Product Design and Development Manager - Hardlines

About The Role & Team

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Product Design and Development Manager to join our Global Product Creation team at Disney Consumer Products. This role will lead the design, development, and approval processes for all products within the consumer electronics, technology, and hardlines categories across the EMEA region. The successful candidate will drive product innovation, ensure brand consistency, and deliver compelling commercial executions, while managing a team and fostering strong relationships with licensees, retailers, and internal stakeholders. At Disney, you will bring the magic of our beloved characters and stories to life through cutting-edge products that delight consumers and uphold our legacy of excellence.

This role is full-time, based out of the London office in Hammersmith, 4 days a week, with 1 day hybrid.

What You Will You Do

• Develop and manage the creative output from licensees, ensuring product innovation, brand consistency, and compelling execution within a commercial context.
• Identify new product opportunities, produce first-class conceptual designs, and pitch to prospective and existing partners.
• Establish and maintain relationships with retailers, internal stakeholders, and global and international creative teams.
• Manage and develop the team, ensuring consistent and appropriate creative direction and feedback on all product submissions.
• Oversee the approval process from initiation to production in a timely manner.
• Ensure all licensee product submissions are routed through Disney’s Online Product Approval system (OPA) as per global product integrity guidelines.
• Provide licensees with appropriate creative assets for product development, developing new assets as required and contributing to style guide needs.
• Foster creative relationships with internal and external partners, providing inspiration and ensuring products are brand-appropriate and adhere to Disney guidelines.
• Offer creative input and trend direction to inspire licensees and retailers, helping to drive quality products.
• Run ideation sessions with licensees and retailers to drive product innovation.
• Lead all design projects (e.g., product toolkits, product pitches, inspiration boards) within the category, utilizing internal and external resources as required.
• Ensure all new and existing licensees and retailers are trained and kept up to date on the Disney brand, property portfolio, creative assets, and approval systems.
• Maintain an advanced level of market knowledge for products within your sub-category.
• Determine market trends, using them to drive creative strategy, identify new areas of business, and establish design requirements.
• Develop and maintain an expert knowledge of Disney’s characters, films, properties, heritage, and creative assets to assist in their usage on consumer products.
• Stay informed about consumer electronic and tech trends, with a focus on new innovations within the category.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree-level education in a related field or equivalent work experience.
• Proven commercial design experience in the relevant category, with the ability to brief and manage external and internal designers and agencies.
• Experience in the field of consumer electronics and technology is desirable.
• Packaging experience is desirable.
• Previous experience managing and developing the performance of a creative team.
• Experience within a consumer products commercialization environment.
• Proven experience in building effective relationships, leading and managing change, and collaborating across departments.
• Ability to communicate a clear design brief and ensure deliverables meet all criteria.
• Advanced knowledge of trends within the relevant industry category and the broader world of design, with working knowledge of common manufacturing techniques and their application in production.
• Ability to communicate design ideas using freehand drawing, computer techniques, and third-party design resources.
• Ability to deliver against set deadlines and budgets.
• Strong presentation skills with the ability to effectively present design ideas to internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Advanced knowledge of Mac OSX, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Microsoft Office.
• Fluent in English; other European languages are beneficial.
• Strong influencing skills with the ability to achieve buy-in at all levels.
• Resilient and adaptable in an ever-changing landscape.
• Forward-thinking with the ability to take industry trends and translate them into growth opportunities for TWDC.
• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA.

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.