Operations Leadership Development Manager

About the Role & Team

The Operations Training team supports Operations at the Walt Disney World Resort by delivering strategic, innovative learning experiences that prepare and develop Operations Leaders to lead their teams in creating exceptional Guest experiences. Our purpose is to ensure Leaders build their skills, confidence, and mindset needed to lead and inspire Cast Members.

The Operations Leader Development Manager is responsible for the strategy, design, and implementation of leadership development solutions. This role partners closely with senior leadership to identify and translate business strategies into impactful learning experiences that strengthen leadership effectiveness at all levels.

This role leads the full lifecycle of leadership development content—ensuring relevance, scalability, and measurable impact—and serves as a trusted consultant and thought partner to executive stakeholders.

You will report to the Manager of Instructional Design.

What You Will Do:

• Build deep knowledge of Operations businesses to identify leadership capability gaps and proactively recommend leadership development strategies aligned to short- and long-term business goals.

• Translate organizational priorities, cultural values, and leadership expectations into cohesive leadership learning journeys.

• Serve as a strategic consultant to business leaders by leveraging research, observation, and performance insights to influence leadership development decisions.

• Lead collaborative discovery sessions with executives, leaders, and internal partners to define learning outcomes and co-create leadership solutions, gaining alignment and commitment to initiatives.

• Design and oversee engaging leadership learning experiences including instructor-led programs, virtual learning, blended solutions, cohort-based experiences, and self-directed development.

• Apply adult learning principles, experiential learning, and real-world application to ensure leadership skill transfer and sustained behavior change.

• Ensure learning solutions are inclusive and support diverse learning styles and leadership experiences.

• Own and manage leadership development initiatives end-to-end, including scoping, planning, execution, risk management, and evaluation of outcomes, monitoring effectives and continuously improving.

• Provide creative direction and collaborate with graphics and multimedia partners to deliver visually compelling and on-brand leadership learning solutions.

• Ensure accuracy, quality, company nomenclature, copyright compliance, and alignment with business, legal, safety, and regulatory standards.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Experience creating learning solutions using instructional design models and techniques

• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills are required, as well as knowledge of how to write and produce video.

• Ability to work with ambiguity and agility in a constantly evolving environment

• Ability to present a clear, thorough content strategy to various audiences and articulate how this approach supports the learning objectives defined

• Ability to quickly absorb organizational nuances and needs to “speak the language” of the client

• Ability to gain credibility and influence executive audiences with strong executive communication skills

• Project management experience/skills, with a high level of organization and the ability to prioritize multiple projects at once with little direction

• Experience writing in a professional setting including but not limited to stories, project plans, storyboards, technical skills, designs, and/or content for learning experiences

• Ability to understand business strategy and translate it into learning solutions

• Experience developing in-person, computer-based, and video training

• Lead development of training experiences, including guidance towards graphic design and video components

• Understanding of adult learning principles and hands-on experiential learning activities

• Experience presenting or engaging with all levels of an organization including senior executives

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years’ experience in Project Management

• 3+ years of experience as an Instructional Designer

• Disney experience including managing Operations Cast Members

• Experience with Articulate Storyline

• Prior experience in designing programs for various subject matters and audiences

• Proven experience with facilitating meetings to achieve objectives, such as content or information-gathering meetings

• Master's degree or equivalent experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Content/Instructional Design, Organizational Design, or Communications) or equivalent work experience

Our Benefits: Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits 

The hiring range for this position in Florida is $68,600.00-$91,900.00 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.