Senior Costume Buyer - Internal Assignment / Project Hire

About the Role & Team:

Through innovative storytelling and a culture of collaboration, Disney Live Entertainment creates, produces, and delivers remarkable and engaging entertainment experiences. From the intimate to the spectacular, our work can be seen at Disney theme parks, resort hotels, cruise ships, and other locations the world over. This diverse team – representing a wide variety of disciplines and talents from technical directors, writers and lighting designers to choreographers, cosmetologists, and music producers – brings magical worlds to life through technical expertise, performance excellence, incomparable ingenuity, unparalleled spectacle… and a dash of pixie dust.  

Senior Costume Buyers facilitate resourcing and the purchase of various raw, soft/hard, and finished goods that support entertainment offerings around the globe. This individual would continually stay on top of apparel industry trends and is instrumental to the costume supply chain. The Senior Costume Buyer will replenish existing products as well as assist with new development as needed. They facilitate conversations with vendors all over the world to get high-quality products on time and on budget. This position reports to the Area Manager - Costume Buying. 

This is a full-time role.  

This role is an Internal Assignment/Project Hire with no guarantee of permanent placement.

What You Will Do:

• Work closely with vendors to source, develop, and procure product that meets all organization requirements, and initiatives 

• Monitor warehouse inventory and complete withdrawal transactions as needed 

• Place orders for garments and accessories in SAP, and monitor delivery dates for commodities/components being ordered 

• Develop and maintain relationships with vendors 

• Seek and onboard new vendors 

• Partner with Costuming Operations to maintain costume quality and design 

• Implement The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) procurement policies and guidelines 

• Meets customer service requirements for service, quality, and value at the lowest total cost 

• Develop new vendor contracts to sustain inventory levels  

• Maintain files of signed vendor contracts, proposal requests, and bid exception forms 

• Communicate all production status as well as product updates to Team, Issue, and Line of Business 

• Mentor and provide feedback to others to further develop the team  

• Provide feedback, mentor, and discipline hourly union/nonunion employees 

• Research, analyze, and onboard international and domestic sources of supply 

• Lead projects with multiple styles and vendors with a highly complex sourcing strategy 

• Develop and lead sourcing initiatives 

• Develop bid strategies for large packages of products 

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• 5+ years of experience in apparel or hardline purchasing and/or sourcing 

• Previous experience with garment construction and terminology 

• Skilled in international shipping processes, global sourcing, and compliance  

• Prior experience in planning, problem-solving, conflict resolution, influencing, and negotiating 

• Strong communication skills and ease in collaborating both in-person and virtually with all levels of leadership, including Executives

• Proven experience in managing a portfolio of orders

• Experience vetting, onboarding, and leading international sources of supply 

• Skilled in performing complex cost analysis and comparisons on a range of commodities

• Experience leading workflow, project budgets, and continuous improvement processes

• Previous experience evaluating vendors to ensure compliance 

• Experience gaining consensus from various levels of collaborators up to and including Executives 

• Ability to work around all types of fabrics, fibers, and synthetic furs 

• Willingness to travel both domestically and internationally up to 20% of the time

• Ability to travel between work locations in each day

• Schedule availability to work flexible hours including weekends, nights, and holidays

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with International vendors

• Skilled in fabric procurement

• Experience with SAP purchasing module, Yunique PLM, and/or Access  

• Knowledge using SharePoint and/or Smartsheet  

• Experience with garment specification or technical specification writing  

• Multilingual

Required Education:

• High School diploma or equivalent

Preferred Education:

• Advanced degree in Merchandising, Costuming, Apparel, or related field

Additional Information:

Benefits and Perks: 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.

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