Sign upLog in

Director, Operating Participants - Business Development

The Walt Disney Company

Lake Buena Vista, FL

Apply
JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$176,000–$215,000 Per Year
SKILLS
Alliance/Partner Management, Amusement Parks, Brokerage, Building Permits, Business Development, Business Strategy, Channel Strategies, Communication Skills, Competitive Analysis/Strategy, Construction Management, Consulting, Consumer Finance, Consumer Goods and Services, Contract Negotiation, Customer/Client Research, Customer/Consumer Behavior, Data Analysis, Finance, Financial Analysis, Financial Operations, Financial Strategy, Financial Trend Analysis, Food and Beverage Industry, Leadership, Leasing, Legal, Market Trend Analysis, Matrix Management, Mentoring, Negotiation Skills, Performance Tuning/Optimization, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Product Pricing, Project Design, Property Rentals, Real Estate, Real Estate Development, Rentals, Restaurant, Retail, Return on Investment (ROI), Revenue Forecasting, Risk, Risk Analysis, Risk Modeling, Sales Management, Strategic Planning, Trend Analysis, Underwriting, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Lake Buena Vista, FL
POSTED
7 days ago
About the Role and Team:


The Operating Participant team is a highly visible real estate leasing and management organization charged with assessing long-term retail, dining, and entertainment growth strategies, expansion opportunities, and reinvestment decisions that drive new and existing partnerships across Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.


The Director, Business Development is responsible for developing long‑range tenanting strategy, identifying and capitalizing on emerging industry, consumer, and financial trends, and structuring complex, value‑added partnership agreements across domestic portfolios. They will serve as a strategic thought partner to senior executives to shape the evolution of retail, restaurant, and mixed-use experiences across our properties. This role requires exceptional judgment, executive presence, and the ability to balance creative vision with rigorous commercial and financial evaluation.


What You Will Do:


+ Provide strategic direction, direct leadership and personal mentoring for a team of highly talented individuals, including senior managers and operating participant managers

+ Lead the development and execution of multi‑year operating participant strategies, aligning tenant mix, partnership models, and capital deployment with broader Disney Experiences segment objectives

+ Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, providing insight into market dynamics, portfolio performance, growth opportunities, and risk considerations

+ Anticipate and translate macro‑economic, consumer behavior, and experiential retail trends into actionable partnership strategies and leasing approaches

+ Guide strategic decision‑making related to redevelopment, selective reinvestment, expansion, and acquisition opportunities across operating participant assets

+ Maintain deep expertise in retail, food & beverage, entertainment, and mixed‑use trends, including emerging concepts, evolving guest expectations, and new experiential formats.

+ Leverage internal and external data to evaluate portfolio performance, tenant health, and long‑term relevance of existing and prospective partners

+ Commission and interpret market, submarket, and competitive analyses to inform tenant strategy, pricing, and positioning decisions

+ Lead financial underwriting and valuation for new deals, redevelopments, and renewals, including revenue projections, ROI analysis, sensitivity modeling, and risk assessment

+ Structure and negotiate complex partnership agreements, including rent models, percentage rent structures, capital contributions, incentives, term structures, and performance provisions.

+ Partner closely with Finance, Legal, Construction, and Account Management to ensure financial, operational, and contractual alignment throughout deal lifecycle.

+ Collaborate across project conception, design, permitting, construction, and opening to ensure commercial intent is preserved through execution

+ Work in close partnership with Operating Participant Account Management on short‑ and long‑term planning for new and existing agreements, including performance optimization and reinvestment strategies


Basic Qualifications:


+ 10+ years of progressive experience in business development, real estate, strategy, or consulting, with a strong preference for high‑profile retail, restaurant, entertainment, and/or mixed‑use environments

+ Demonstrated ability to set and lead long‑range business strategies, translating market, consumer, and financial insights into actionable partnership and portfolio decisions.

+ Proven expertise in financial underwriting, valuation, and deal structuring, including ROI analysis, sensitivity modeling, risk assessment, and negotiation of complex commercial terms

+ Extensive experience structuring and negotiating major partnership agreements, with comfort navigating complex legal, financial, and operational considerations

+ Executive presence with a demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders, align cross‑functional partners, and drive decisions in a matrixed organization.

+ Strong industry perspective and intellectual curiosity; recognized as a student of retail, food & beverage, and experiential trends, with a point of view on where the industry is headed

+ Proven track record of leading, mentoring, and developing high‑performing teams, fostering collaboration, inclusion, and accountability

+ Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex strategies and financial concepts to diverse audiences

+ Domestic travel required


Education:


Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience


License:


Current Broker or Real Estate License Preferred


The hiring range for this position in Florida is $176,000.00 to $215,000.00 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.

Job ID: 10145837

Location: Lake Buena Vista,Florida

Job Posting Company: Disney Experiences
The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, email Candidate.Accommodations@Disney.com with your request. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or correspondence. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

About the Company

T

The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company is the global leader in high-quality entertainment and innovative technology. Begin a career that delivers unparalleled creative content and experiences to audiences around the world.
COMPANY SIZE
10,000 employees or more
INDUSTRY
Entertainment Venues and Theaters
WEBSITE
https://jobs.disneycareers.com