Sr Product Manager

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology

Technology is at the heart of Disney’s past, present, and future. Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and more – all working to build and advance the technological backbone for Disney’s media business globally.

The team marries technology with creativity to build world-class products, enhance storytelling, and drive velocity, innovation, and scalability for our businesses. We are Storytellers and Innovators. Creators and Builders. Entertainers and Engineers. We work with every part of The Walt Disney Company’s media portfolio to advance the technological foundation and consumer media touch points serving millions of people around the world. 

Here are a few reasons why we think you’d love working here:

• Building the future of Disney’s media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products and platforms that will power our media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.
• Reach, Scale & Impact: More than ever, Disney’s technology and products serve as a signature doorway for fans' connections with the company’s brands and stories. Disney+. Hulu. ESPN. ABC. ABC News…and many more. These products and brands – and the unmatched stories, storytellers, and events they carry – matter to millions of people globally. 
• Innovation: We develop and implement groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms, and solve complex and distinctive technical problems.

Content Platforms & Operations is responsible for the development and ongoing advancement of the technical and operational functions driving the worldwide distribution and monetization of Disney’s linear networks and theatrical content. This includes Disney’s media supply chain and storage, network and theatrical distribution operations, media localization, network transmission and origination, and more. The global team also plays a critical role as the primary collaboration point for Product & Technology with Disney’s EMEA, APAC, and LATAM regional business teams.

We are the Content Platforms team with a mission to “reimagine the technical ecosystem that empowers The Walt Disney Company to harness its unparalleled storytelling and distribute it around the world.”

Content Platforms is part of the Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology  (DEEPT) segment which is responsible for The Walt Disney Company’s direct-to-consumer businesses globally, including the ESPN+ sports streaming service, programmed in conjunction with ESPN; Disney+, the Disney-branded direct-to-consumer streaming service; global advertising sales and ad technology for all of Disney’s media properties, including ABC, ESPN, Freeform, FX Networks, National Geographic and the Disney Channels; Hotstar, the leading over-the-top streaming service in India; and the Company’s majority ownership stake in Hulu.

If you: 

• Enjoy working with teams of talented and passionate people 
• Enjoy transforming business strategy into innovative products & platforms
• Find Media & Entertainment industry fascinating
• Have the curiosity and interests in how content goes from inception to consumers
• Employ positive thinking and are able to work constructively in a diverse team setting 
• Demonstrate determination in finding solutions to complex puzzles 
• Value learning and being exposed to new experiences 

then Content Platforms team is the place for you. We are growing and investing in innovative technology to deliver a state-of-the-art content pipeline. Come be a part of the magic that makes The Walt Disney Company one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies”

Job Summary:

The Content Platforms’ Avails Team is looking for a Product Manager to guide the development, execution and success of products that enable rights distribution of The Walt Disney Company’s amazing content through channels such as Disney+, Hulu, and licensing partners. You will play a key role in defining the future of the content supply chain that powers the distribution of Disney content across the globe.

Acting as the bridge between the business stakeholders, design and engineering, you will define product strategy, translate customer needs into product features, and drive cross-functional teams towards delivering high-impact solutions. This role requires strong analytical skills, user empathy, prioritization abilities to balance innovation, business value, and technical feasibility. Success in fast-paced, collaborative settings and attention to detail are essential.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:

• Collaborate with business partners and cross-functional teams to identify and clearly define business requirements
• Align business partners and cross-functional teams on product vision and strategy
• Exhibit natural and intuitive user empathy
• Can clearly articulate product strategy and manage business partners expectations accordingly
• Make thoughtful, well documented assumptions
• Assist in process alignment and standardization
• Own product management for a distinct Product/Platform in the Rights Avails domain
• Define and align Product Roadmaps, clearly communicating the connection between vision, strategy, objectives, and roadmap
• Own definition of cost/benefit analysis and prepare lean business case
• Establish and drive towards realistic product targets / KPIs
• Active use of product frameworks and tools to document information in a structured way (user journey maps, flow, information architecture, etc.)
• Lead business partner engagements to analyze the value proposition of business requests and provide alternative solutions, as needed to ensure we stay consistently focused on the product strategy
• Manage maintenance and prioritization of product backlog, ensuring transparent, well aligned & justified prioritization within your area of responsibility
• Guide team through selecting, crafting, and validating effective solutions for problems
• Slice solutions to a viable minimum product that effectively solve prioritized requirements
• Key participant of daily scrum meetings, planning, reviews, and retrospectives
• Coordinate major product releases
• Own system processes, user guides, and training materials on product features where needed
• Collaborate, partner and coordinate with cross-functional teams (engineering, design, QA, and product leadership) to streamline product features and enhance business processes
• Partner with engineering and program managers to implement solutions aligned with the product strategy and Content Platforms strategic objectives
• Mentor junior product managers
• Support any other activities / duties to help achieve business objectives

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• 5+ year of product management experience, preferably in digital/mobile environment
• Demonstrate strong product understanding and platform familiarity
• Self-starter and can work independently under time constraints and meet deadlines
• Demonstrate strong presentation and ability to clearly communicate goals, status, and issues
• Demonstrate strong technical writing skills
• Demonstrate ability to derive actionable insights or alternative solutions through research
• Demonstrate ability to craft and validate problems
• Efficiently support experimentation execution and analysis, such as proof of concepts
• Demonstrate ability to define Product Roadmaps
• Demonstrate understanding of business modeling and analysis vis structured cost/benefit analysis
• Demonstrate understanding and ability to write and prioritize user stories
• Demonstrate ability to adjust and pivot as business strategy and product priorities shifts
• Experienced in leading and/or facilitating business workshops
• Exhibits a clear understanding of development process, methodologies, and tools
• Can provide informal guidance to junior team members
• Exhibits appreciation and experience in incorporating data science and analytics in holistic product solutions

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in technology related fields, such as Information Systems, Computer Science, or similar field
• Exposure or experience with Agile development tools, such as Jira and Confluence
• Knowledge of or experience in media & entertainment industry
• Enthusiasm and interests in Disney brands
• Understanding of media production workflows, digital video workflows, or consumer-facing video product features
• Knowledge and experience in product management for content rights and availability

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $138,900 to $186,200 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.