Senior Technical Program Manager

Disney Entertainment & ESPN Product & Technology

Technology is at the heart of Disney’s past, present, and future. Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and more – all working to build and advance the technological backbone for Disney’s media business globally.

The team marries technology with creativity to build world-class products, enhance storytelling, and drive velocity, innovation, and scalability for our businesses. We are Storytellers and Innovators. Creators and Builders. Entertainers and Engineers. We work with every part of The Walt Disney Company’s media portfolio to advance the technological foundation and consumer media touch points serving millions of people around the world. 

Here are a few reasons why we think you’d love working here:

• Building the future of Disney’s media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products and platforms that will power our media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.
• Reach, Scale & Impact: More than ever, Disney’s technology and products serve as a signature doorway for fans' connections with the company’s brands and stories. Disney+. Hulu. ESPN. ABC. ABC News…and many more. These products and brands – and the unmatched stories, storytellers, and events they carry – matter to millions of people globally. 
• Innovation: We develop and implement groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms, and solve complex and distinctive technical problems.

Business Operations is the glue of DE&E Product and Technology, with a persistent focus on connecting all the pieces of the business. All the components that make up the organization – engineering, product, design, operations, support and more – come together and move the business forward with oversight, effective prioritization, and guidance. This team synthesizes information from across the business to ensure leaders are armed with all the necessary data before making strategic and financial decisions. From forecasting, funding, tracking, and reporting on projects, to ways of working, and resource management, Business Operations has transparency and input into all aspects of the team. 

Job Summary:

Within the Business Operations organization, the Senior Technical Program Manager will drive efficiency and coordination to support the engineering organization. This position will guide teams through the development, rollout, and adoption of programs that extend the functionality of services across Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. You will collaborate with teams across the organization to coordinate initiatives that deliver on business goals and objectives. If you enjoy entertainment, working collaboratively, and leading teams, this role is a great fit for you.

Responsibilities and Duties of the Role:

• Project Planning and Execution: Develop project plans and drive the end-to-end execution and delivery of multiple programs across various teams. Ensure all dependencies are understood and keep business partners informed of progress.
• Cross-Functional Support: Collaborate with engineering, product management, and cross-functional leaders to help align on the roadmap, vision, and strategy for the organization.
• Influence and Alignment: Assist in driving alignment and reducing complexity across cross-functional teams.
• Team Dynamics and Culture: Develop team dynamics, morale, and motivation while fostering a culture where all members and points of view are respected.
• Engineering Collaboration: Work with engineering to ensure developments are balanced in terms of cost vs. benefit, scalability, and alignment with business goals and customer needs.
• Proactive Support: Display initiative, take a proactive approach, and support the initiation of conversations.
• Negotiation: Support negotiation efforts and help identify solution paths for competing requirements or stakeholder preferences.
• Enthusiastic Learning: Demonstrate a willingness to learn quickly and enthusiastically, especially about technical systems and issues.
• Process Improvement: Assist in evaluating processes and seeking ways to improve with each iteration.

Required Education and Experience/Skills/Training:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Established in Technical Program Management with 5+ years of experience in the software industry
• Demonstrated experience with Agile project management in roles such as Project Manager, Scrum Master, or similar positions for software development teams
• Experience working with technical scrum teams and understanding the software development lifecycle and release management processes
• Proven ability to work with product and design teams, as well as other stakeholders, to understand requirements, prioritize initiatives, and assist engineering teams in driving projects forward
• Skilled in identifying, analyzing, prioritizing, mitigating, and communicating project risks to internal and external partners
• Takes a proactive approach in initiating conversations and assisting program leads in process development. Consistently evaluates and seeks to improve processes at every iteration

Preferred Qualifications:

• CSM / CSP Certification or similar preferred
• Experience in streaming media software and digital technology
• Expertise in software delivery management tools (Jira, Confluence, Airtable, etc.)
• Technical proficiency demonstrated through coding skills, quality assurance experience, technical writing background, or similar expertise

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS or equivalent experience required

The hiring range for this position in California is $126, 400 to $169,500 per year and in New York and Seattle is $132,500 to $177,600 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.