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About the Role & Team

The Product Design and Development Manager is a subject matter expert and skilled leader responsible for driving innovative, commercially relevant product design across EMEA, from concept through approval and delivery. As an experienced problem-solver and mentor, you will guide a team of designers to translate consumer and market insights into best-in-class 2D/3D product concepts that uphold Disney’s brand integrity and storytelling. While meeting regional growth priorities and business objectives.

In this role, you will lead product design direction and development across EMEA, setting a clear creative “handwriting” and identifying white-space opportunities that support both short- and long-lead business needs. You will act as a subject matter expert and team lead, coordinating trend analysis, workshops, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver commercially impactful product concepts and pitches. As a skilled team player and mentor, you will hold yourself and others accountable. You will plan and prioritize work against strategic goals, and foster a collaborative environment where designers are coached to solve complex problems and connect their contributions to team outcomes.

This role is based in our London Hammersmith office, with an expectation to work onsite four days per week.

Values

You’ll join a team grounded in our Disney values, acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day.

What You Will Do

• Demonstrate deep understanding of EMEA markets, including segmentation, cultural nuances, franchise diversity, and evolving design trends, guiding the team to create commercially relevant, best-in-class product.
• Set clear product design direction and establish a recognizable product “handwriting,” communicating key trends, insights, and white-space opportunities to internal stakeholders and partners.
• Identify new product and white-space opportunities to support short- and long-lead business needs, translating industry and consumer trends into commercially impactful concepts.
• Lead and coordinate comp shops, workshops, regional brainstorms, and design sessions to surface new opportunities, embed trend awareness, and inspire innovation across the team.
• Champion regional trend analysis and insights to support briefs and inform global and regional creative strategies, ensuring product creation aligns with regional growth priorities and global brand pillars.
• Inspire, manage, and elevate product development outputs by driving an innovation agenda and ensuring brand consistency, storytelling, feasibility, and value across all 2D/3D product concepts.
• Deliver first-class conceptual product designs and oversee pitch creation for prospective and existing partners, confidently presenting ideas to stakeholders at all levels.
• Collaborate across categories, franchises, and lines of business to strengthen innovation and product excellence. Build strong cross-functional partnerships across commercial, operations, senior management, creative, and product creation teams.
• Lead and manage the Online Product Approval (OPA) process across assigned licensees, overseeing all product submissions to ensure adherence to global product integrity standards and minimizing duplication.
• Provide licensees with expert product design guidance and consumer-focused quality standards informed by trend knowledge. Mentor the team through approval queries and problem-solving while assessing product quality before and after delivery.
• Maintain full visibility of approvals, critical paths, and calendars. Lead calendarisation, report progress and risks against KPIs, and proactively solve problems to improve processes and operational efficiency.
• Support the Senior Manager and Product Design & Development Director in delivering commercial needs and achieving revenue and growth objectives across EMEA, ensuring all output aligns with strategic and creative priorities.
• Lead and develop the Product Design team by providing clear direction and feedback through regular coaching and check-ins. Set strategies, expectations and priorities while supporting ongoing career development in line with Disney values.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as product design, industrial design, fashion design, or a closely related discipline.
• Extensive background in related field.
• Subject matter expertise in product design and development for FMCG/consumer products, with strong conceptual and product design skills supported by a portfolio demonstrating innovation, commercial awareness, and brand alignment.
• Advanced proficiency in Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Microsoft Office, with the ability to manipulate graphic assets, create mock-ups, and prepare presentation decks.
• Proven commercial design experience in relevant categories, including briefing and managing internal/external designers or agencies, and managing key licensee accounts from concept through approvals.
• Proven ability to provide constructive, actionable feedback on product design and development outputs, applying brand standards and managerial guidance to elevate execution and innovation.
• Experience managing and developing a product development or design team, providing coaching, performance feedback, and clear goal-setting for individual contributors.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and deliver outputs to deadline within a fast-paced, cross-functional environment; capable of managing multiple product submissions concurrently with high attention to detail.
• Confident presenter, able to communicate product design and development ideas clearly and persuasively to stakeholders at all levels.
• Significant experience in product design and development or a closely related field, preferably within FMCG or consumer products companies.

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Complimentary admission to eligible Disney Theme Parks, giving you the opportunity to experience the magic we create and make memories of your own. Admission is subject to availability, capacity restrictions, applicable rules, block-out dates, and eligibility requirements.
• Access to a wide range of Disney discounts on Disney merchandise, Disney Food & Beverage, Disney Resort Hotels, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, and more. Offerings are subject to availability and may be seasonal, and subject to applicable rules, restrictions, and eligibility requirements.
• Excellent parental and guardian leave
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney Mosaic, Disney PRIDE, our 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.

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

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