As the Sr. Manager, Creative Talent Pathways, you will lead the strategy and execution of external filmmaker accelerators and strategic partnerships in partnership with the Director, Creative Talent Pathways and VP, RISE This role focuses on cultivating a pipeline of directors, producers, and writers for opportunities within The Walt Disney Company by collaborating with leading non-profit organizations. Additionally, you will oversee the team’s charitable giving strategy, managing both the dedicated budget and key partner relationships.
Responsibilities
Strategic Partnership & Program Leadership
- Lead the end-to-end strategy for Creative Talent Pathway (CTP) external partnerships and filmmaker accelerator partnerships, ensuring alignment with industry trends.
- Design and construct program timelines, milestones, and curricula in collaboration with creative executives, senior leaders, and external partner organizations.
- Develop and refine evaluation rubrics for candidates and program success; consistently audit programs for efficacy and adjust strategy, budgets, and metrics accordingly.
Executive Engagement & Systems Management
- Establish robust selection committees by engaging creative executives across the company; utilize proactive systems management to ensure their participation is a seamless, frictionless experience.
- Participate directly in selection committees by assessing creative materials and leading candidate interviews and deliberation sessions.
- Socialize programs with senior leadership to facilitate high-level engagement between Disney Studio (TWDS) leaders and key partner organizations.
- Assist the Director, CTP, in developing and presenting broader strategy and individual initiatives to senior leadership across the enterprise.
Philanthropy & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
- Act as the primary CTP liaison for Corporate Social Responsibility, O&I, and Enterprise teams to manage the Disney Studio’s charitable giving portfolio.
- Manage budgets for all external partner programs; track annual giving, collaborate with third parties on investment plans, and provide insights for team budget forecasting.
- Work in partnership with CSR and other Creative Talent Pathway teams across Disney Entertainment to ensure synergy and consistency in charitable giving and enterprise inclusion goals.
- Oversee the submission process and strategy for relevant industry awards for the TWDC.
Talent Pipeline & Alumni Relations
- Identify best-in-class non-profits and artist accelerators focused on equity and access; maintain deep relationships with organizations running emerging filmmaker labs.
- Read and assess creative materials from filmmakers emerging from non-profit partnerships to identify high-potential talent.
- Partner with the CTP Manager to facilitate general meetings between creative executives and program alumni; actively identify placement opportunities for alumni across the Disney ecosystem.
- Prepare and brief filmmakers ahead of internal executive meetings, providing essential context and strategic guidance to ensure all interactions are high-impact and highly productive for both parties.
Enterprise Collaboration & Representation
- Maintain strong working relationships with Studio Communications, Legal, Finance, Content Advisement, and Inclusion Strategy teams to ensure all initiatives align with company priorities.
- Represent the CTP team at industry events, film festivals, and conferences. This includes networking and relationship building during evenings and weekends as required by the festival/event circuit.
- Provide thought partnership to inclusion leads and support additional team-related special projects and duties as assigned.
Basic Qualifications
- 6+ years of related work experience as a filmmaker, creative executive, or program administrator/manager of filmmaker labs for writers, directors, and producers through a major studio, tech media company, production company, or leading filmmaker organization/non-profit in the industry.
- Keen understanding of the creative process with strong creative development skills from an artist-first standpoint.
- Ability to influence and work through others in a highly matrixed organization.
- Strong understanding of the creative talent development landscape across the industry as well as having a robust external network of non-profit organizations, filmmaker labs, writers, directors, and other executives.
- Recognizes creative talent quickly, understands creative talent development and builds long-term relationships.
- Strategic thinker with superior collaboration, project management, and organizational skills.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to effectively handle confidential information.
- Demonstrated leadership experience.
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
This position is based in the Burbank office 4 days a week (Monday through Thursday) with the flexibility to work from home on Fridays.
The hiring range for this position in Burbank, CA is $153,200.00 to $205,400.00 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.