Category Manager

The Walt Disney Company • Bristol, CT

10d • $120,700 - $169,600

About The Position

The Category Manager, Technology Sourcing is a strategic individual contributor and subject matter expert on Disney’s Enterprise Sourcing team. The role leads complex sourcing initiatives and shapes category strategies across Disney’s global technology portfolio. It partners with senior business, technology, finance, legal, security, and sourcing leaders to align supplier strategies with enterprise priorities, influence investment decisions, and deliver commercial, operational, and innovation outcomes.

The position develops enterprise technology category strategies and leads end-to-end sourcing across areas including software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecommunications, digital platforms, and technology professional services. It builds business cases and executive recommendations using spend analysis, cost modeling, benchmarking, market insights, and supplier performance data; leads complex negotiations; and manages strategic supplier relationships throughout the supplier lifecycle.

The role is based in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, with additional listed locations in Bristol, Connecticut, Burbank, California, and San Francisco, California. The hiring ranges are $120,700–$147,500 per year in Lake Buena Vista; $126,800–$154,800 in Bristol and Burbank; and $138,800–$169,600 in San Francisco. Bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided, along with medical, financial, and other benefits depending on the level and position offered.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, or business consulting, with meaningful experience supporting technology categories in a complex enterprise environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute category strategies that influence business decisions, optimize spend, improve supplier value, and manage enterprise risk.
• Deep understanding of technology sourcing categories such as software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecommunications, digital platforms, hardware, and technology services.
• Proven success leading complex negotiations and structuring technology agreements that deliver strong commercial, operational, and risk outcomes.
• Executive-level communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to influence senior leaders and align cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, including experience with spend analysis, supplier proposal evaluation, cost modeling, business case development, and data-driven recommendations.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed, global organization while managing multiple high-priority initiatives with sound judgment and accountability.
• Experience partnering with Legal, Finance, Security, Technology, Sourcing, and business stakeholders to advance strategic initiatives and resolve complex issues.
• High degree of ownership, intellectual curiosity, business judgment, and comfort working independently as a senior individual contributor.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, supply chain, technology, finance, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting technology sourcing initiatives within media, entertainment, sports, consumer products, hospitality, digital, or other consumer-facing multinational organizations.
• Scaled enterprise ($1B+) experience developing global sourcing strategies, supplier governance models, or multi-year technology category plans.
• Familiarity with procurement platforms, spend analytics tools, market intelligence resources, and executive reporting methods.
• Experience mentoring or informally guiding sourcing professionals by sharing category expertise, negotiation strategies, and procurement best practices.
• Willingness to travel as needed, up to approximately 10%.
• Master’s degree, MBA, or relevant professional certification.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute enterprise technology category strategies aligned with supplier capabilities, market dynamics, stakeholder priorities, and Disney’s long-term business objectives.
• Advise senior business and technology leaders, translating complex requirements into sourcing strategies that enable value, innovation, speed, and risk mitigation.
• Lead high-value and complex sourcing initiatives across software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecommunications, digital platforms, and technology professional services.
• Own the end-to-end strategic sourcing process, including demand assessment, market intelligence, supplier strategy, RFx execution, commercial negotiation, contracting support, implementation planning, and supplier performance management.
• Build business cases and executive-level recommendations using spend analysis, cost modeling, benchmarking, market insights, and supplier performance data.
• Partner globally across segments and functions to consolidate demand, rationalize suppliers, leverage enterprise scale, and support technology standardization where appropriate.
• Lead negotiations for complex technology agreements, balancing commercial outcomes with operational, legal, security, privacy, compliance, and business risk considerations.
• Establish and manage strategic supplier relationships that drive accountability, continuous improvement, innovation, and measurable value throughout the supplier lifecycle.
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Security, Technology, Segment Sourcing, and business teams to ensure sourcing strategies and supplier engagements support Disney’s enterprise goals.
• Contribute category expertise, market perspective, and best practices to strengthen sourcing capability across the broader organization.

Benefits

• Bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package.
• Medical benefits.
• Financial benefits.
• Other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior