Senior Design Manager

The Walt Disney Company; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job description

Senior Design Manager

Job ID: 10108112

Location: London, United Kingdom

Business: Disney Experiences

Date posted: 4月. 03, 2025

Job Summary:

About The Role & Team

Join us in leading the creative charge! As the head of our design team, you'll drive innovative product design strategies that align with our vision and commercial goals. You'll inspire and develop a talented team to create exceptional designs that captivate diverse consumer demographics and exceed partner expectations.

This role is based at our London office in Hammersmith, requiring you to be in the office four days a week.

What You Will You Do

• Develop and manage a diverse and talented design team, recognizing individual strengths and areas for growth.
• Lead the team to deliver high-quality designs across various product categories (e.g., Womenswear, Menswear, Childrenswear, Lifestyle).
• Ensure world-class design delivery, including hands-on design work as needed.
• Inspire the team to integrate storytelling into Disney asset visualization and product design.
• Stay updated on global fashion trends to create consumer-ready designs that reflect the retail market.
• Generate unique product inspiration and support franchise strategies to drive commercial goals.
• Collaborate with commercial partners to prioritize and achieve business objectives.
• Maintain strong communication with UK DTR accounts to meet retailer needs and share best practices.
• Leverage global strategic brand pillars to identify new product opportunities and produce conceptual designs.
• Deliver impactful creative pitches tailored to DTR partners.
• Align teams, policies, and processes across EMEA to enhance regional creativity and innovation.
• Understand EMEA market specifics to elevate product design and drive business growth.
• Coordinate trend and design workshops, providing creative support to explore new categories.
• Identify creative opportunities to unlock new business and gain efficiencies.
• Advise on seasonal style guides and collaborate with franchise leads to stay updated on activities.
• Offer creative input to inspire licensees/retailers and ensure quality product delivery.
• Work with Senior Product Design and Development Managers to deliver commercially viable products.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree in product design or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in consumer products commercialization and hands-on design for fashion, home, and lifestyle industries.
• Proven leadership of a diverse, multi-skilled design team.
• Ability to design for various consumer demographics and categories.
• Expertise in licensed product design, storytelling, and interpreting global trends.
• Strong relationship-building, collaboration, and communication skills.
• Inspirational leadership and team development abilities.
• Proficiency in CAD drawing, design software, and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent hands-on design, conceptual skills, and understanding of fabric, color, and product design.
• Advanced knowledge of industry trends and manufacturing processes.
• Strong presentation skills and proficiency in English; other European languages are a plus.
• Strong influencing, organizational, and time management skills.
• Ability to translate trends into growth opportunities for Disney.
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding of EMEA markets.

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.

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.