VP-Operating Participants

Job ID 10112882 Location Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States Business Disney Experiences Date posted Feb. 12, 2025

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Job Summary:

VP, Operating Participants

Location: Orlando, FL

Job Summary:

The Operating Participants (OP) team consists of over 20 professionals based in Orlando, FL at the Walt Disney World Resort (WDW) and in Anaheim, CA at the Disneyland Resort (DLR). This team is responsible for the strategic planning, tenant management, and oversight of third parties operating on properties owned or managed by Disney. These third parties include retailers, restaurants, hotels, and service providers. Additionally, the team identifies and executes strategic real estate transactions on or adjacent to Disney properties as needed.

Overall, the Operating Participants team manages a diverse portfolio that contributes significantly to the operating income of Disney Experiences (DX). The team also collaborates with local operating participant teams across Disney’s International Parks and Signature Experiences. Strategically, the team aims to leverage third-party brand strength and operational expertise to enhance the range of offerings at Disney Resorts. This initiative seeks to extend guests' length of stay, attract a broader demographic, and increase visits and engagement from local residents.

We are looking for a leader with commercial real estate and development experience, as well as a passion for dining and retail, to guide our bicoastal team. This role requires operations knowledge to ensure smooth coordination between our business operations and the Operating Participant community. Reporting to the EVP of Global Development, Segment Planning, and Finance for DX, this position is based in Orlando, FL. Key responsibilities include:

LEASE MANAGEMENT:

Collaborate with stakeholders to develop long-term strategies for our retail, dining, and entertainment locations. Develop overall negotiation and deal term strategy for non-disclosure agreements, letters of intent, and leases for new retail, restaurant, and entertainment concepts. Negotiate side agreements; maximize tenant asset utilization; support forecasting and budgeting tenant revenues and new project expenses; and partner with numerous internal organizations (e.g., Legal, Operations, Line of Businesses, Walt Disney Imagineering, Consumer Insight, Finance, Communications) and our base of several hundred tenants that ranges from multinational corporations to individual proprietors. Lead Operating Participant concept pitch and design review meetings, track progress, prepare mitigation and contingency plans and identify any applicable risks to Disney stakeholders.

NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT:

Develop and implement leasing strategies that deliver against company goals relative to the procurement of unique and relevant third-party Operating Participant relationships within Disney theme parks, resorts, and RD&E environments around the world. Develop relationships and continually seek out new relationships with restaurant, retail and entertainment concepts that could be potential Operating Participants for any of our global properties. Identify opportunities for alternative deal structures. Stay at the forefront of trends while mapping those trends to the known needs and preferences of our guests.

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT:

Ensure compliance with negotiated contracts with third party operators, partnering with key Disney teams such as Operations, Facilities, Walt Disney Imagineering, Legal, Finance, Corporate Alliances. Enforce terms and settle disputes to drive tenant accountability. Ensure adherence to Disney standards; act as owner’s representative on new projects; assist with development and implementation of global qualitative measures and processes. Understand, coordinate and execute on business unit goals, initiatives, scope of operations and current issues. Provide input on how operational and technology changes may impact Operating Participants.

REAL ESTATE:

Partner with Walt Disney Imagineering’s Master Planning group to strategize the future development of the Walt Disney World Resort as well as other locations, on an ad hoc basis. Understand real estate negotiation nuances and strategically identify land parcels to buy or sell based upon the predetermined strategy. Understand the local real estate market and potential impacts on Walt Disney World Resort.

GUEST/CLIENT SATISFACTION:

Nurture business relationships at business sites, segment partners, and TWDC partners; develop, drive and manage non-RD&E Operating Participants; provide guidance and support to Disney operational leadership and LOB/functional key stakeholders.

CAST EXCELLENCE/DEPARTMENT:

Oversee and maintain the development of departmental operating guidelines, policies and procedures; build alliances with key stakeholders at all levels of the organization to articulate an understanding of the Operating Participant business. Contribute to master plan tenanting strategy meetings.

Basic Qualifications:

15+ years progressive leadership experience in relevant businesses
5+ years contracting, negotiating and business development experience
Strong track record in fact-based negotiations or equivalent contract experience
Proven ability to establish and maintain relationships, trust and credibility, both internally and externally, and to manage conflicts and disputes
Ability to analyze deal terms to create a financial model of the agreement and understand practical implications of executing each of the terms: develop formal negotiation plans with talking points for each negotiation session; work interactively with legal resources and business unit stakeholders throughout the negotiation process and document final agreement with a package of a signed contact, financial model and preliminary execution plan to communicate with business unit stakeholders
Proven leadership experience and ability to motivate and inspire cast members
Strong communication, facilitation and conflict management skills as well as strong business acumen and organizational savvy (within a complex matrixed organization)
Broad, in-depth knowledge of The Walt Disney Company’s lines of business and strategic priorities, particularly regarding the operations and teams at WDW and DLR
Unquestionable ethics, transparency and integrity. A truth-seeker
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed

Preferred Qualifications:

Significant experience with the operations of DX’s businesses (or those of comparable scale and scope)

Direct experience in the commercial real estate industry working on the development and tenanting of significant retail / restaurant projects, such as Class A malls
Passion for culinary and retail exploration and innovation and understanding of key trends, as well as the ability to engage with other like-minded individuals who operate in the space

Required Education:

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience

Preferred Education:

MBA or equivalent work experience

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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 Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., which is part of a business we call Disney Experiences.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. 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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Explore this Location Lake Buena Vista, FL

Lake Buena Vista is home to the Disney Springs retail, dining and entertainment complex, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and several resort hotels are located with the City limits.