Senior Manager, Production Management

About the Role & Team

As a Senior Manager, Production Management at Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing the operational, financial, and legal aspects of multiple productions. This role is central to ensuring that creative ambition is matched with operational excellence, overseeing the production lifecycle from development through to delivery. Your expertise will ensure that each project is delivered on time, on budget, and in compliance with the company's editorial, technical, operational best practices and contractual standards. This role is integral to maintaining Disney's reputation for world-class entertainment and innovation, working closely with internal departments and external partners throughout the entire production cycle.

This role will require you to be working 4 days a week in our office and 1 day from home. 

You'll join a team grounded in our Disney values - acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day.

What You Will Do

In this role, you will be responsible for leading the full production lifecycle, from development through to final delivery. You will provide strategic insights, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with all company standards. Your leadership will inspire individual and business success, aligning team efforts with organizational goals. This role is crucial for driving the success of Disney's high-budget, multi-episodic shows, requiring skills in strategic thinking, collaboration, and adaptability.

• Champion awareness, understanding and standard of key production management industry best practices (diversity, equity & inclusion; accessibility; health & safety; compliance; welfare/safeguarding; health & well-being; training; environmental and sustainability matters; content and physical security) as well as reinforcing the Disney + core values (integrity, creativity, collaboration, community and inclusion)

• Work in close collaboration with internal commissioning & production team, business affairs & legal and finance to support and guide external producing partners through our greenlight process; the documentation required; and onboard them on to our systems (financial, admin, viewing/screening and distribution)

• Be the key contact for day-to-day communication with external and internal stakeholders at all stages of production throughout development to delivery

• Review, assess and approve third-party production budgets, schedules, risk plans, key personnel and rates along with major budget line items/resources to ensure they are aligned with Disney+ best practices

• Work closely with internal stakeholders to effect production solutions to increase use of internal resource where these represent best value (e.g.: procurement, insurance, health & safety, tech solutions, marketing, press & promos, localisation); and ensure smooth onboarding of production companies/co-pro 3rd party producing partners

• Monitor and track production health & safety paperwork to ensure it is in place, and that provision is made in budgets for welfare, duty of care, and safeguarding policies - including standards for working with minors, vulnerable adults, and scenes involving intimacy – as well as professional support where appropriate

• Support finance team to monitor cashflow schedule, ensuring payments are aligned with key delivery milestones

• Work closely with internal post-production and mastering/content operations teams to manage and meet end-to-end post production and delivery requirements

• Attend, as appropriate, key production meetings (e.g. table reads, production meetings, location recces, principal photography set visits) and provide regular status updates

• Ensure budgets are monitored by overseeing regular cost reports and progress reports, tax incentive compliance, and track delivery timelines and paperwork for project sign-off, off-boarding and satisfy requirements are met for production’s final payment (including music and archive deliverables if applicable)

• Deliver clear, concise, accurate internal reporting of projects, pipeline, risks & opportunities and objectives delivery

Required Qualifications & Skills

• This role requires a high level of diplomatic and effective communication and negotiating skills; strong editorial judgement; as well as excellent written and communication skills in both Italian and English.

• Proven experience of managing and delivering high end TV production formats at line producer/production management and/or production executive level.

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of complex physical production management and production processes; budgeting, scheduling, post-production and compliance frameworks.

• Able to demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of all broadcast technology as well as knowledge of key talent (writers, producers, directors, other key creative heads of departments in the scripted industry)

• Able to demonstrate a good knowledge and network of working with high profile independent production companies, both locally and internationally.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple productions simultaneously under tight deadlines.

• Attention to detail is a key essential element for this role as accurate reporting (both internally and externally, and often with partners from different countries for whom English might not be their first language) is a key function of this role.

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent professional experience.

​The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided the necessary accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive all benefits of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.