Manager, Business Integration, Talent and Strategy

Job ID 10092164 Location Celebration, Florida, United States Business Adventures by Disney Date posted Sep. 13, 2024

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"I didn't think it was possible that something I did for fun - telling sports stories through stats - could become my job until I came here."

Ana, Sr. Researcher, ESPN

Job Summary:

For nearly two decades, Adventures by Disney has been a leading travel brand, offering over 40 guided-group adventures across land, river, and expedition cruises. Disney-trained Adventure Guides ensure hassle-free vacations with masterful storytelling, in-depth knowledge, and attention to detail, fostering lasting connections with each destination. The heart of every Adventures by Disney vacation lies in the authenticity, immersion in cultures, insider access, and curated activities.

Building on a legacy of over 135 years, National Geographic Explorers have ventured across continents, remote cultures, ocean depths, and towering mountains. National Geographic Expeditions extends this legacy, allowing travelers to embrace their inner explorer and witness the wonders of the world up close and in depth. With Signature Land, Expedition Cruise, River Cruise, or Private Jet options, National Geographic Expeditions provides unparalleled access to the world with knowledgeable Experts. Additionally, every trip booked supports the global nonprofit National Geographic Society, contributing to the work of National Geographic Explorers worldwide in protecting and illuminating our world through exploration, research, and education.

The Manager, Business Integration, Talent and Strategy is an experienced strategy, analysis, and optimization professional who develops and implements growth strategies, analyzes business performance and identifies key issues, develops and implements action plans to optimize business performance, and manages large-scale special projects that support the Adventures & Expeditions (A&E) business. In addition, you will manage the day-to-day Talent casting for all National Geographic experts and Adventures by Disney hosts joining our trips, leading the Talent and Brand Experience teams, and working across several departments and outside entities.

You will formulate business strategies, analyze product line profitability, and develop and implement strategies to address product quality or product/business profitability issues. You will integrate and partner with cross functional teams and act as a liaison for the execution of initiatives that span multiple lines of business and a variety of functional areas.

You will be responsible for leading the team that creates and delivers the brand experience on each trip including all end-to-end post booking communications, swag, and digital materials/platforms that enhance the guest experience and build brand equity.

This role requires a balance of highly analytical, detail-oriented business strategy and project management skills, as well as strong influencing and facilitation skills. You will be responsible for complex, large, medium and small scale projects with broad organizational implications and impacts.

The Manager, Business Integration, Talent and Strategy will report to the Senior Manager, Business Integration, Talent and Strategy and sits in Celebration, FL.

What You Will Do/Responsibilities:

Lead, Influence, and Hold Accountable
- You will directly lead the Talent team (salary cast) who is responsible for prospecting and selecting experts, photographers, and hosts for our trips
- You will directly lead the Brand Team (salary cast) who is responsible for creating and delivering brand experience on each trip to enhance the guest experience and build brand equity. You will establish key metrics and identify trends to help drive performance expectations and accountability.
- indirectly lead and influence Executive and Senior Leaders within the organization to achieve common objectives and business strategies.
Business Strategy, Analysis and Optimization
- You will establish a comprehensive planning process and partner with the National Geographic Society and other National Geographic branded divisions, Trip Development, Operations, Partnership Management, and Functional Leaders to set strategic vision and ensure there are no gaps.
- You will ensure other Executives, Senior Leaders, and Functional Leaders are working towards that strategy, including company-wide and global initiatives.
- You will monitor and analyze business performance, including product quality and profitability, and implement action plans to address any shortfalls.
- You will develop and implement action plans to optimize business performance and lead initiatives to drive critical business, segment, and enterprise strategies and priorities which will include process re-engineering and efficiency projects, integrating business objectives across all areas of the business.
- Collaborate with key business functional areas (Marketing, Sales, Pricing & Revenue Management, Contact Center, Travel Services, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Finance, Consumer Insights Measurement & Analytics, Legal, HR, Technology, Digital, Sourcing & Procurement and Walt Disney Imagineering).
Special Project Management
- You will manage complex, large-scale projects and develop special relationships that support the Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions businesses including integration (of team, processes, products), new product launches, development and implementation of shared systems, operational changes, and special circumstances (e.g. health or security issues).
- You will define project scope, assumptions, risks, and project approach, including budget, timelines, and communications. You will develop and implement reporting to create visibility across initiatives and ensure focus.
Talent Management
- Manage the day-to-day operation, ensuring we have a wide variety of expertise in our pool of talent for all trips. Oversee the talent placement, ensuring it delivers on the goals for operation, marketing, and public relations efforts. Proactively identify gap areas, implement process improvement, and mitigate issues that may arise.
Brand Experience
- Set and oversee the execution of the strategic direction for the Brand Experience function. Enhance the A&E experience for all guests by developing strategic initiatives (including swag and digital materials) to improve the brand experience on each trip.
- Provide clear direction on consistent standards for the pre-trip, on- trip and post-trip experience. Work cross-functionally to communicate standards and create plans for each function to deliver on those brand experience standards.
- Monitor guest feedback closely and create a plan for continuous improvement based on that feedback.

You will Have/Required Qualifications:

4+ years’ experience with business strategy, business/financial analysis, business optimization or project management
4+ years’ experience working in the Travel industry (domestic and intl).
3+ years’ experience leading salary employees
Experience providing direct and actionable feedback to address difficult issues and situations while maintaining positive working relationships.
Understanding of large-scale project management concepts, practices, and procedures
Experience delivering large-scale projects on time and on budget.
Ability to hold both direct reports, colleagues and partners accountable throughout the project management process.
Experience working across functional lines and as a member of a diverse, matrixed team.
Willingness to travel for business as needed; Possess a valid passport.

Preferred Qualifications:

4+ years’ employment with The Walt Disney Company or National Geographic
Previous experience working with talent management/casting preferred.
Previous exposure and experience with Brand.
Familiar with hiring Talent including Talent contracts and background checks. Experience identifying gap areas.
Experience with looking at data and metrics and presenting findings and trends to senior leadership
Familiarity with Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions products and business model

Required Education:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

Additional Information:

Benefits and Perks: Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

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About Adventures by Disney:

Adventures by Disney is a leader in guided group family vacation experiences, offering itineraries to some of the most beautiful places on the planet including China, Australia, South Africa, Peru, England and France, as well as North American adventures in Alaska, the Rockies and more. Adventures by Disney takes families to some of the world’s most sought-after destinations, delivering unmatched guest service by trained adventure guides and local experts, uncompromising attention to detail, and a bit of Disney magic every step of the way. Together, adventure guides and guests embark on adventures that enable them to interact with world cultures in exciting new ways.

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 Adventures by Disney ABD, LLC, which is part of a business we call Adventures by Disney.

Adventures by Disney ABD, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, email Candidate.Accommodations@Disney.com with your request. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or correspondence. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

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Explore this Location Celebration, FL

The picture-perfect community of Celebration, 25 minutes southwest of Orlando, is a place like no other. Founded by The Walt Disney Company in the 1990s and named one of Forbes Magazine’s prettiest neighborhoods in America, Celebration features an idyllic downtown with architecture inspired by traditional Southern towns.