Show Systems Studio Business Operations Manager

Job Summary:

The Show Systems Studio Business Operations Manager will partner with the Studio Leader, department executives, and individual project leaders to develop and implement business plans for the studio operation as well as for projects. The successful candidate will provide financial guidance and collaboration with Show Systems Studio executives on operating and financial strategies. Responsibilities span a number of traditional roles including Project Manager, Finance, Engineering, Planner, Producer, Business Development, and ultimately involve planning for the short and long term strategic growth of the Show Systems Studio organization as well as tracking our progress towards those goals.

This position will report directly to the Vice President of the Show Systems Studio.

Responsibilities:

• Lead development and execution of annual operating, financial, and resource plans, monthly forecasts, etc, that support the high-level department goals.
• Provide financial guidance that increases spending towards achievement of strategic goals and guide decision making towards a sound financial perspective.
• Understand, consolidate, and review capital costs to provide overarching view of spending compared to plan.
• Produce ongoing financial, risk, and development reports to status the health and progress of each project towards its goals in partnership with Project Finance and key partners.
• Ensure studio transfer rates are achieved, operating budget targets met, Operational Improvement Projects completed and capital expenditures accurately distributed.
• Develop business models for potential new lines of business and communicate value to company partners.
• Assist with development of work plans that move internal projects efficiently towards successful completion. Organize complex or minimally defined scope into implementable phases.
• Own the work-plan process for internal projects (development, submittal, approval, and tracking) ensuring the project focus, milestones, and spend are captured completely and align with department priorities/funding. Track progress against plan.
• Proactively collaborate with project teams to ensure smooth execution. Actively identify and resolve risk elements that could affect schedule and budget.
• Prepare and deliver executive presentations that represent the financial goals and strategies of the studio.
• Long term planning of capital equipment needs and development of justifications.
• Work with functional managers to develop department resource plans that inform future hiring strategies.
• Work with Project Engineers to project financial trend analyses and Earned Value reports.
• Collaborate with Disney Finance groups and financial communications with executive stakeholders.
• Translate, support, and effectively communicate studio strategies & organizational needs to Walt Disney Imagineering Finance organization.
• Assist with department planning and priority setting.
• Work with Sourcing & Procurement department to establish and maintain vendor contracts.
• Develop and mentor others in the department.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or a related strategy-based subject area required. MBA preferred.
• 5+ years proven experience in project tracking, reporting, planning of scope schedule and budgets.
• Strong background in Business and/or Finance related positions.
• Proven track record to translate high-level vision/scope descriptions into actionable plans.
• Requires high degree of business acumen as well as knowledge of Walt Disney Imagineering and its essential functions.
• Experience working with development teams and prototype products.
• Ability to distill complex information, including financial details, into engaging high-level messages accessible to a wide audience.
• Demonstrated team player with the ability to form positive working relationship with a variety of teams, seniority levels, and personality types.
• Curious, with ability and desire to learn about scope and tools outside previous experience.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to seamlessly lead and prioritize different projects and deliverables simultaneously.
• Able to develop, maintain, and improve process and planning tools.
• History of influencing strategic direction with senior executives.
• Comfortable working in a creative/chaotic environment.
• Willing and able to quickly grasp new concepts and relationship of those concepts to overall goals, demonstrating adaptability.
• Strategic problem solver that is able to synthesize and present information and advance business strategies applying strong analytical skills.
• Positive demeanor, highly diligent with strong work ethic.

Benefits and Perks:

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

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