Lead Product Manager - Project Hire

The Enterprise Technology mission is to deliver technology solutions that align with business strategies while enabling enterprise efficiency and promoting cross-company collaborative innovation. The Enterprise Technology organization drives our competitive advantage by enhancing consumer experiences, enabling business growth, and advancing operational excellence. Enterprise Technology is guided by the principles of being service-focused and collaborative, being biased for action and innovation, and being efficient through leverage of TWDC scale and continuous improvement.  

The Technology Process and Performance organization partners across all organizations to drive process efficiencies and effectiveness by measuring the organization's performance and driving excellence. As part of the TP&P team, the Vendor Management Office (VMO) measures our services and technology partners' operational excellence and efficiencies. We partner with sourcing to drive process improvement in our vendor sourcing process and procedures to promote a competitive environment that will allow The Walt Disney Company and Enterprise Technology to connect, empower, and protect the magic.  

Lead Product Solutions Manager (VMO) will identify and implement technologies and systems to automate, streamline, and manage VMO processes. The candidate will work closely with delivery teams, sourcing, finance, legal, and segment partners to exploit capabilities in both existing and new technologies to support holistic vendor management. This includes:

• Integrate, harmonize, and join disparate data sets across multiple sources to develop and implement reporting and analytic capabilities.

• Apply statistical and machine learning techniques to analyze and interpret data and create "what if" modeling capabilities.

• Capture and translate business requirements to data and product solutions, working with engineers, SMEs, and stakeholders to implement technologies and systems.

• Perform technical vendor evaluations (of existing and new vendors) of capabilities and delivery, and advance to drive ongoing strategies.

• Assess vendor technical pitches for fit, function, and alignment to TWDC strategy.

• Assess and determine leverage of vendor specific software solutions, and alignment to strategy and ecosystem.

Relationship Management:

Lead Product Solutions Manager will interact directly with executives and leaders across Enterprise Technology to gather requirements, define needs, and provide product solutions and systems for VMO.

• Support the ongoing maturation of vendor management operations services & processes.

• Partner with other teams and departments to workshop solutions, tools, and reporting/analytics requirements.

• Support VMO organizational change management efforts.

Product Solutions Engineering:

• Identify and implement technologies and systems to automate, streamline, and manage VMO processes. Includes defining user stories and business acceptance criteria.

• Integrate, harmonize, and join disparate data sets across multiple sources to develop and implement reporting and analytic capabilities. Working closely with other technology product owners and ensuring the accuracy of the data and data integrations.

• Assess and drive technology innovation across multiple vendors and teams to ensure ongoing modernization.

• Apply statistical and machine learning techniques to analyze and interpret data and create “what if” modeling capabilities.

• Exploit capabilities in both existing and new technologies to support holistic vendor management. Defining technical requirements to meet business needs.

• Perform technical vendor evaluations (of existing and new vendors) of capabilities and delivery, and advances to drive ongoing strategies.

• Assess vendor technical pitches for fit, function, and alignment to TWDC strategy.

• Assess and determine leverage of vendor-specific SW and alignment to strategy and ecosystem.

General Administrative:

• Support data visualization requests for quarterly/annual planning.

• Support ad-hoc or project data requests.

• Support ad-hoc executive-level reporting requests.

• Weekly status reporting

This is a 22-month Project Hire position with no guarantee of permanent placement.

Minimum Experience

• Experience as a data analyst supporting large IT initiatives as part of an Enterprise Technology Organization, with a proven track record of delivering insights and recommendations to inform strategic decision-making.

• Experience working in a large multi-business unit environment, with an understanding of how to navigate complex organizational structures and work effectively with stakeholders from different business units.

• Familiarity with product management methodologies and tools, with experience managing vendor management workflows and data-related projects from inception to completion.

• Knowledge of vendor management governance and best practices, with a strong focus on product solutions that enable operational efficiencies.

• Experience in data cleansing, transformation, and integration, with the ability to identify and resolve data quality issues.

• Ability to identify and articulate insights and recommendations from complex data sets, with strong data visualization and storytelling skills.

• A passion for learning and staying up to date with the latest trends and developments in data analytics and technology.

Skills

• Proficiency in statistical and machine learning technologies, with a proven track record in the implementation of product solutions to support business reporting and analytics.

• Familiarity with collaborative platforms such as SharePoint, Confluence, and Jira.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams and manage work effectively within deadlines.

• Strong customer service and communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.

• Advanced analytical skills, with a strong problem-solving and creative ability.

• Experience in implementing various technology stacks, including COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) and custom-developed solutions.

• Experience developing data visualization and reporting using tools such as PowerBI, Tableau, Airtable, or Smartsheet.

• Expertise in using Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

• Demonstrate ability to work independently, stay organized, and prioritize work accordingly.

Preferred Experience

• 7+ years of professional experience in a technology-related department, with a focus on data analysis, data modeling, or data management.

• Technology experience including infrastructure design & implementation, application development, or systems work.

• Strong understanding of statistical concepts and methods, with experience in statistical modeling and analysis.

• Experience in implementing data governance solutions, including data quality, metadata management, and data security.

• Experience in data visualization and reporting tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms.

• Familiarity with delivering product solutions using Agile methodologies.

• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and resolve data-related issues efficiently and effectively.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate insights and recommendations to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

Preferred Skills

• Strong communication and analytical skills to recommend innovative solutions that support business objectives.

• Excellent planning and organizing skills to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

• Effective verbal, written, and presentation skills to articulate insights and recommendations.

• Ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.

• Results-driven mindset with a focus on delivering high-quality work.

• Financial planning skills to create meaningful reports and communicate financial insights.

Education

• BA/BS degree in Information Technology or Business-related field. 

• MBA (Preferred)

#DISNEYTECH

The hiring range for this position in California is $136,038 - $182,490 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.