Director- Product Design - Hardlines

Job ID 10128295 Location Glendale, California, United States Business Disney Experiences Date posted Aug. 18, 2025

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Job Summary:

Director, Product Design - Hardlines

The global licensed product design and development team is responsible for partnering with licensees to design and deliver Disney consumer products, extending the brand into the daily lives of families and fans around the world. We create toys, plush, collectibles, and a wide range of merchandise that inspire children, adults and fans through Disney storytelling, innovation, and exceptional product design. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic team leading the design, development, and execution of Disney Consumer Products.

The Director, Product Design - Hardlines will play a critical role in shaping the creative vision and design direction for our internal teams and licensees, globally. In this role, you will be responsible for toys, such as dolls, playsets, roleplay, plush, and collectibles based on Princess, Frozen, Moana, Walt Disney Animation Studios Properties, Disney Jr., Disney Baby and a range of other properties—aligning with Disney’s renowned design standards as the number one licensor in the world.

This position reports to the Vice President, Product Design, Hardlines for Disney and Pixar Brands.

Responsibilities

Creative Leadership & Design Direction

Exemplify highly creative, strategic, and forward thinking.
Collaborate with the executives and leadership across DCP to align on business priorities and areas of focus.
Provide comprehensive direction to the design team, ensuring all projects align with the overall strategy, creative vision, and business goals.
Ensure product design excellence by maintaining character and story integrity, driving innovation, and championing new ideas to advance the business.
Seek out and apply knowledge of new trends and innovation in marketplace.

Design Oversight

Direct the design development of multiple lines of business and categories.
Lead design reviews and approvals for products and packaging at key development stages with the licensees.
Work closely with leadership to align on specific design strategies, development schedules, and detailed budgets.

Third-Party & Licensee Oversight:

Establish and maintain relationships with licensees and vendors.
Work with licensees in all creative aspects of product and packaging development.
Partner with Studios and third-party content creators, translating characters and stories into marketable and innovative product lines.

Establish processes and design direction to help licensees and 3rd party reviewers understand how to meet product requirements and schedule deliverables.

Leadership & Collaboration:

Lead a collaborative, optimistic design team while mentoring talent and strengthening future leaders.

Foster a high-performance culture within the Global Product Design team.
Identify synergy opportunities within TWDC, promote collaboration within the organization, and leverage shared resources.

Qualifications & Skills

Experience & Expertise

10+ years of experience working in the design industry with a focus on toy design.
Minimum 7 years of demonstrated design leadership across interdisciplinary teams.
Experience leading managers with direct reports and teams of 5 or more employees.
Strong conceptual design skills, with a track record of delivering successful consumer products in the retail market.
Deep knowledge of toy categories, particularly dolls, playsets, roleplay, and plush including manufacturing practices and material specifications.
Excellent presentation and pitching skills with the ability to clearly communicate and sell creative ideas in formal and informal settings.
Expert artistic and professional judgment in solving complex design challenges.
Strong interpersonal and people management skills.
A deep appreciation for Disney’s storytelling and characters.
Passion for continuous learning through Disney educational opportunities and self-directed study.

Technical Skills

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and other design software.
Ability to convey design ideas effectively through drawing, rendering, and presentations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills to collaborate with internal teams and external partners.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in industrial design, toy design or related field.

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $182,700.00 to $245,000.00 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.

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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 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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