Sr Manager, Store Design

The Walt Disney Company•Kissimmee, FL

9d•$132,600 - $177,700•Onsite

About The Position

At Disney Consumer Products, we inspire imagination around the world and are committed to creating happiness for families and fans by bringing captivating, inspiring, and inclusive products into their daily lives. From toys to t-shirts, console games, books, and more, our team brings our beloved brands and franchises into the lives of families through products and experiences that can be found worldwide, such as the Disney Store e-commerce platform, Disney Parks, local and international retailers, and Disney Store locations around the world. The Senior Manager, Store Design is a knowledgeable specialist and strategic leader responsible for the end-to-end design and delivery of retail environments across Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, and Disney Signature Experiences, ensuring every space reflects Disney's storytelling, brand standards, and guest-centric excellence in our theme parks, resorts, cruise, vacation, travel, and retail destinations.

Requirements

Minimum 8+ years of experience in retail design, store planning, or related architectural design roles including branded architecture or experiential design, with a major retail company or top design agency.
3+ years of management experience leading professional design teams.
Strong proficiency in reading and interpreting architectural and engineering documents, shop drawings, and specifications.
Deep knowledge of building codes, retail design standards, and construction processes for store environments.
Ability to communicate design concepts visually and verbally to leadership and cross-functional partners, including executive stakeholders.
Proven ability to manage multiple fast-paced projects with strict adherence to budget, schedule, and quality requirements.
Demonstrated success working within cross-functional teams and influencing without authority in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Project).
Proficiency in 3D rendering and visualization tools and familiarity with CAD-based workflows.
Strong organizational, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills; results-oriented, self-motivated, and able to operate independently while escalating appropriately.

Nice To Haves

Experience in leadership roles within multi-unit or experiential retail environments such as theme parks, resorts, cruise, or destination retail.
Expert skills in 3D modeling, CAD, and rendering tools (e.g., SketchUp, Rhino, 3DS, Enscape, VRay) and familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite for environmental and retail graphics.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage day-to-day store design activities from concept through project completion, ensuring alignment with business goals, brand standards, and operational needs.
Oversee the creation of design concepts, store layouts, finish selections, fixture design, and visual storytelling elements that bring Disney stories to life in retail environments.
Provide leadership, coaching, and development to the Store Design & Development team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and an inclusive, team-oriented culture.
Review, interpret, and provide direction on architectural drawings, engineering documents, and vendor shop drawings to ensure accuracy, adherence to design intent, and compliance with codes and standards.
Drive project management excellence by managing multiple concurrent projects, ensuring deliverables meet established timelines, budgets, and quality expectations in fast-paced environments.
Monitor and manage all design milestones and deliverables, proactively identifying risks and implementing solutions to maintain project momentum and schedule integrity.
Resolve design issues quickly during construction and build-out phases, partnering with internal and external teams to protect design intent and guest experience.
Lead cross-functional meetings to align design direction, communicate changes, and ensure seamless coordination across partners and stakeholders.
Represent Store Design as the subject matter expert in internal and external forums, providing guidance, recommendations, and design leadership while influencing without direct authority.
Build strong, collaborative relationships with partners across Operations, Merchanditing, Facilities, Architecture & Engineering, and external vendors to support shared objectives and guest-focused outcomes.
Contribute to departmental innovation by supporting pilot programs, process improvements, and new design initiatives that enhance creative, consumer, and operational performance.
Ensure all projects reflect Disney's commitment to quality, storytelling, and exceptional guest experience across theme parks, resorts, cruise, and retail locations.
Define strategies, expectations, and priorities that connect team responsibilities to company-wide goals, empowering teams to pursue solutions for both immediate and future challenges.