Overall Purpose of the Role

To plan and execute long term and fiscal year marketing strategies for softlines category. Be responsible for overall marketing leadership of existing and/or new EMEA regional beauty and home accounts. Lead the team, where applicable, in management of all relevant accounts.  

Using key trends and consumer insights, in conjunction with the Marketing Director develop and drive innovative best in class fashion led marketing strategies within DCP, whilst being agile to capitalise on the moment and support category team on new opportunities and key accounts.

Responsible for driving fashion-forward, disruptive 360 marketing campaigns (including but not limited to in-store POS, windows, digital content, events, screenings, loyalty campaigns, synergy opportunities) with key accounts, across all franchises, as well as category growth initiatives.

Responsible for sharing best practice, driving continuous improvement across EMEA softlines stakeholders and key partners to drive commercial growth and unlock new opportunities.

Relationships are key to the success of this role, both internally and externally. Actively manage and cultivate the engagement, partnership and joint business planning with each account, new and existing, to support the category team to drive and deliver strategic growth in licensing sales on behalf of the EMEA business.
 

This role will require you to be onsite in our Hammersmith office 4 days a week.

Areas of Responsibility

• In conjunction with the Marketing Director, develop, set and execute the long term marketing strategy for the relevant accounts in conjunction with category and franchise teams
• Proactively lead the team to ensure delivery of departmental targets, ensuring they are aware of the current business priorities and build any changes into the department plans
• Manage day-to-day marketing relationship with key accounts and provide category teams with support as and when needed across other growth accounts and new business opportunities
• Leverage macro and micro trends along with audience, category and retailer insights to shape more effective and innovative marketing campaigns for DCP, with maximum return on investment (ROI)
• Ensure all marketing activity in-scope is strategically aligned with franchise, category and global strategies
• Support category team to pitch and secure new licensees/retailers that enhance the category growth in a substantial manner maximising the ‘white space’ opportunities
• Collaborate and develop strong relationships with local EMEA market DCP teams, providing information and regular strategy and franchise updates as well as understanding and satisfying local market needs and differences
• Establish a good working relationship with all key counterparts to ensure regular communication flow on latest initiatives and ongoing liaison regarding global licensees, as relevant
• Work appropriately with the other leaders within the regional marketing team to ensure point of differentiation for key accounts
• Responsible for ensuring effective management and control of allocated marketing budget secured through AOP and working with finance team to reconcile budgets
• Work with the integrated TWDC marketing community, licensees and retailers to ensure marketing budget and licensee promotional commitment is invested in the most effective manner possible
• Share best practice and post-campaign analysis across regional, local and global teams

Training and Professional Development

• Operate with integrity, champion change and be a good ambassador for The Walt Disney Company (TWDC)
• Operate as part of an effective and inclusive team by demonstrating an awareness of others; welcoming and valuing unique perspectives and ideas; offering support, sharing knowledge and best practices in order to contribute to overall departmental commitments
• Take ownership of your professional development through regular career conversations with your line manager and utilising available resources such as D Learn, instructor-led courses and on the job learning
• Proactively suggest ways to improve departmental performance and processes, leveraging technological tools where applicable
• Build links with other TWDC functions to develop broader knowledge of the business
• Promote and maintain an inclusive workplace, championing diversity and inclusion and make use of available resources to extend knowledge and best practice
• Manage the training and development of all direct reports (where applicable), ensuring commitments are set, regularly reviewed and feedback given using the D Achieve philosophy, where applicable
• Contribute to maintaining and enhancing the standard of training and development, encouraging participation so that everyone has the tools and resources to do their role effectively and efficiently

Areas of Accountability

• Accountable to the Marketing Director
• Accountable for delivering against annually agreed performance commitments and prioritising effectively to successfully deliver against set deadlines
• Accountable to the finance team for effectively controlling allocated marketing budget spend and reconciling budgets assigned to each marketing campaign
• Accountable for delivering marketing strategy and campaigns that help deliver our commercial targets and brand equity goals, within allocated budget
• Accountable for the management of all relevant accounts including those which are managed by direct reports
• Accountable for the effective leadership, development and management of team
• Accountable for cultivating and maintaining productive relationships and collaborating across departments internally and externally
• Accountable for operating within legal and brand parameters and undertaking necessary training as provided by the relevant department and ensuring the team are also adhering to said guidelines
• Accountable for contributing to the success of the team

Experience and Professional Qualifications Required

• Degree level education in a related field or equivalent work experience
• Significant marketing experience within specialist beauty and/or home consumer products commercialisation and/or retail, specifically in beauty and/or home marketing across EMEA
• A strong understanding of digital/social marketing and experience working with beauty and home influencers
• Significant experience leading the planning, delivery and evaluation of innovative, best-in-class beauty and/or home marketing campaigns
• Experience in retail/shopper marketing advantageous
• Significant experience in pitching to softlines licensees, retail partners and direct-to-retail partners (DTRs)
• Proven experience of building effective relationships, leading and managing change and collaboration across departments to achieve financial targets and joint goals
• Proven experience of leading, developing and managing the performance of a team
• Advanced knowledge of trends within the beauty and home sectors with the ability to take industry trends and translate them into something that drives growth for TWDC

Skills Required

• Ability to give both internal and agency creative teams clear direction and briefs, and manage feedback and approval process within relevant brand guidelines
• Ability to analyse data and consumer insights, construct practical conclusions and implement recommendations to achieve business targets
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Ability to influence and achieve buy-in at all levels, and be flexible and adaptable with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation
• Demonstrated ability to interface effectively with multiple levels of management across global teams
• Financial acumen - an ability to understand and drive a P&L and quarterly forecasting process
• Ability to understand and work within the legal and brand guidelines provided by the relevant department
• An ability to be agile in order to capitalise on the moment and identify new opportunities and target new accounts
• Resilient and nimble in an ever changing landscape
• Skilled in leading and motivating people through change and uncertainty
• Computer literate including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Keynote
• Written and spoken English for business use, essential; professional proficiency in another European language, beneficial
• Skilled in recognising impactful creative, digital, social and brick and mortar softlines marketing
• Excellent strategic approach to problem solving and innovation
• Exceptional planning and organisation skills
• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA

Additional Information

• Flexibility for UK, European or international travel may be required
• Based in our Hammersmith office 4 days per we
• Contribution to ad-hoc projects as the business requires
• Flexible hours may be required to meet business needs

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. We are committed to building a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.