Senior Manager, DTC Brand Partnerships

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Senior Manager, DTC Brand Partnerships

🔹 Company: The Walt Disney Company

🔹 Location: London, United Kingdom

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid (4 days in-office, 1 day remote)

🔹 Category: Partnership Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: May 6, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 7-8 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site with some flexibility

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading sponsorship sales efforts for Disney+ in the UK
• Managing a small team to deliver integrated partnership opportunities
• Collaborating with internal stakeholders and external partners
• Driving revenue and ensuring best-in-class sponsorship offerings

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and the ability to navigate complex global organizations.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead sponsorship sales efforts for Disney+ in the UK, delivering both on-platform and off-platform opportunities

✅ Manage a small team focused on delivering sponsorship and integrated partnerships opportunities for Disney+

✅ Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including sales enablement, trade marketing, operations, legal, and programming, to prioritize and package sponsorship offerings

✅ Work alongside the agency sales team to identify priority target brands and partners, and ensure coverage of key decision-makers in agencies

✅ Manage relationships with sponsorship teams in agencies, delivering and servicing them with best-in-class sponsorship opportunities across Disney+

✅ Proactively target brands directly for relevant opportunities

✅ Lead a regional taskforce to support local market teams across EMEA in developing their sponsorship offering, sharing learnings, and guidance

✅ Coordinate with US and global counterparts to ascertain relevant global packages, best practices, and target accounts

✅ Work with various stakeholders across the organization to align on priorities and collaborate on opportunities, ensuring excellent communication and information sharing

✅ Require high personal accountability for self and others, involving internal stakeholder management and influencing senior executive thinking, both internally and externally

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration, requiring strong communication and influencing skills.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Graduate level or equivalent experience (essential)

Experience: A minimum of 7-8 years in a partnership role (essential), with prior experience in DTC or subscription services role

Required Skills:

• Strong multifaceted deal negotiation skills (essential)
• Experience with international or global partnerships deals
• Good understanding of media landscape and ideally TV/CTV experience
• An understanding of IP rights, protocol, and processes
• Experience of successfully influencing senior management & direct reports
• Consultative selling – understanding different objectives that a partner might have, and an ability to design campaigns to meet those (essential)
• Confident communicator with exceptional presentation skills (essential)
• Inter-company collaboration – the ability to build strong collaborative relationships within The Walt Disney Company, across all lines of business (essential)
• Extensive knowledge of PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, Excel & Keynote (essential)
• Familiarity with multi-market deal structures and the ability to navigate complex global matrix organizations
• A deep understanding of the competitive DTC market place: competitor offerings as well as competitors from across the spectrum of entertainment partnerships
• Ability to work in a multi-cultured and multi-faceted environment
• Strong network of contacts with brands
• Knowledge of subscription, loyalty, or reward programmes beneficial.

Preferred Skills:

• Fluency in additional languages
• Experience working with Disney or other major entertainment brands

ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate will have a strong background in partnership management, with a proven track record in driving revenue growth through strategic partnerships.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £70,000 - £90,000 per annum (AI-estimated, based on market research and company size)

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
• Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
• Excellent parental and guardian leave
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with 4 days working in the Hammersmith, London office and 1 day working from home (Monday or Friday)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and company size. Actual salary may vary based on individual qualifications and experience.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Entertainment Providers

Company Size: 10,001+ employees

Founded: 1992

Company Description:

• Disneyland Paris is a magical place where dreams come true, welcoming over 320 million visitors since its opening in 1992
• The company offers a dynamic and multicultural work environment with over 15,000 Cast Members
• Disneyland Paris has 500 different job profiles across corporate and operations departments

Company Specialties:

• Marketing
• Communication
• Engineering
• Human Resources
• Sales
• Finance
• Legal
• Real Estate Development
• Information Technology
• Event Management
• Supply Chain
• Logistics
• Purchasing
• Revenue Management
• Studies
• Strategy
• Audit
• Construction
• Pricing
• Hospitality
• Tourism

Company Website: careers.disneylandparis.com

ASSUMPTION: Disneyland Paris is a large, multinational corporation with a diverse range of job opportunities across various departments.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Senior Manager

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of EMEA Advertising and will manage a small team

Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with 4 days working in the Hammersmith, London office and 1 day working from home (Monday or Friday)

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to expand the role's scope and team size based on performance and business needs
• Opportunities to work on global projects and collaborate with international teams
• Career progression within the Disney organization, including potential moves to other departments or locations

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand the role's scope, work on global projects, and progress within the organization.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space in Hammersmith, London

Office Location(s): Hammersmith, London

Geographic Context:

• London is a major global city with a vibrant entertainment industry
• The Hammersmith area is well-connected by public transportation and offers a range of amenities
• London is home to numerous entertainment providers, agencies, and brands, providing ample opportunities for partnership collaborations

Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible working arrangements (1 day remote per week)

ASSUMPTION: The Hammersmith, London office is a modern, collaborative workspace located in a well-connected area with ample opportunities for partnership collaborations.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
• On-site or virtual interview with the hiring team
• Final interview with the Head of EMEA Advertising
• Background check and offer extension

Key Assessment Areas:

• Partnership management and negotiation skills
• Strategic thinking and planning
• Communication and presentation skills
• Collaboration and stakeholder management
• Understanding of the media landscape and DTC market

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare examples of successful partnership deals and campaigns you've worked on
• Research Disney's partnership offerings and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth
• Practice your presentation skills and be ready to deliver a compelling pitch for a hypothetical partnership opportunity

ATS Keywords: Partnership Management, Brand Partnerships, Sponsorship Sales, Disney+, DTC, Subscription Services, Media Landscape, Global Partnerships, Stakeholder Management, Consultative Selling, Presentation Skills

ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's partnership management and negotiation skills, strategic thinking, communication and presentation skills, collaboration and stakeholder management, and understanding of the media landscape and DTC market.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, Excel)
• CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
• Video conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams)

ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will be proficient in using Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant tools for project management, communication, and collaboration.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Innovation
• Quality
• Excellence
• Inclusion
• Integrity
• Optimism
• Decisiveness

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Fast-paced and dynamic
• Data-driven and analytical
• Creative and innovative
• Results-focused and accountable

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you approach building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, both internally and externally?
• How do you balance the need for strategic, long-term planning with the requirement for quick decision-making and execution?
• How do you ensure excellent communication and information sharing across a complex, global organization?

ASSUMPTION: Disney values a collaborative, innovative, and results-driven work environment, with a strong focus on quality, excellence, and inclusion.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing a small team remotely, with only one day in the office per week
• Navigating a complex, global matrix organization
• Balancing the need to prioritize and package sponsorship offerings with the requirement to deliver and service agency partners
• Keeping up with the fast-paced and ever-evolving entertainment landscape

ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate will be able to navigate these challenges effectively, with strong organizational skills, adaptability, and a results-driven mindset.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is unique in its focus on DTC brand partnerships for Disney+, requiring a strong understanding of the competitive DTC market place and subscription services
• Compared to traditional media partnerships, this role requires a deeper understanding of the DTC ecosystem and the ability to identify integrated opportunities beyond subscriptions
• Career progression in this role could lead to global or regional leadership positions within Disney's advertising or partnership teams

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to specialize in DTC brand partnerships for a major entertainment provider, with potential for global career progression.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive sponsorship strategy for Disney+ in the UK, including on-platform and off-platform opportunities
• Negotiating and closing a major brand partnership deal, delivering incremental revenue and brand exposure for Disney+
• Managing a regional taskforce to support local market teams across EMEA in developing their sponsorship offerings, sharing learnings, and guidance

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects reflect the strategic, collaborative, and results-driven nature of the role, requiring strong partnership management, negotiation, and communication skills.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does this role fit into the broader organizational structure, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
• What are the most significant challenges facing the team currently, and how can this role help address them?
• How does the company support the growth and development of its employees, particularly in this role?
• What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured?
• How does the company approach collaboration and information sharing across its global matrix organization?

ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help the candidate understand the role's context, priorities, and expectations, as well as the company's approach to employee growth and development.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare examples of successful partnership deals and campaigns you've worked on
• Research Disney's partnership offerings and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth
• Practice your presentation skills and be ready to deliver a compelling pitch for a hypothetical partnership opportunity
• Follow up with the hiring team one week after submission to confirm receipt of your application

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.