Sr Manager, Retail Marketing

The Sr Manager, Retail Marketing, is responsible for the strategy, development, budget, sell-in/presentation and execution of all marketing programs for the Walmart retail account on behalf of the Disney Consumer Products (DCP) business in North America. In this role, you will bring both Walmart and consumer products expertise to drive innovative marketing campaigns at Walmart, strengthening partner connections and leveraging Disney’s unique characters and stories to differentiate the Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars brands in the retail environment. You will work closely with the Retail Sales organization and the Director of Retail Marketing to ensure alignment and integration between Disney and Walmart, as well as lead your own team of marketing professionals.  

The key to success will be providing strong leadership and ensuring the team is operationalizing the broader DCP retail marketing strategies to ultimately drive both sell-in and sell-through of Disney products at Walmart while operating with pace and embracing innovation in retail experiences.

The role reports to the Director, Retail Marketing and is based in Bentonville, Arkansas.

You Will / Responsibilities:

• Partner with the Walmart retail sales team to help develop comprehensive, future-focused, strategies to achieve business goals & objectives.

• Lead end to end marketing strategy for Walmart retail channels that enables sustained growth through sales and marketing initiatives.

• Lead omni-channel retail marketing plans inclusive of in-store, e-commerce, retail media networks, creator & affiliate programs, loyalty, and CRM integration to drive consumer engagement and conversion.

• Develop marketing programs and presentations for Walmart buyer and marketing teams.

• Maintain current knowledge of industry trends, competitors, consumer insights, business opportunities.

• Create actionable recommendations to key stakeholders and seek out knowledge of competitive retailer program execution to share best practices.  

• Develop measurable performance frameworks and dashboards to optimize programs using data, consumer insights, A/B testing, and ROI metrics.

• Collaborate with and influence licensees, internal promotional partners and with the other divisions of The Walt Disney Company to ensure optimal execution of retail strategies/programs.

• Fiscal responsibility for budgeting, decision-making, tracking and reconciliation of retail marketing budget in partnership with the Director of Retail Marketing.

• Manage key promotional deliverables for all internal & external parties (including retailer agencies) to deliver on-time and cost-efficient programs.

• Partner with retail buyers, licensee marketers and internal sales and franchise teams to maximize Disney branded marketing at Walmart.

• Lead creative briefing and production for account specific marketing tactics across internal teams, licensees, and retailer partners.

• Champion innovative retail experiences (e.g., experiential, pop-ups, digital engagements, livestream commerce) to differentiate Disney within the Walmart eco-system.

• Act as Brand Ambassador ensuring retailer marketing program elements meet legal approvals & brand management guidelines.

• Advocate internally for the Walmart account expressing retailer needs and priorities.  Communicate Walmart’s own initiatives, priorities, and retailer insights.

• Manage, train and develop a high-performing team of retail marketers by setting clear marketing KPIs, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, accountability, and inclusive leadership.

You Will Have / Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years Retail Marketing experience and industry knowledge.

• Demonstrated leadership across direct and indirect reporting relationships

• Ability to demonstrate strategic thinking, clarity of communications and management of multiple business stakeholders

• Exceptional presentation and negotiating skills

• Data-driven and results-oriented, with the ability to communicate and optimize in real-time

• Adaptable and responsive – can thrive in ambiguous business situations and in rapidly evolving retail environments including digital and e-commerce

• Ability to collaborate, influence and persuade at all levels of an organization

• Comfortable working through a matrix structure to deliver business objectives and share best practices

• Proven ability to build strong relationships with key account stakeholders

• Financial acumen and understanding retail marketplace, P&L, market research and data analysis

• Available for business travel as needed. Possess a valid passport.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of direct experience with Walmart and Walmart Connect

• Strong existing relationships through the broader Walt Disney Company – Corporate Alliance, Studio Brand, Promotions and Ad Sales

• Ability to think strategically and synthesize large amounts of data, and to translate findings into actionable recommendations and plans. Experience presenting to a variety of levels of leadership.

• Experience with successfully navigating a highly matrixed organization that requires the ability to quickly identify the right stakeholders and to develop effective relationships

Required Education:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

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

The hiring range for this position in Bentonville, Arkansas is $120,800.00 to $161,900.00 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.