Job Details

Overview

The Director, Creative Talent Pathways will lead the Creative Talent Pathways (CTP) team and strategy, oversee filmmaker labs and initiatives for emerging directors, producers, and writers in partnership with internal studio banners and non-profits, oversee the charitable budget, and work closely with the executive team. This role requires strategic thinking and a broad understanding of inclusion in the film and entertainment business, the filmmaking process, the creative talent pool, and robust talent program and people management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Creative Talent Pathways team and direct their projects. Continually build and iterate the creative talent pathways strategy for The Walt Disney Studios (TWDS).

• Oversee filmmaker programs, labs, and initiatives for emerging directors, producers, and writers, including:

• Manage overall CTP budget, oversee budgets for internal studio banner initiatives, external programs, and charitable budgets.

• Drive the creation of robust rubrics/criteria of evaluation for all program candidates and for each program to assess efficacy for brands, external partners, and overall CTP/TWDS. Adjust rubrics based on industry trends, company needs, and prior program outcomes.

• Implement processes for robust postmortems after every program cycle with all program stakeholders and apply learnings ongoing.

• Oversee strategy and implement internal flagship initiatives within TWDS in partnership with creative executives, HR, finance, business affairs, and studio leaders based on needs of individual studio banners.

• Construct and oversee budgets for programs in partnership with BA and finance; manage budget in context of overall CTP team budget.

• Identify program leads through relationships with creative executives.

• Construct timelines, milestones, and program curriculum in partnership with creative executive partners and senior leaders.

• Read, watch, and assess material from candidates for all flagship programs to select viable cohorts.

• Oversee external program strategy. Direct projects for external programs in partnership with the CTP Sr. Manager and Manager, non-profit organizations, enterprise, and CSR.

• Participate in the selection committee for external programs, including assessing materials and participating in interviews and deliberations.

• Maintain strong external relationships with organizations that run filmmaker labs and develop talent, schools, and other organizations.

• Oversee management of charitable giving budget in partnership with the CTP Sr. Manager and Manager; maintain strong internal relationships with CSR and enterprise inclusion teams.

• Oversee strategy for inclusive data insights in partnership with the CTP Sr. Manager, Coordinator, and relevant stakeholders. Work with the VP to share studio and industry insights with senior leadership.

• Direct projects related to managing and implementing creative talent placement efforts in partnership with the CTP Sr. Manager and Manager and relevant stakeholders. Maintain relationships with alumni and emerging filmmaker talent.

• Execute TWDC priorities in collaboration with the executive team and other leaders.

• Work with the Content Advisement team to ensure synergy and collaboration where applicable.

• Create and lead high-level presentations of broader strategy and initiatives for senior leaders across TWDC.

• Develop and maintain relationships with:

  • Senior creative executives across The Walt Disney Studios

  • Stakeholders across TWDC including other Creative Talent Pathways teams across Disney Entertainment, Studio Communications, CSR, Legal, and Finance

  • Signatory guilds such as WGA and DGA

• Attend industry events, film festivals, conferences, and meetings at Disney offices, traveling as needed. Network, build new relationships, and represent the team (may require evenings and weekends).

• Partner and provide thought partnership with inclusion leads to align with inclusion goals.

• Support other related special projects and duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of work experience as a filmmaker, creative executive, or running filmmaker labs/grants for writers, directors, and producers through a major studio, tech media company, production company, or leading filmmaker organization/non-profit in the industry.

• Deep understanding of the creative process (e.g., developing live-action short or feature from development through post-production), ideally in a studio setting.

• Keen understanding of the creative process with strong development skills from an artist-first standpoint.

• Strong ability to assess creative talent and viability for the TWDC brand.

• Strong people/team leadership with at least three years of people management experience.

• Understanding of structural and systemic inclusion and equity work and the ability to drive lasting change and business ownership; passion for equity and inclusion work in front of and behind the camera.

• Ability to influence, collaborate with, and uplift others in a highly matrixed organization; experience working with senior leadership in large corporate settings.

• Demonstrates mature leadership qualities—clear communication, sound judgment, and the ability to draw out the best from others.

• Results-driven leadership with the ability to turn vision into action, motivate others to achieve goals, and follow through on decisions.

This position is based in the Burbank office four days a week (Monday through Thursday) with the flexibility to work from home on Fridays.

Job Summary

The Director, Creative Talent Pathways will lead the Creative Talent Pathways (CTP) team and strategy, oversee filmmaker labs and initiatives for emerging directors, producers, and writers in partnership with internal studio banners and non-profits, oversee the charitable budget, and work closely with the executive team. This leader should be a strategic thinker with a broad understanding of inclusion in the film and entertainment business, the filmmaking process, the creative talent pool, and robust talent program and people management experience.

Compensation and Accommodation

The hiring range for this position in CA is $182,700.00 to $245,000.00 per year. The base pay offered will consider internal equity and may vary by geographic region, knowledge, skills, and experience. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided, in addition to medical, financial, and other benefits, depending on the level and position offered.

Disability accommodations for employment applications are available. The Walt Disney Company and its affiliated companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers. If you need a reasonable accommodation to search for or apply for a position, please visit the Disney candidate disability accommodations FAQs. We will respond to requests related only to accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.