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Operating Participants Manager

Job ID 10132901 Location Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States Business Disney Experiences Date posted Oct. 01, 2025
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Job Summary:

The Operating Participants organization develops and implements strategies related to the procurement and subsequent management of unique and relevant third party “Operating Participant (“OP”)” relationships within Disney Theme Parks, Resorts, Retail, Dining and Entertainment (RD&E) environments as well as any other businesses operated by an OP which supports or enhances the overall Guest Experience at the Walt Disney World® Resort.

General Responsibilities:            

The Operating Participants Manager will have the primary responsibility of managing and developing a varied portfolio of existing Operating Participant Tenants in alignment with organizational priorities and business needs. Specifically, the Manager will be responsible for understanding Tenant obligations and ensuring compliance with Disney Standards for Operating Participant hotels, retail, restaurant, recreation, cart & kiosk, and service provider operations.  Assist with the development of  OP business recommendations to executive stakeholders, negotiating leases, and supporting design and development activities related to renovations and refurbishments of venues currently open for operation or new venues prior to opening to the public. Additionally, this role will provide operational expertise needed to support the business development team and master planning efforts of large scale future tenant related projects. While this role will have the support of the Operating Participants organization, the person in this role is expected to be able to work independently, be resourceful and skilled in leveraging strong networking with internal and external partners to;

  • Drive business performance of your portfolio
  • Streamline effective processes
  • Prioritize work, stay nimble and focused on key priorities
  • Ensure OP Tenants deliver on product and service excellence
     

LEASE MANAGEMENT:

Partner with stakeholders to negotiate Lease Amendments, Services Agreements, letter Agreements and Lease renewal terms related to their portfolio accounts. In addition, this role will be expected to develop and maintain existing lease database/documentation and ensure any changes to deal terms are accurately documented.     Partner with Tenant Coordination (“TC”) Team on all OP design review meetings/coordinate tenant drawing submittals to Disney internal stakeholders/partners and track progress, prepare mitigation/contingency plans and identify any applicable risks to Disney stakeholders, monitor Lease obligations to ensure delivery dates required by lease are met, and leverage tenant design criteria manuals provided by TC.

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT:

Act as Lease administrator or “Landlord” by coordinating of all approval processes, partnering with key internal partners  including WDI (Walt Disney Imagineering); adherence to Disney standards, ensure routine operational audits are conducted and action plans are established and managed; act as owner’s representative on new projects; assist with development, documentation and implementation of any new processes and procedures.

GUESTS/CLIENT SATISFACTION:

Nurture internal and external business relationships at corporate executive and local levels; develop, drive and manage Operating Participant business opportunities; provide guidance and support to Disney operational leadership and LOB/functional key stakeholders.

CAST EXCELLENCE/DEPARTMENT:

Maintenance and development of departmental operating guidelines, policies and procedures; build alliances with key internal and external stakeholders, at all levels of the organization to articulate an understanding of the value of Operating Participant business, make informed recommendations, be a trusted resource, influential partner and consultant in tenanting strategy.

Basic Qualifications       

  • 2+ years' experience working with real estate-related contractual agreements; ability to manage legal contracts/agreements
  • Strong negotiation skills, specifically negotiation of lease Agreement deal terms for new Leases or renewal of existing Lease Agreements
  • Proven ability to lead and serve as subject matter expert related to lease enforcement efforts
  • Proven capability to manage and drive strategic problem solving and the development of practical business solutions
  • Solid financial acumen; ability to manage/forecast business trends; understanding of financial statements (P&L, Cash Flow)
  • Proven ability to communicate in a highly organized, persuasive, confident and credible manner when dealing with executive level partners (internally and externally)
  • Demonstrated success as an effective leader/partner/collaborator
  • Demonstrated skills in developing and maintaining effective business relationships
  • Demonstrated skills/experience with successful Project Management
  • Verbal and written communication skills with proven ability to facilitate challenging discussions in a professional manner
  • Ability to influence Tenants and internal stakeholders
  • Proven self-starter; motivated
  • Operational management experience and expertise in retail, food & beverage, hotel and/or real estate management/development experience
  • Ability to work in a flexible environment with competing priorities – should have strong multi-tasking abilities
  • Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
  • Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

Required Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in business related field or equivalent

Preferred Education

  • Master’s Degree in business related field or equivalent

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About Disney Experiences:

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 Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., which is part of a business we call Disney Experiences.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. 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.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, visit the Disney candidate disability accommodations FAQs. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

Having technical issues? View the FAQs for help.

Hiring Process

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Explore this Location Lake Buena Vista, FL

Lake Buena Vista is home to the Disney Springs retail, dining and entertainment complex, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and several resort hotels are located with the City limits.

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