VP-Live Entertainment North America

Through innovative storytelling and a culture of collaboration, Disney Live Entertainment creates, produces, and delivers remarkable and engaging entertainment experiences. From the intimate to the spectacular, our work can be seen at Disney theme parks, resort hotels, cruise ships and other locations the world over. This diverse team – representing a wide variety of disciplines and talents from technical directors, writers and lighting designers to choreographers, cosmetologists, and music producers – brings magical worlds to life through technical expertise, performance excellence, incomparable ingenuity, unparalleled spectacle… and a dash of pixie dust. 

The VP, Live Entertainment North America will serve as a key strategic business partner collaborating across all domestic sites along with the broader DX stakeholders. The role is responsible for bringing the Disney entertainment experience to life in North America. In partnership with peers and key stakeholders, this position influences, integrates and guides the strategic direction, development, and production of distinctive live entertainment for and in support of all domestic sites.  This position develops, implements, and supports fully integrated strategies and standards to achieve Walt Disney Parks & Resorts and Disney Cruise Line entertainment objectives. Working with and at the direction of the Senior Vice President, Live Entertainment this role is responsible for both the regional functional leadership and global integration and assessment of key ideas, creative concepts, and production implementation for new and existing entertainment product.

The VP Live Entertainment – North America provides direct leadership, oversight, and direction to the VP WDW Live Entertainment, VP DLR Live Entertainment, and DSE Live Entertainment team. Collectively, this role will provide support to a team of 600+ individuals to meet daily and long-range business goals and is expected to influence, partner, and collaborate with individuals at all levels of the business in domestic US and international locations.

This position reports directly to the Senior Vice President, Disney Live Entertainment. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for functional leadership of the Walt Disney World Resort Entertainment Vice President, Disneyland Resort Entertainment Vice President, Disney Cruise Line Entertainment Vice President, Executive Entertainment Technical, and multiple Executive Producers

• Responsible for the delivery of all projects within the North America region

• Responsible for having a deep understanding of the WDI menu and site based projects

• Lead the identification, evaluation, prioritization, and development of North America Live Entertainment offerings which will require collaboration with key partners and stakeholders across the Entertainment and DX leadership team

• Work closely with site entertainment leaders, site portfolio executives and WDI menu planning team to ensure entertainments effective inclusion in global menus

• Work closely with the Executive, Entertainment Integration and Executive, Entertainment Technical to develop a regional technical delivery strategy to support the needs of the region

• Lead the integration between the North America site-based Entertainment Leadership roles (Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disney Cruise Line) which will allow for economies of scale across all three sites

• Develop a strategy to effectively utilize and manage shared assets (costumes, displays, props, etc.) across all North America site teams which will require a deep knowledge and understanding of needs across each park

• Develop a strategy to effectively utilize and develop talent across the North America region to drive the entertainment objectives

• Conduct large-scale North America marketplace assessments to understand current strengths, opportunities, and gaps in entertainment offerings that will inform future growth opportunities

• Direct and influence site, regional, and global planning based on opportunities identified through the North America marketplace

• Serve as an escalation point for the President of Disneyland Resort, President of Walt Disney World Resort, President of Disney Cruise Line and their teams on issues that require additional oversight and direction

• Lead the integration between the Disney Live Entertainment site leaders and the Disney Live Entertainment global functional leaders

• Build a strong relationship and understanding of the global Live Entertainment work to be able to translate advise, and direct, direct reports on global standards

• Lead the integration between North America sites and global functions for large capital projects and global delivery strategy of these capital projects

• Manage relationships to fully engage and execute on Disney Live Entertainment offerings domestically

• Lead a diverse team in the development of strategies related to entertainment offerings across both in and out of berm experiences

• Recruit, manage, develop, and mentor diverse team to execute on broad responsibilities

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years relevant experience in Entertainment leading project scope with a deep understanding of delivering creative, production, and technical development

• Leadership skills to manage internal and external teams

• Understanding of strategic planning, business principles, forecasting and budget management at a global level

• Excellent communication skills, including verbally, written and in formal speech/presentation settings, and strong executive presence.  Strong storytelling and communication skill; paints a compelling vision of what’s possible

• Proven advanced knowledge of business strategies to influence and drive creative development

• Effectively builds partnerships and influences stakeholder and decision-making at all levels of a complex, matrix and globally

• Ability to collaborate, influence, and develop/maintain relationships at all levels

• Keen understanding of the creative process, production process, and delivery process

• Positive attitude and proven ability to influence partners and create an energized environment

• Ability to manage a team, including prioritizing work and driving high level output

• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and business needs

• Ability to both think at a high level and execute at a tactical level

• The individual in this position must be able to work effectively and collaboratively in a fast-paced and complex business environment.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $281,500 to $377,500 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.