Senior Design Manager

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.