraging & integration.
• Lead divisional team of merchandisers in the curation of one holistic O&O global product line that identifies commonality while ensuring needs of each regional/site commercial strategy
• Lead divisional line curation that supports a segmented go-to-market approach from Flagship to Outlet globally
• Lead in the development of divisional seasonal big bets globally
• Build and curate a divisional consumer-centric, global assortments
• Strategically build product assortment strategies that meet divisional profit thresholds while delivering the strongest price/value ratio to our customers and consumers
• Define divisional 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 O&O needs are addressed across brands, franchisees and divisional categories while maximizing item productivity, and capitalizing on key successes across multiple regions / sites
• Analyze Global business performance and develop strategies and growth objectives that are aligned with Disney Store & Park needs. Use analytics in the formulation of the product brief
• Develop effective partnerships across TWDC and in particular with the global brand merchant & regional buying teams for each region of Parks & Disney stores on points of exclusivity including assortment opportunities, launch timing, and target guests
• Own and drive the divisional P&L
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 division that are designed for a fully immersive space though 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 divisional team to build category/collection/item level product brief that supports the immersive Parks-specific experiences
• 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 divisional/category level global merchandising strategic landscape ensuring quarterly / annual growth targets are achieved
• Partner with Commercial and Marketing Leadership Teams on PR and influencer plans globally
• Maximize buzz-worthiness by building strategies that drive a deep emotional connection with our guests
• Partner with Commercial & CIMA to identify white space opportunities across the dimensions of demographic, brand for divisional categories.
Develop high performing teams and bench to support organizational growth needs • Lead a team of salaried leaders and their direct reports geographically dispersed.
• Lead by example as a key change agent, create a culture that fosters teamwork, and innovation while driving accountability to results
Basic Qualifications :
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Product Merchandising, specialty retail & product assortment strategy
• Experience in curating a global product line that is both globally leveraged and locally relevant
• Experience in Merchandising for vertical specialty retail environment
• Experience working with multiple commercial and marketing partners to bring product assortments to market
• Experience managing a global team with direct reports, stakeholders and partners in other countries
• Demonstrated ability to identify market trends and consumer zeitgeist 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
• 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 job is located in Orlando, FL.
Benefits and Perks: Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits
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