Sr Manager, Store Design

The Walt Disney Company; Kissimmee (FL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Rewards package

Benefits overview

Job summary

The Walt Disney Company is seeking a Senior Manager, Store Design to lead end-to-end design and delivery of Disney retail environments across parks, resorts, cruise and retail locations. You will steer concept development, design execution, and project delivery while upholding Disney storytelling, brand standards, and guest-centric excellence.

Reporting to the Director, Store Design & Development, you will mentor a multi-disciplinary team, manage budgets and timelines, and partner with

Qualifications

• Minimum 8+ years of experience in retail design or related architectural design roles with a major retail company or top design agency.
• 3+ years of management experience leading professional design teams.
• Strong ability to read and interpret architectural/engineering documents and shop drawings.
• Deep knowledge of building codes, retail design standards, and construction processes.
• Proven ability to communicate design concepts to leadership and cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day store design activities from concept through project completion aligned with goals, brand standards, and operations.
• Oversee design concepts, layouts, finishes, fixtures, and visual storytelling for Disney retail environments.
• Provide leadership and development to the Store Design & Development team in a collaborative culture.
• Review drawings and vendor shop drawings to ensure accuracy and code compliance.
• Drive program delivery with multiple projects, meeting timelines and budget requirements.
• Identify risks and maintain momentum and schedule integrity across projects.
• Resolve design issues during construction and build-out with internal and external teams.
• Lead cross-functional meetings to align direction and coordinate with partners.
• Represent Store Design in forums, offering design leadership and guidance.
• Build relationships with Operations, Merchandising, Facilities, AE, and vendors to support goals.
• Support pilot programs and design initiatives that enhance performance and guest experience.
• Ensure projects reflect Disney's quality, storytelling, and guest experience across destinations.

Skills

Retail design

Team leadership

Architectural design

Branded environment

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Project Management, or related field

Tools

CAD

3D rendering

Enscape

SketchUp

Rhino

VRay

Job description

Job ID 10156032 Location Kissimmee, Florida, United States Business Disney Experiences Date posted Oct. 27, 2026

At Disney Consumer Products, we inspire imagination around the worldand are committed to creating happiness for families and fans by bringing captivating, inspiring, and inclusive products into their daily lives. From toys to t-shirts, console games, books, and more, our team brings our beloved brands and franchises into the lives of families through products and experiences that can be found worldwide, such as the Disney Store e-commerce platform, Disney Parks, local and international retailers, and Disney Store locations around the world.

The Senior Manager, Store Design is a knowledgeable specialist and strategic leader responsible for the end-to-end design and delivery of retail environments across Walt Disney Parks, Resorts, and Disney Signature Experiences, ensuring every space reflects Disney's storytelling, brand standards, and guest-centric excellence in our theme parks, resorts, cruise, vacation, travel, and retail destinations.

This is a Full-Time role

You will report to the Director, Store Design & Development

You must also submit a digital portfolio. Please share or disable any passwords for efficient review of portfolios.

What You Will Do

In this management role, you will lead multiple related store design teams, guiding concept development, design execution, and project delivery for retail locations that support Walt Disney World and special locations creative, guest-focused, and consumer-driven business. You will set departmental strategies and priorities, allocate resources, and partner across operations, merchandising, facilities, and external vendors to deliver innovative, on-brand environments that elevate the guest and consumer experience. This role matters because it connects design vision to business goals, requiring a strategic, collaborative, detail-oriented leader who can mentor others, manage complexity, and drive results in a fast-paced, multi-project environment.

• Lead and manage day-to-day store design activities from concept through project completion, ensuring alignment with business goals, brand standards, and operational needs.
• Oversee the creation of design concepts, store layouts, finish selections, fixture design, and visual storytelling elements that bring Disney stories to life in retail environments.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to the Store Design & Development team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and an inclusive, team-oriented culture.
• Review, interpret, and provide direction on architectural drawings, engineering documents, and vendor shop drawings to ensure accuracy, adherence to design intent, and compliance with codes and standards.
• Drive project management excellence by managing multiple concurrent projects, ensuring deliverables meet established timelines, budgets, and quality expectations in fast-paced environments.
• Monitor and manage all design milestones and deliverables, proactively identifying risks and implementing solutions to maintain project momentum and schedule integrity.
• Resolve design issues quickly during construction and build-out phases, partnering with internal and external teams to protect design intent and guest experience.
• Lead cross-functional meetings to align design direction, communicate changes, and ensure seamless coordination across partners and stakeholders.
• Represent Store Design as the subject matter expert in internal and external forums, providing guidance, recommendations, and design leadership while influencing without direct authority.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with partners across Operations, Merchandising, Facilities, Architecture & Engineering, and external vendors to support shared objectives and guest-focused outcomes.
• Contribute to departmental innovation by supporting pilot programs, process improvements, and new design initiatives that enhance creative, consumer, and operational performance.
• Ensure all projects reflect Disney's commitment to quality, storytelling, and exceptional guest experience across theme parks, resorts, cruise, and retail locations.
• Define strategies, expectations, and priorities that connect team responsibilities to company-wide goals, empowering teams to pursue solutions for both immediate and future challenges.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Minimum 8+ years of experience in retail design, store planning, or related architectural design roles including branded architecture or experiential design, with a major retail company or top design agency.
• 3+ years of management experience leading professional design teams.
• Strong proficiency in reading and interpreting architectural and engineering documents, shop drawings, and specifications.
• Deep knowledge of building codes, retail design standards, and construction processes for store environments.
• Ability to communicate design concepts visually and verbally to leadership and cross-functional partners, including executive stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage multiple fast-paced projects with strict adherence to budget, schedule, and quality requirements.
• Demonstrated success working within cross-functional teams and influencing without authority in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Project).
• Proficiency in 3D rendering and visualization tools and familiarity with CAD-based workflows.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills; results-oriented, self-motivated, and able to operate independently while escalating appropriately.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in leadership roles within multi-unit or experiential retail environments such as theme parks, resorts, cruise, or destination retail.
• Expert skills in 3D modeling, CAD, and rendering tools (e.g., SketchUp, Rhino, 3DS, Enscape, VRay) and familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite for environmental and retail graphics.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Project Management, or related field with emphasis on retail or experiential environments preferred

Additional Information:

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 (opens in new window) .

#DCPJobs

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The hiring range for this position in Florida is $134,500 to $180,400 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.

Disney Experiences brings the magic of Disney stories and franchises to life through theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, unique vacation experiences, products and more around the world. Disney shines in the travel industry with six resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Plus, Disney's global consumer products operations include the world's leading licensing business; the world's largest children's publishing brands; one of the world's largest licensors of games across all platforms; and Disney store locations around the world and on the web.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Disney Global Product Dev & Creative, which is part of a business we call Disney Experiences.

Disney Global Product Dev & Creative is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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