Director, Technology & Operations Planning 

Department Overview: 

Disney Entertainment & ESPN Product and Technology (DEEPT) brings together the Company’s best-in-class product, technology, and operations teams together into one global organization. DEEPT is responsible for all distribution, network and engineering operations, product, ad platforms, as well as operations of the Company's streaming services including Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+ HotStar, and domestic and international broadcast and cable television networks.  

DEEPT’s EMEA & APAC Technology & Operations team is responsible for the asset delivery to all Disney’s direct-to-consumer (DTC), Linear and third-party endpoints. This includes mastering services, localization operations, versioning, servicing, packaging and fulfillment, as well as the engineering to support media networks across the region, live sports events and multiple other products.  

Role Overview: 

This role spans EMEA & APAC Technology and Operations footprint, from vendor strategy and cost management; through to planning, demand and capacity management; and finally operational improvement. The role will identify opportunities for improvement across the chain and establish methods and processes for managing timely, efficient and cost-effective delivery of materials from Production through the Content Pipeline to meet distribution needs. They partner with operations teams within EMEA, APAC and Globally, as well as business partners to provide critical information to business leaders to drive decisions related to technology, localization, and distribution. 

This role will focus on driving towards the following key outcomes: 

• Cost management across the Technology & Operations line of business 

• Identify efficiency through: 

• Timely, accurate, complete and easily accessible information. 

• Systems evaluation - development/consolidation/retirement/integration. 

• Performance metrics and process improvement. 

• Leveraging strategic vendors. 

• Ensuring accurate tracking and reporting mechanisms are in place for all metrics, driving to maximize automation in reporting by collaborating with our Data Platforms teams. 

• Developing performance dashboards that allow for faster identification of issues or trends that require management intervention for resolution. 

• Analysis of strategic vendor landscape across engineering and operations to identify opportunities and drive efficiencies 

• Analysis of operational milestones and SLAs to identify opportunities to increase velocity in the operation 

Key Responsibilities: 

Strategic Analysis & Business Enablement 

• Support the SVP on strategic (and often confidential) initiatives, providing business and financial analysis to support decision making 

• Ensure accuracy, timeliness and the completeness of information in tools/systems. 

• Focus on automation and on-demand information that is timely, accurate, and complete. 

• Frame and organise team expertise into clear business cases and presentations for senior stakeholders. 

• Support the measurement and reporting of OKRs across the unit. 

• Help design future-state of Technology and Operations strategic model. 

Cost Management & Vendor Strategy 

• Lead cost management through technology review of long-term strategic plan and ideal partner setup. 

• Optimise vendor models for content management and identify right setup for globalisation. 

• Partner with Finance and Strategic Sourcing team to identify rate and cost optimization opportunities. 

• Lead cost/benefit analysis on strategic initiatives. 

Operational Excellence & Communications 

• Drive best practice sharing across regions via joint forums and knowledge sessions. 

• Support internal communications, including town halls and team meetings. 

• Draft and refine presentation materials for EMEA/APAC briefings. 

• Document and track commitments and raise risks when identified. 

Experience and Skills: 

• Strong analytical skills with the gravitas and ability to operate at a senior level. 

• Capable of synthesising complex information and presenting it clearly. 

• Proven ability to collaborate with, partner with, influence and persuade creative, marketing, distribution finance, legal and operational executives in the Production and distribution arena. 

• Comfortable in fast changing environment, with frequently changing demands, building and managing relationships with cross-functional stakeholders and circumstances. 

• Ability to balance technical and business issues. 

• Ability to communicate with both technical and business experts. 

• Committed, smart, and able to work independently and collaboratively.