Associate Sourcing Manager - Toy Product Development

About the Role & Team:

At Disney Consumer Products, we inspire imagination around the world and 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!

We're looking for a motivated and talented Associate Sourcing Manager - Toys to join our team.  In this role, you'll be instrumental in bringing innovative toy concepts to life within a specific toy product category, from initial design consultation to final product execution.  You'll contribute to our strategic business objectives and ensure the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective products that resonate with our guests.

The best fit for the role deeply understands the importance of quality, on-time delivery, design-to-value (cost engineering), and continuous innovation.  You will need to have a keen eye on optimizing total acquisition cost and ability to identify risk reduction opportunities by cultivating a diverse mix of suppliers across multiple manufacturing countries.

This role will report to the Senior Manager, Merchandise Sourcing and Product Development.

This is a Full-Time role.

What You Will Do:

• Manage the product development lifecycle for an assigned toy category, ensuring on-time delivery and on-budget execution without compromising quality.

• Support the development and execution of sourcing strategies to identify, evaluate, and partner with international manufacturers best suited for your product category, prioritizing partners who consistently meet our quality and delivery standards.  This includes contributing to efforts for diversifying the country of manufacture to reduce geopolitical, economic, and supply chain risks.

• Assist in negotiating terms and pricing with suppliers to achieve optimal cost, quality, and delivery for your product line, always seeking opportunities for design-to-value and contributing to optimizing total acquisition cost (considering factors beyond unit price such as freight, duties, lead times, and inventory carrying costs).

• Apply cost engineering principles to optimize product designs and manufacturing processes, driving profitability through design-to-value initiatives.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including design, marketing, and quality assurance, to ensure seamless integration of product vision and business objectives for your category, with a strong focus on innovation and market appeal.

• Conduct market research and competitor analysis to identify trends and opportunities within your assigned toy category, informing future product development and fostering innovation.

• Stay ahead of industry trends, new materials, and manufacturing techniques to explore innovative solutions for your product range, always considering their impact on quality, design-to-value, and total acquisition cost.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• 3+ years of experience in new product development with specific experience in toy categories.

• Experience working with international suppliers and manufacturers, demonstrating an understanding of global supply chain dynamics.

• Familiarity with sourcing strategies that consider diversifying the country of manufacture to reduce risk and an understanding of factors that contribute to optimizing total acquisition cost.

• Basic to intermediate knowledge of toy materials, manufacturing techniques, and cost engineering, with a willingness to deepen expertise.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.

• An enthusiastic and proactive approach to problem-solving and innovation.

• Experience with the toy manufacturing landscape in India or Latin America is a plus.

Education:

• A bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or a related field is highly preferred.

This role is only available on-site in Kissimmee, Florida. 

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.