Associate NAM Hardlines; PH

Disney Consumer Products Category Management Associate

At Disney Consumer Products, we inspire imagination around the world and are committed to creating happiness for families and fans by bringing captivating, inspiring, and inclusive products into their daily lives! From toys to t-shirts, console games, books, and more, our team brings our beloved brands and franchises into the lives of families through products and experiences that can be found worldwide, such as the Disney Store e-commerce platform, Disney Parks, local and international retailers, and Disney Store locations around the world.

This role will report directly to the Manager, NAM Hardlines and will sit onsite in Glendale, CA or Orlando, FL.

This role is a 6 month project hire (PH) or Internal Assignment (IA) position with no guarantee of permanent employment (length of role may change based on business needs).

The Associate provides support in managing a category of products and a portfolio of licensees in order to meet or exceed predetermined revenue targets and growth objectives.

Category Management:

• Manages day-to-day relationship with core toy licensees for a specific segment of the business, providing information, facilitating assets, resolving issues, on-boarding new licensees reviewing/approving/facilitating approvals of submissions and promotion/advertising initiatives
• Performs day-to-day responsibilities to include licensee management, product marketing approvals and licensee communications
• Assists in defining and activating category and property strategy
• Supports the process of identifying, pitching and selecting licensees
• Develops and present trends and competitive research within the category as assigned by manager
• Maintains current knowledge of industry trends, competitors, business opportunities, threats and dynamics
• Identify research and analysis needs to include: sales forecasting, trend research, retail shopping analysis
• Helps identify new business opportunities and explore how to maximize business with current licensees

Finance and Business Planning:

• Supports team in everyday responsibilities such as contract and amendment process, financial analyses, forecasting, strategy presentations, product line analysis

Product Development:

• Works with the Product Development team to approve and maintain line lists
• and to ensure timely OPA (Online Product Approval) comments are provided to help minimize disruption of our product launches
• Ensures licensee product lines reflect Disney quality and brand/property objectives

Brand and Content Management:

• Active contributor to a matrixed team including Franchise Licensing, Product Development, Finance, Integrated Retail, HR, Contract Administration & Franchise Marketing
• Develop cross divisional relationships with key stakeholders across The Walt Disney Company to help maximize licensing opportunities (e.g. Studio Promotions, Alliances, Corporate Brand Management etc.)

Marketing and Retail/Sales:

• Ensures timely approvals of licensee's marketing elements in Disney Media Manager
• Supports internal initiatives generated by the Franchise Marketing and Integrated Retail teams

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Positive relationship building skills, flexible and adaptable; able to collaborate, influence, and persuade at all levels of an organization, both internal and external
• Capable of working independently and leading a wide range of initiatives / opportunities simultaneously
• Self-starter, motivated and proactive
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Excel, Power Point / Keynote, Word, Outlook

Preferred Qualifications

• Licensing and/or Consumer Products marketing experience

Education

• Bachelor's degree preferred + 2 years related experience or MBA

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $72,000.00-$96,500.00 per year and in Orlando, FL is $66,900.00 - $92,000.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.