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The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with the following business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, Disney Parks, and Experiences and Products. 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.
Overall Purpose of the Role
To execute product development and approval process for relevant category.
Areas of Responsibility
- Execute 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
- Provide creative direction, inspiration and feedback to licensees on both 2D application and 3D product submissions in order to drive product quality
- Train and develop all new and existing licensees on the Disney brand, property portfolio, creative assets and approval systems, ensuring that they have the appropriate creative assets for product development
- Develop and maintain successful working relationships with licensees and other internal and external stakeholders
- Create product pitches and new product design visuals under supervision of Product Design and Development Manager
- Develop and maintain 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 required including involvement in design projects, as directed
- Ensure products comply with corporate policies and legislation
Training and Professional Development
- Operate with integrity, champion change and be a good ambassador for the Walt Disney Company
- Operate as part of an effective and inclusive team by demonstrating an awareness of others; welcoming and valuing unique perspectives and ideas; offering support, sharing knowledge and best practices in order to contribute to overall departmental commitments
- Take ownership of your professional development through regular career conversations with your line manager and utilising available resources such as D Learn, instructor-led courses and on the job learning
- Proactively suggest ways to improve departmental performance and processes, leveraging technological tools where applicable
- Build links with other TWDC functions to develop broader knowledge of the business
- Promote and maintain an inclusive workplace, championing diversity and inclusion and make use of available resources to extend knowledge and best practice
Areas of Accountability
- Accountable to Product Design and Development Manager
- Accountable for ensuring licensees have the appropriate creative assets for product development
- Accountable for executing the approval process from initiation to production in a timely manner
- Accountable for ensuring products comply with corporate policies and legislation
Experience and Professional Qualifications Required
- Degree level education in a related field or equivalent work experience - product/illustration/textiles/graphic/print design
- Proven commercial product development experience in relevant categories or product design role at a licensee, retail head office or supplier
- Some packaging experience, desirable
- An interest in arts and crafts desirable
Skills Required
- Knowledge of trends within the industry of relevant category and the broader world of design with working knowledge of common manufacturing techniques and their application in production
- An ability to communicate a clear design brief and basic design ideas using freehand drawing, computer techniques and/or third party design resources
- An ability to deliver against set deadlines and budgets as directed
- Strong presentation skills with the ability to effectively present design ideas to internal/external stakeholders at all levels
- Ability to influence and achieve buy-in at all levels
- Written and spoken English for business use, essential; other European languages, beneficial
- Computer literate including Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and MS Office
Additional Information
- Flexibility for UK, European or international travel may be required
- Contribution to ad-hoc projects as the business requires
- Flexible hours may be required to meet business needs
