Principal Product Manager

Technology is at the heart of Disney’s past, present, and future. Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and more – all working to build and advance the technological backbone for Disney’s media business globally.

The team marries technology with creativity to build world-class products, enhance storytelling, and drive velocity, innovation, and scalability for our businesses. We are Storytellers and Innovators. Creators and Builders. Entertainers and Engineers. We work with every part of The Walt Disney Company’s media portfolio to advance the technological foundation and consumer media touch points serving millions of people around the world. 

Here are a few reasons why we think you’d love working here:

• Building the future of Disney’s media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products and platforms that will power our media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.
• Reach, Scale & Impact: More than ever, Disney’s technology and products serve as a signature doorway for fans' connections with the company’s brands and stories. Disney+. Hulu. ESPN. ABC. ABC News…and many more. These products and brands – and the unmatched stories, storytellers, and events they carry – matter to millions of people globally. 
• Innovation: We develop and implement groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms, and solve complex and distinctive technical problems.

Product Management is responsible for driving the overall user experience, feature strategies and concepts, and engagement paradigms for Disney Entertainment & ESPN's global portfolio of consumer-facing streaming and digital products – including Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, ABC, ABC News, Nat Geo, Marvel, and Star Wars.

About This Role 

This position is part of the ESPN Product team.  At ESPN, our mission is To Serve Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere. The mission statement is not just words; it is the mantra that we live by. The ESPN Product Team is responsible for setting strategy, building, executing and operating world-class products for sports fans. Anytime. Anywhere. With unmatched scale, best-in-class content, incredible rights, and world class platforms, ESPN is the market leader in Sports, and we are never complacent. We are constantly innovating for our fans. 

As the Principal Product Manager of Fandom for ESPN Digital products, you will be a key leader responsible for shaping fan expression, “lean-forward” participatory features, and connected social experiences across the ESPN suite of apps to unlock the full potential of sports fandom across the ESPN ecosystem.  

This role demands a seasoned product manager with a deep understanding of how to build an engaging fan experience in a brand safe way, a proven track record of operating online communities, navigating complex user experience projects, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, particularly in design and engineering. You will work with other leaders to define a unified strategic vision for creating engagement flywheels centered around sports fandom.  The ability and excitement to strategize for a new generation of sports fans and how they engage with our products is vital for this position.  

  

This role demands a strong technical background, excellent product sense, strategic thinking, analytical capabilities, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, cutting-edge solutions. 

The ideal candidate must be highly experienced in cultivating and operating online communities and connected social products that leverage user-generated content (UGC). This person must operate with a high level of autonomy and demonstrate strong product vision, strategy, leadership and analytical thinking in furtherance of business objectives. This opportunity is uniquely positioned to make an immediate impact on the next generation of ESPN’s consumer experiences.   

Responsibilities

Product Strategy and Vison 

• Develop and communicate a strategic vision for engaging our fans, aligning with broader company goals and market trends.  
• Effectively communicate product strategies, updates, and results to stakeholders at all levels, fostering a collaborative and transparent working environment.  
• Work with leadership to craft product vision, strategy, OKRs, and roadmap while executing with great success.  
• Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies related to fan engagement and moderation, providing recommendations for continuous improvement.  
• Be an ambassador and culture champion for ESPN products internally and externally.  

Product Development 

• Leverage previous experience building online communities and connected social experiences and apply those learnings to ESPN and Disney.  
• Champion a fan-centered design approach, ensuring that user needs and preferences drive the development of innovative and intuitive product features.  
• Lead and inspire cross-functional teams in the planning, execution, and delivery of complex user experience projects, ensuring timelines and quality standards are met.  
• Write detailed product requirements, user stories, and documentation to drive development of features. 
• Manage road maps, backlogs, and prioritize features to drive maximum impact. 
• Fill in gaps across roles and functions as needed, performing as an adaptive problem solver. 
• Engage in our sports-obsessed culture to best serve our fans.   

OKRs and Analytics 

• Define and monitor Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) related to fan engagement and user satisfaction.  
• Identify KPIs, build dashboards, and analyze data to understand user behaviors.  
• Utilize data and analytics to make informed decisions, conduct A/B testing, and continuously iterate features to optimize performance and user satisfaction.  
• Conduct user research to inform new features and improved user experiences.  

Basic Qualifications

• 10+ years of product management or highly-relevant experience required.
• Direct product management experience cultivating and operating online communities and connected social products that leverage user-generated content (UGC).
• Proven track record of building world-class digital products for large, consumer-focused companies.
• Keen product sense and demonstrated product leadership experience.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data-driven insights to inform product decisions, measure performance, and optimize the user experience.
• Ability to operate effectively in a team oriented and collaborative environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience leading end-to-end product development processes, from concept through retrospective, for both consumer-facing and back-end features.
• Experience creating and delivering compelling, data-driven presentations to both senior and junior audiences.
• Understanding of fandom, fan engagement, moderation, sports landscapes, and familiarity with terminologies and business models.
• Proven ability to drive product initiatives from concept to delivery.

Required Education 

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent practical experience.

The hiring range for this position in San Francisco is $201,900 - $270,700 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.