Manager, Business Integration, Talent and Strategy

For nearly two decades, Adventures by Disney has been a leading travel brand, offering over 40 guided-group adventures across land, river, and expedition cruises. Disney-trained Adventure Guides ensure hassle-free vacations with masterful storytelling, in-depth knowledge, and attention to detail, fostering lasting connections with each destination. The heart of every Adventures by Disney vacation lies in the authenticity, immersion in cultures, insider access, and curated activities.

Building on a legacy of over 135 years, National Geographic Explorers have ventured across continents, remote cultures, ocean depths, and towering mountains. National Geographic Expeditions extends this legacy, allowing travelers to embrace their inner explorer and witness the wonders of the world up close and in depth. With Signature Land, Expedition Cruise, River Cruise, or Private Jet options, National Geographic Expeditions provides unparalleled access to the world with knowledgeable Experts. Additionally, every trip booked supports the global nonprofit National Geographic Society, contributing to the work of National Geographic Explorers worldwide in protecting and illuminating our world through exploration, research, and education.

The Manager, Business Integration, Talent and Strategy is an experienced strategy, analysis, and optimization professional who develops and implements growth strategies, analyzes business performance and identifies key issues, develops and implements action plans to optimize business performance, and manages large-scale special projects that support the Adventures & Expeditions (A&E) business. In addition, you will manage the day-to-day Talent casting for all National Geographic experts and Adventures by Disney hosts joining our trips, leading the Talent team, and working across several departments and outside entities.

This person formulates business strategies, analyzes product line profitability, and develops and implements strategies to address product quality or product/business profitability issues.  This person integrates and partners with cross functional teams and acts as a liaison for the execution of initiatives that span multiple lines of business and a variety of functional areas.

This role requires a balance of highly analytical, detail-oriented business strategy and project management skills, as well as strong influencing and facilitation skills. You will be responsible for complex, large, medium and small scale projects with broad organizational implications and impacts.

The Manager, Business Integration, Talent and Strategy will report to the Senior Manager, Business Integration, Talent and Strategy and sits in Celebration, FL.

What You Will Do/Responsibilities:

• Lead, Influence, and Hold Accountable

  • They will directly lead the Talent team (salary cast), responsible for prospecting and selecting experts, photographers, and hosts for our trips

  • indirectly lead and influence Executive and Senior Leaders within the organization to achieve common objectives and business strategies.

• Business Strategy

  • They will establish a comprehensive planning process and partner with the National Geographic Society and other National Geographic branded divisions, Trip Development, Operations, Partnership Management, and Functional Leaders to set strategic vision and ensure there are no gaps.

  • You will ensure other Executives, Senior Leaders, and Functional Leaders are working towards that strategy, including company-wide and global initiatives.

• Business Analysis and Issue Identification

  • They will monitor and analyze business performance, including product quality and profitability, and implement action plans to address any shortfalls.

  • They will understand key metrics and trends to help maximize business efficiencies and results, and you will drive performance expectations to ensure goals are met or exceeded.

• Business Performance Optimization

  • They will develop and implement action plans to optimize business performance and lead initiatives to drive critical business, segment, and enterprise strategies and priorities which will include process re-engineering and efficiency projects, integrating business objectives across all areas of the business (e.g. Trip Development, Trip Operations and Partnership Management)

  • Collaborate with key business functional areas (Marketing, Sales, Pricing & Revenue Management, Contact Center, Travel Services, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Finance, Consumer Insights Measurement & Analytics, Legal, HR, Technology, Digital, Sourcing & Procurement and Walt Disney Imagineering).

• Special Project Management

  • They will manage complex, large-scale projects and develop special relationships that support the Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions businesses including integration (of team, processes, products), new product launches, development and implementation of shared systems, operational changes, and special circumstances (e.g. health or security issues).

  • You will define project scope, assumptions, risks, and project approach, including budget, timelines, and communications. You will develop and implement reporting to create visibility across initiatives and ensure focus.

• Talent Casting

  • Manage the day-to-day operation, ensuring we have a wide variety of expertise in our pool of talent for all trips. Oversee the talent placement, ensuring it delivers on the goals for operation, marketing, and public relations efforts. Proactively identify gap areas, implement process improvement, and mitigate issues that may arise.

You Will Have/Required Qualifications:

• 4+ years’ experience with business strategy, business/financial analysis, business optimization or project management

• 4+ years’ experience working in the Travel industry (domestic and intl).

• 3+ years’ experience leading salary employees

• Experience providing direct and actionable feedback to address difficult issues and situations while maintaining positive working relationships.

• Understanding of large-scale project management concepts, practices, and procedures

• Experience delivering large-scale projects on time and on budget.

• Ability to hold both direct reports, colleagues and partners accountable throughout the project management process.

• Experience working across functional lines and as a member of a diverse, matrixed team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 4+ years’ employment with The Walt Disney Company or National Geographic

• Previous experience working with talent management/casting preferred.

• Familiar with hiring Talent including Talent contracts and background checks. Experience identifying gap areas.

• Experience with looking at data and metrics and presenting findings and trends to senior leadership

• Familiarity with Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions products and business model

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

Additional Information:

Benefits and Perks: 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.