Director, Strategy & Marketing, DDI

Be you, be here, be part of the story!

Overall Purpose of the Role

Lead the development of Marketing and Sales strategies (strategic recommendation, business plan, marketing brief and postmortem) and Marketing activations (covering creative, media, social, CRM, partnerships) for Walt Disney World (WDW) & Disney Cruise Line (DCL) across EMEA and Disneyland Paris (DLP) in the UK and Irish markets with the objectives to deliver planned Attendance, RNs/Admissions and Revenue for all three destinations.

Areas of Responsibility

Strategy

• Lead development of communication strategy for WDW, DCL and DLP including definition of message strategy and architecture, audience targeting and touchpoints strategy through consumer insights generation, marketing concepts development, consumer research, marketing brief development, close collaboration with Marketing and Sales disciplines in the UK, US and Paris for implementation of strategy and postmortem
• Lead definition and validation of offers strategy in close collaboration with US Pricing team for WDW and DCL and commercial hooks strategy for DLP which includes offer/commercial message generation, assessment, feasibility and validation with US Pricing and DLP Revenue Management team, briefing, follow-up of implementation and postmortem
• Lead development of Distribution strategy for both Direct and Trade channels, working in close collaboration with both Directors of Walt Disney Travel Company (WDTC) and Trade Sales as well as Central Sales team in Paris. This includes distribution mix recommendation, input into budget and partners priorities, revenue growth projects definition and briefing, input into Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and Long Term Plan (LTP)
• Define expansion strategies for both WDW and DCL across OEMEA to support growth of both brands across Europe through markets deep dives, AOPs, recommendation of markets and investments priorities, overall Marketing and Distribution strategy by market working in close collaboration with Country teams
• Define M&S strategies as part of Annual Operating Plans for all 3 brands in the UK/IE and OEMEA and input into International LTP. Working on close collaboration with sales strategy, CIMA in the US, DLP Consumer Strategy and all DDI teams

Marketing

• For WDW and DCL across EMEA, lead the creative development, strategic planning and implementation of all paid media touch-points, search, social, CRM and partnerships plans in an integrated way with the rest of the M&S teams (PR, Trade Marketing, Sales, WDTC) and Country teams for OEMEA
• For DLP UK/IE, work in close collaboration with DLP central teams to develop the UK/IE media, social, and CRM plan and influence Pan-European creative.  Brief on local UK/IE needs and follow up on the implementation of all campaigns
• Lead the integrated communication plan (ICP) process and development for all three brands, ensuring the overall plan is strong and compelling, delivering on strategies and is optimised (budget, timings)
• Lead and coordinate all proposed initiatives as part of the annual operating plan (AOP) process
• Retain an on-going link with sales teams across all three brands to ensure integration of marketing plans with sales and distribution initiatives and campaign execution
• Influence, input into overall DDI Program Spends budget working in close collaboration with VP and Senior Finance Manager

Training and Professional Development

• Operate with integrity, champion change and be a good ambassador for DDI and the wider Walt Disney Company (TWDC)
• Operate as part of an effective team, demonstrating an awareness of others, offering support, sharing knowledge and best practices and contributing to the overall achievement of departmental commitments
• Take ownership of your professional development through regular career conversations with your line manager and utilising available resources such as D Learn, instructor led courses and on the job learning
• Proactively suggest ways to improve departmental performance and processes
• Build links with other TWDC functions to develop broader knowledge of the business
• Promote and maintain an inclusive workplace, championing diversity and inclusion and make use of available resources to extend knowledge and best practice
• Manage the training and development of all direct reports ensuring commitments are set, regularly reviewed, and feedback shared where applicable
• Contribute to maintaining and enhancing the standard of training and development, encouraging participation so that everyone has the tools and resources to do their role effectively and efficiently

Areas of Accountability

• Accountable for leading the development of communication strategy for WDW, DCL and DLP
• Accountable for leading definition and validation of offers strategy in close collaboration with US Pricing team for WDW and DCL and commercial hooks strategy for DLP
• Accountable for leading development of Distribution strategy for both Direct and Trade channels
• Accountable for leading the creative development, strategic planning and implementation of all paid media touch-points, search, social, CRM and partnerships plans
• Accountable for leading the creative development, strategic planning and implementation of all paid media touch-points, search, social, CRM and partnerships plans

• Accountable for cultivating and maintaining productive relationships and collaborating across departments internally and externally
• Accountable for delivering against annually agreed performance commitments

Experience and Professional Qualifications Required

• Extensive professional experience working in marketing and/or strategy either in FMCG, luxury, travel or tourism companies

Skills Required

• Ability to think strategically, conceptually and tactically. Able to show agility in balancing short-term recommendations with a long-term vision
• Consumer centric approach with a strong ability to understand, sense/feel, identify what consumers want and need and effectively translate these insights into actionable plans/strategies
• Highly analytical with a strong commercial sense
• Solutions focused, results driven with a strong ability to challenge, question, propose new ideas and opportunities and make them happen
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Proven ability to influence others at all levels in the organization
• Demonstrable strong leadership with direct reports, peers and stakeholders
• Ability to manage a large volume of complex work effectively and efficiently
• Cultural sensitivity

This role will require you to be on-site in Hammersmith 4 days a week.

Application deadline: Please apply by 31st October.

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.