Associate Product Manager Program Lead- Project Hire

The Walt Disney Company•Bristol, CT

About The Position

About the Role: We are seeking a Program Lead for a 12 month project hire to design, develop, and implement a new Associate Product Management Program that will serve as a strategic talent pipeline for future product leaders. This role requires a visionary approach to program architecture, operational excellence, and strong collaboration with internal stakeholders and external learning partners. This individual will play a critical role in shaping the future pipeline of product management talent within our organization by creating a best-in-class program that attracts, develops, and retains professionals in early careers. What Will You Do? Program Design Define the program vision, objectives, and success criteria aligned with organizational goals. Design the rotational structure, including duration, functional assignments, and learning experiences. Develop competency frameworks and career pathways for participants Collaborate with stakeholders across Product, HR, Talent Development, and Business Units to design rotations, learning experiences, and career pathways. Program Development Build detailed program components such as onboarding, training curriculum, mentorship models, and evaluation processes. Create program documentation, policies, guidelines, success metrics and participant resources. Partner with Talent Acquisition to design recruitment strategies targeting early career talent. Program Implementation Lead end-to-end project management for program launch, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation. Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution of rotations and learning experiences. Establish governance and reporting mechanisms to track progress and outcomes. Identify and mitigate risks, ensuring timely delivery of program milestones. Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and execution. Collaborate with APMs around program progress and support. Vendor Management Serve as the primary liaison with external learning vendors to design and deliver high-quality learning experiences. Negotiate contracts, manage budgets, and ensure vendor deliverables meet program standards. Monitor vendor performance and maintain strong partnerships to support program success. Continuous Improvement Develop KPIs and measurement tools to assess program effectiveness. Gather feedback from participants, managers, and stakeholders to refine program design. Report on program impact and recommend enhancements to ensure scalability and long-term success.

Requirements

5 years or more in project management or program development within a large organization or equivalent experience
Experience designing and implementing rotational or leadership development programs
Expertise in program design and implementation.
Strong project management skills with proficiency in tools like MS Project, Asana, or similar.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
Strategic thinker with strong execution capability.
Ability to influence and collaborate across multiple levels and functions.
Skilled in vendor relationship management and contract oversight.
Passion for talent development and building future leaders.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, HR, Project Management, or related field or equivalent experience

Nice To Haves

Expertise working in the tech industry preferred although not required.
Master’s degree preferred but not required
PMP or similar certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Define the program vision, objectives, and success criteria aligned with organizational goals.
Design the rotational structure, including duration, functional assignments, and learning experiences.
Develop competency frameworks and career pathways for participants
Collaborate with stakeholders across Product, HR, Talent Development, and Business Units to design rotations, learning experiences, and career pathways.
Build detailed program components such as onboarding, training curriculum, mentorship models, and evaluation processes.
Create program documentation, policies, guidelines, success metrics and participant resources.
Partner with Talent Acquisition to design recruitment strategies targeting early career talent.
Lead end-to-end project management for program launch, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution of rotations and learning experiences.
Establish governance and reporting mechanisms to track progress and outcomes.
Identify and mitigate risks, ensuring timely delivery of program milestones.
Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and execution.
Collaborate with APMs around program progress and support.
Serve as the primary liaison with external learning vendors to design and deliver high-quality learning experiences.
Negotiate contracts, manage budgets, and ensure vendor deliverables meet program standards.
Monitor vendor performance and maintain strong partnerships to support program success.
Develop KPIs and measurement tools to assess program effectiveness.
Gather feedback from participants, managers, and stakeholders to refine program design.
Report on program impact and recommend enhancements to ensure scalability and long-term success.