Area Manager - Costume Production

About The Role & Team Through innovative storytelling and collaboration, Disney Live Entertainment creates, produces, and delivers remarkable and engaging entertainment experiences! From the intimate to the spectacular, our work can be seen at Disney theme parks, resort hotels, cruise ships, and other locations the world over. This diverse team – representing a wide variety of fields and talents from technical directors, writers and lighting designers to choreographers, cosmetologists, and music producers – brings magical worlds to life through technical expertise, performance excellence, incomparable ingenuity, unparalleled spectacle… and a dash of pixie dust!

The Area Manager – Costume Production is responsible for leading the Production Workroom at the DC-4 Warehouse made up of Cast Members who manage and support supplies, cutting, garment construction, embroidery, and millinery. This role will provide guidance and feedback that promotes development and inclusion. They must also understand how to balance creative needs with budgetary constraints that all collaborators find agreeable.

This position reports to the Senior Manager - Costume Production & Sustainment.

This role is a Full-Time role.

What You Will Do

• Lead Costume Teams that meet or exceed the expectations of Partners/Guests, ensuring a consistent product as well as a high level of customer service
• Provide daily leadership, coaching, and mentoring to the team, including ensuring the team receives accurate training and understands how to perform their role
• Monitor, analyze, and take action on costume inventory quantity, costume show quality, operating labor, and expenses affecting annual financial targets using programs that include but are not limited to SAP, Maximo, and Yunique PLM
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with partners and support business requests in a dynamic environment
• Ensure division and segment strategies are being achieved
• Look for areas of opportunity to improve efficiency and strive for consistent processes within Disney Live Entertainment Costuming
• Oversee and establish process and Operating Guides
• Improve Guest service in this Cast-serving-Cast environment by communicating new and innovative ideas to help drive the Costuming organization to new heights
• Participate in annual budget planning
• Lead replenishment planning sessions or work in tandem with operational teams for annual costume production and replenishment planning
• Prepare cost estimate and the ability to fulfill project management function
• Partner with Operational Costuming areas for the procurement and disposition of Entertainment Costumes
• Understand fabrics, manufacturing, and cleaning processes as related to Entertainment Costumes
• Establish and maintain partnerships that support the implementation of new products

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a leadership role with direct and indirect reports
• 3+ years of experience in Costuming, Theater, Live Entertainment, Garment Manufacturing, Fashion, or other related field
• Experience in garment construction and performing fittings
• Experience mentoring and providing direction to Salaried and Hourly Union Cast
• Proficient in solving conflict and gaining consensus in a way that all partners feel heard and understood
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage partners at all levels both internally and externally
• Willing to travel between various work locations in a given day
• Ability to work around all types of fibers, fabrics, and synthetic furs
• Schedule availability to work flexible hours including weekends, nights, and holidays
• Ability to travel domestically & internationally up to 10% of the time

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in garment specification or technical specification writing
• Previous experience in Textiles or the Apparel industry
• Experience working on new entertainment offerings
• Knowledge in various purchasing software Maximo, GUS, CLO, Adobe Suite, and Yunique PLM
• Prior experience working with a collective bargaining agreement and Unionized Cast
• Skilled in international shipping processes and global sourcing

Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Advanced Degree in Merchandising, Costuming, Apparel, or related fields 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.

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