The Office of Technology Enablement is a strategic organization designed to establish Disney as a progressive, innovative, and responsible leader in important and fast-moving areas of technology such as artificial intelligence and mixed reality. The organization coordinates efforts in AI/ML and mixed reality across each of the Walt Disney Company's business segments to enable value and drive business outcomes.

Disney's Office of Technology Enablement (OTE) is seeking an innovative and strategic Director, Development to lead our talented teams within the AI & XR Studio. This leadership role is essential for driving early ideation, building technology prototypes that bring creative visions to life, and championing forward-thinking initiatives across the Walt Disney Company. The ideal candidate will guide the creative vision, storytelling, overall design, and technical direction of our AI & XR content, focusing on pioneering emergent storytelling and interactive experiences. A successful candidate will possess the strategic thinking and development expertise necessary to execute a diverse range of projects with varying scopes, timelines, and budgets. An entrepreneurial spirit and a versatile background in successful projects are crucial for success in this position. This role reports directly to the VP of Content Strategy & Development.

Responsibilities:

Strategy Development and Execution

• Oversee the creative strategy process from concept to handoff, ensuring alignment between game design, story elements, and technical implementation.

• Prepare detailed creative strategy documentation for seamless transition to the technical team.

• Collaborate closely with the Director of Narrative & Experiences to implement creative concepts during prototyping and production phases.

• Work with Business and Partnerships teams to integrate quantitative analysis into creative strategies.

Team Leadership

• Serve as a benchmark for best-in-class practices across technologies and platforms, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.

• Represent the organization's strategic goals on behalf of the VP of Content Strategy & Creative Development.

• Ensure that creative outputs align with target audience expectations and enhance user experience.

Technical Expertise

• Lead a team of engineers in developing cutting-edge immersive storytelling experiences.

• Oversee the build, testing, and validation of prototypes from concept to launch, ensuring quality standards are met.

• Stay informed about industry trends and emerging technologies to enhance experience development.

Collaboration & Communication

• Act as a connector across the development pipeline to ensure consistent execution of the creative vision on technology platforms.

• Collaborate with development, design, and production teams to define and integrate technical requirements seamlessly.

• Provide mentorship to team members, fostering innovation and continuous improvement.

• Inspire teams across TWDC to dream big, innovate, and collaborate on new visions for XR.

• Champion initiatives that strengthen technical capabilities across TWDC, such as game jams and brainstorming sessions.

Basic Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience across creative strategy, development/creative director roles, or creative production, preferably in the gaming or entertainment industry

• Strong understanding of the games and entertainment landscapes and emerging trends

• Excellent project management and leadership skills

• Experience leading technical teams in both prototyping and full-scope project development

• Proven track record of developing and launching projects from ideation to production, launch and live-operations

• A successful history of developing and ideating in new & emerging technology platforms – console, handled, mobile, VR/XR, etc.

• Outstanding communication and presentation skills.

The hiring range for this position in Los Angeles, CA is $202,900.00-$272,100.00 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. Reference: ECNJOBID-198-23-147-61 in the application

The Walt Disney Studios

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Director of AI & XR Development