Project Design Manager Senior; PH​/IA)

Project Design Manager Senior Island & Destination Planning | Port Strategy, Development & Operations Integration

The Senior Project Design Manager leads the planning, integration, and delivery of design and engineering across a portfolio of complex capital projects supporting Disney Cruise Line’s island and destination assets.

Serving as the Owner’s Representative for design and engineering, this role is accountable for ensuring that architectural, engineering, creative, and operational requirements are fully integrated from concept through construction and turnover. The position blends technical expertise, design leadership, and cross‑functional influence to deliver innovative, high-quality environments that enhance the guest and crew experience while maintaining operational continuity.

This is a temporary assignment with no guarantee of permanent placement.

• Lead end‑to‑end design and engineering delivery across multiple concurrent projects, from concept through construction and close‑out
• Ensure design excellence, constructability, and alignment with project scope, schedule, and quality expectations
• Drive incorporation of innovative, sustainable, and experience‑driven design solutions
• Prepare feasibility studies and/or code assessments of existing/future facilities

• Lead integration of architectural, engineering, creative, show, ride, and operational disciplines to deliver cohesive and fully coordinated solutions
• Partner closely with internal technical partners and Creative, Show/Ride, Operations, Engineering, and external consultants to align design intent with functional requirements
• Ensure all design packages meet RFP requirements, project scope, and enterprise standards

• Serve as the Owner’s Representative for design and engineering, overseeing consultants, deliverables, and contract compliance
• Direct the activities of in‑house teams and external design partners in the development of construction documents
• Develop scopes of work, lead RFP processes, and support consultant selection
• Provide input into bid packaging and contracting strategies

Own design schedules, labor plans, and associated budgets, ensuring alignment with overall project delivery milestones

• Monitor design progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies to maintain schedule and cost targets
• Partner with functional leadership on staffing, resource planning, and cost management

• Translate complex design concepts, risks, and trade‑offs into clear, actionable insights for executive leadership
• Provide regular updates on design status, key decisions, risks, and impacts to project and operations
• Facilitate alignment and decision‑making across cross‑functional stakeholders

• Ensure design solutions are fully integrated with operational requirements, minimizing disruption to ongoing operations and enhancing guest and crew experience
• Serve as the primary liaison with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and regulatory agencies across the project portfolio
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, and enterprise requirements
• Ensure adherence to and possess working knowledge of Disney standards.

• Provide day‑to‑day technical leadership across multiple venues or project scopes
• Ensure quality, consistency, and coordination of design documentation across all disciplines
• Maintain and validate facility base information and existing condition documentation

• Strategic & Systems Thinking – Integrates design, operational, and business requirements…