Retail Creative Manager

About the Role

The Retail Creative Manager at Disney Experiences leads and mentors a team of creative professionals tasked with designing immersive retail environments. These spaces bring Disney storytelling to life across theme parks, resorts, and retail locations globally. This leadership role involves guiding designers, setting strategic direction, and ensuring that each retail interaction reflects Disney’s innovative, creative, and customer-focused values.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a team of retail creative designers, ensuring delivery of high-quality, brand-consistent work aligned with deadlines.
• Translate organizational and segment objectives into clear creative strategies and project outcomes for retail campaigns and store initiatives.
• Oversee strategy, design, conceptualization, fabrication, and execution of environmental graphics and thematic overlays supporting film launches, seasonal events, and new products across multiple retail sites.
• Manage the retail creative workflow end-to-end, including vendor coordination, sourcing, design specifications, and simultaneous project handling.
• Collaborate with architects, interior and retail concept designers, visual merchandisers, and cross-functional teams to implement cohesive store updates, openings, and branded experiences.
• Maintain consistent brand standards and quality across all campaign and retail presentations in physical and digital formats.
• Assign and distribute design projects while providing ongoing coaching, feedback, and resources to foster team members’ development and performance.
• Forge strong partnerships with Visual Merchandising, Store Design, WDI, Operations, and external vendors to optimize product presentations, fixtures, and merchandise flow to enhance guest experiences and increase revenue.
• Manage communications related to overlays, signage, and graphics ensuring timely information flow for field execution and multi-site initiatives.
• Incorporate market trend research and storytelling-driven design principles to propose innovative retail concepts aligned with Disney’s guest-centric philosophy.
• Promote an inclusive, team-oriented environment embracing Disney’s values and allowing every team member’s voice to be heard.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years experience in graphic design or a closely related creative area, including at least 1 year in a supervisory or management role.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Architecture, Interior Design, or a related creative discipline.
• Exceptional design vision with proven success delivering innovative branded retail experiences in physical and/or digital environments.
• Expertise with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and proficiency in standard office applications for presentations and communication.
• Knowledge of visual merchandising best practices, retail product displays, and experience creating shopper-engaging, revenue-enhancing retail presentations.
• Technical understanding of print production, materials, vendor processes, installation, and ability to standardize and help develop new fixtures.
• Ability to interpret construction documents, space planning details, and coordinate with fabrication partners for flawless design implementation.
• Strong project management, organizational, and multitasking skills in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills with a diplomatic, team-first approach to building productive partnerships across all levels.
• Effective verbal, written, and visual communication capabilities, comfortable presenting creative ideas to leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Professional judgment with ability to safeguard confidential information and adjust to evolving business needs and protocols.
• Service-oriented, detail-focused, enthusiastic, proactive problem solver thriving in fast-paced multicultural settings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Over 10 years of experience in graphic, brand, or retail design, ideally with in-house brand or retail environment focus.
• Familiarity with 3D design and modeling tools such as Rhino, SketchUp, Maya or similar, including creation of 3D mockups and renderings.
• Basic skills in motion graphics and video production for retail or marketing content.
• Ability to quickly sketch and communicate design concepts through mood boards and visual storytelling.
• Experience using project management or collaboration software, with eagerness to adopt new technologies for efficient communication and data handling.
• Deep understanding of The Walt Disney Company’s policies, brand portfolio, and franchises including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.
• Preferred educational background includes degrees with an emphasis on brand or retail environment design such as Graphic Design, Architecture, Interior Design, or Retail Design.

Compensation and Benefits

The position’s salary range located in Kissimmee, FL, is from $83,000 to $111,200 annually. Final pay will consider internal equity, geographical location, job knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional compensation may include bonuses or long-term incentives along with comprehensive medical, financial, and other benefit programs in accordance with the role and level.