Lead Technical Project Manager

Disney - Celebration, FL

Full-time - Mid Level

Celebration, FL

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries

About the position

The Lead Technical Project Manager at Disney Experiences plays a pivotal role in shaping the digital landscape of the company's premier vacation brands, including Disney's Parks & Resorts, Disney Cruise Line, and Disney Vacation Club. This position is integral to the Technology & Digital team, which is responsible for creating immersive digital experiences that enhance the guest experience across various lines of business such as Attractions & Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Resorts & Transportation, and Merchandise. The Lead Technical Project Manager will oversee a portfolio of related projects, ensuring their alignment with the company's strategic objectives and managing their interdependencies effectively. In this role, the Lead Technical Project Manager will undertake comprehensive program and project planning, developing long-term goals and objectives to ensure successful outcomes. This includes participating in the annual budgeting process and establishing strong business relationships to define strategic plans and product roadmaps. The manager will lead the execution of programs and projects, coordinating the delivery of objectives while ensuring timely completion of tasks and adherence to schedules. This position requires conducting program meetings at leadership levels, managing project change control processes, and providing valuable input to team members. The Lead Technical Project Manager will also be responsible for identifying and evaluating risks associated with program activities, taking proactive measures to mitigate these risks. They will maintain a continuous view of resource demand and capacity, collaborating with Tech & Digital leadership to ensure optimal resource allocation. The role demands excellent communication skills to liaise with various stakeholders, including clients, project sponsors, and team members, ensuring that all parties are aligned and informed throughout the project lifecycle. Additionally, the manager will create presentations and reports for executive leadership, showcasing program progress and insights.

Responsibilities

• Identify, plan, and coordinate related projects within a program to manage interdependencies.
• Undertake program/project planning and develop long-term goals and objectives.
• Participate in the annual budgeting and operating plan to support the program.
• Build strong business relationships to define strategic plans and product roadmaps.
• Lead execution of program/project and coordinate delivery of program objectives.
• Ensure timely completion of tasks, maintaining program schedule and target dates.
• Lead and advise high-priority matrix projects requiring considerable resources and functional integration.
• Conduct program meetings at leadership and executive director levels.
• Develop and run a project change control process as needed.
• Provide input and feedback to program team members.
• Identify and evaluate risks associated with program activities and take appropriate action to mitigate risks.
• Review available resources to maintain knowledge of optimal resource allocation.
• Drive program/project results and develop strategic planning for S/VP portfolios.
• Facilitate evaluation and alignment on delivery of rationalized and prioritized program input to forecasts.
• Identify risks and opportunities, sharing insights with executives for actionable recommendations.
• Produce monthly expense and capital forecasts and deliver financial updates.
• Maintain a continuous view of resource demand and capacity across the program.
• Liaison and translate financials and objectives for various stakeholders.
• Recommend prioritization and rationalization decision-making with leaders.
• Cultivate partnerships and communication with leaders and related teams.
• Establish and maintain an area's Technology and Digital roadmap.
• Prepare and drive program/project communication and ensure training for partners.
• Communicate with clients and partners to gain support and solicit input for program improvement.
• Conduct regular program/project status meetings with all partners.
• Work collaboratively with development and support staff to ensure precise communications.
• Create program presentations and reports for executive leadership.

Requirements

• Technical project management expertise for a global or national brand.
• Hands-on experience with Agile, Lean, Kanban, Waterfall methodologies.
• Ability to understand architectural and technical aspects of projects.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time management skills.
• Experience with Agile Application Lifecycle Management and tools like JIRA and Confluence Wiki.
• Understanding of Agile technical practices, DevOps, and testing concepts.
• Experience in coaching and mentoring teams on project management practices.
• Experience with budget tracking and complex cost-benefit analysis.
• Experience managing and prioritizing projects within a program in a matrix organization.
• Ability to influence negotiations for favorable outcomes.
• Demonstrated analysis/assessment capabilities and self-motivation.

Nice-to-haves

• Technical project management experience in software development.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.
• Agile Certifications (CSM; ACP; CSPO; SAFe; LeSS).

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Childcare options
• Paid time off
• Retirement programs
• Tuition assistance
• Weekly pay