Skip to main content
BE YOU. BE HERE. BE PART OF THE STORY.

Senior Design Manager

Job ID 10108112 Location London, United Kingdom Business Disney Experiences Date posted Apr. 03, 2025
Apply Now

Job Summary:

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.

Apply Now

About Disney Experiences:

Disney Experiences brings the magic of Disney stories and franchises to life through theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, unique vacation experiences, products and more around the world. Disney shines in the travel industry with six resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Plus, Disney's global consumer products operations include the world's leading licensing business; the world's largest children's publishing brands; one of the world's largest licensors of games across all platforms; and Disney store locations around the world and on the web.

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 The Walt Disney Company Limited, which is part of a business we call Disney Experiences.

The Walt Disney Company Limited is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, colour, religion or belief, sex, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, disability or pregnancy or maternity. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.

Having technical issues? View the FAQs for help.

Hiring Process

  • Where Does Your Story Begin?

    Explore Disney Careers and the Life at Disney blog to learn about all the amazing opportunities waiting to be discovered at The Walt Disney Company.

  • Be Part of the Story

    There are many different brands and businesses to explore. Once you've found the opportunity that is right for you, take the next step by completing your application.

  • The Next Chapter

    Once you've applied, you will receive an email allowing you to access your candidate dashboard. Create your login and make sure to check your dashboard often to see your application progress.

Explore this Location EMEA

Disney EMEA aims to drive growth, innovation and brand affinity across an extremely diverse collection of countries with a team of over 6,000 employees operating in 59 markets with offices in 29 countries.

Related Jobs

OUR CULTURE

Related Content

  • Executive Leadership

    Our senior executives bring tremendous experience, visionary thinking and a shared commitment to excellence, creativity and innovation to the day to day operation of the company.

    Learn more 

  • Social Responsibility

    Explore our commitments and our work to create a better world through our stories, experiences, operations, and philanthropy.

    Learn more 

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    At Disney, we are committed to creating a better world. A world of belonging where each person feels seen, heard, and understood. A world filled with hope and promise.

    Learn more 

  • Heroes Work Here

    Heroes Work Here reflects the long history of respect and appreciation Disney has for the U.S. Armed Services. We recognize the commitment and dedication it takes to serve your country, both as military personnel and military spouses, and value the leadership skills and sense of purpose it has instilled in you.

    Learn more 

Sign Up for Job Alerts

Get the latest job opportunities as they become available.

Watch Our Jobs

An asterisk indicates a required field.

Interested InSelect a job category from the list of options. Select a location from the list of options. Finally, click “Add” to create your job alert.

By clicking "Submit", you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge that you have read our Privacy Policy.

By clicking "Submit", you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge that you have read our Privacy Policy. If I have elected to receive marketing messages or newsletters, I may withdraw my consent for these marketing messages at any time.

By clicking "Submit", you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge that you have read our Privacy Policy, Cookies Policy and EU Privacy Rights.

How we use your personal information and your rights:

  1. Your personal information is controlled by The Walt Disney Company Limited of 3 Queen Caroline Street, London, W6 9PE, United Kingdom.
  2. When you visit or shop with Disney or use any Disney product, service or mobile application, other members of The Walt Disney Company Family of Companies may also use your information to provide you these services, personalise your experience and send you service related updates and communications.
  3. You have a number of rights including the right to request access to, change, or remove your personal information, or to change your marketing preferences (including withdrawing your consent at any time.) Please see our Privacy Policy to learn more about managing your marketing preferences or deleting your account.
  4. Our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by emailing: dataprotection@disney.co.uk.
  5. You have a right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner's Office: https://ico.org.uk/.
  6. For more information about Disney's data collection and use practices please read Disney's Privacy Policy.

By clicking "Submit", you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge that you have read our Privacy Policy and Collection Statement.

For more information about our general data collection, use, and practices, including how to manage your preferences, please read our Privacy Policy. I have read and agree to the Terms of Use.