Sr. Manager, International Content

Job Summary:

The Walt Disney Company (headquartered out of Burbank, California) operates a number of independent businesses in Canada, including:   Disney Entertainment (Studios, General Entertainment and Streaming), ESPN, Disney Experiences including Parks, Disney Cruise Line and Consumer Products businesses.  The majority of these businesses are located at the Canadian corporate headquarters in Toronto, Ontario and operate across a diverse range of entertainment related industries. 

About the Role:

The Senior Manager, International Content is a knowledgeable creative executive and strategic leader who will play a key role in supporting the Director, Development as Disney continues to grow its Canadian original programming slate. Based in Toronto, Canada, this Senior Manager partners closely with the Director of Development for Canada, the broader International Content team in Los Angeles, in addition to key cross-functional partners, and will help identify, evaluate, develop and oversee premium scripted and unscripted projects from concept through greenlight and into production. The ideal candidate is highly curious, creatively attuned and passionate about discovering emerging voices, tracking industry trends and identifying projects with both local authenticity and global appeal.

Responsibilities:

In this management role, you will lead multiple related creative and development project teams, assist in formalizing Canada workflow procedure, and provide input for setting strategies and priorities that connect international content initiatives to The Walt Disney Company's broader corporate goals. You will act as a dynamic leader and collaborator who combines exceptional creative instincts with strong editorial judgment, outstanding communication skills and a deep understanding of the Canadian creative landscape. You will be equally comfortable reading multiple scripts in a day, providing thoughtful creative feedback, managing complex development pipelines and building trusted relationships with writers, producers, agents and internal stakeholders. The senior manager will also assist on current series by providing insight and feedback on scripts and cuts. This role helps bridge the global creative vision with local execution, requiring a strategic, collaborative manager who can inspire teams, navigate change and deliver compelling content that supports Disney’s world class entertainment brands.

• Support the Director, Development in shaping and executing Disney's Canadian originals across both scripted and unscripted programming.
• Identify, evaluate and champion premium Canadian projects that align with Disney's creative vision and strategic priorities.
• Source new creative opportunities by building relationships with writers, producers, production companies, agents, managers and talent across the Canadian market.
• Help oversee projects throughout the development lifecycle – from initial submission through commissioning, development, production, post-production and delivery.
• Own and manage the end-to-end Canadian content delivery workflow, partnering with Content Operations, Programming, Scheduling, Localization and other cross-functional teams to ensure Canadian titles, assets, metadata and supporting materials are delivered accurately and on schedule for platform launch.
• Read and assess a high volume of submissions with speed, accuracy and strong editorial judgment, identifying projects with both domestic relevance and international potential.
• Draft thoughtful, constructive and actionable creative notes on pitches, treatments, outlines, scripts, cuts and other development materials.
• Review rough cuts and provide clear editorial feedback in partnership with the Director of Development and broader creative team.
• Prepare development reports, project evaluations, internal memos, greenlight materials, executive briefings and strategic presentations for senior leadership.
• Craft concise, articulate creative summaries and project recommendations that support internal decision-making and greenlight discussions.
• Ensure submission pipeline, materials, project status, reports and trackers remain organized, accurate and current.
• Manage development reporting and tracking systems while helping maintain overall slate visibility and planning.
• Collaborate with production partners to help shepherd commissioned projects through prep, production, post-production and delivery.
• Stay highly informed on the Canadian creative marketplace, monitoring emerging writers, directors, producers, talent, production companies, IP, competitive activity and industry trends.
• Proactively identify new creative voices, breakout talent, culturally relevant stories and crossover opportunities that can resonate both within Canada and internationally.
• Represent Disney at festivals, markets, screenings and industry events, cultivating relationships and identifying future development opportunities.
• Contribute to the continued growth, ambition and long-term success of Disney's Canadian originals slate.

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in television development, commissioning and/or production, within a broadcaster, streamer, studio or production company, including a minimum of 3+ years in management roles overseeing creative or content-focused teams.
• Strong understanding of the Canadian television industry, including its creative community, production ecosystem and financing landscape.
• Exceptional creative instincts with the ability to evaluate pitches, treatments, scripts and cuts quickly, thoughtfully and strategically.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate nuanced creative feedback in a clear, constructive and diplomatic manner.
• Excellent story sense with a passion for identifying distinctive voices and compelling commercial opportunities.
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven leadership experience guiding multiple related teams, setting priorities, allocating resources, and driving performance in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with creative talents, production partners, and internal stakeholders across regions.
• Track record of developing or overseeing high-quality, buzzworthy content that reflects cultural authenticity and creative excellence.
• Collaborative, adaptable team player who works effectively with colleagues at all levels and across functions in support of shared goals.
• Comfort working with standard productivity and collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Pix, Airtable, and shared drives) to support project coordination and executive reporting.
• Bachelor's Degree or higher in a relevant field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading international or local content strategies for streaming or broadcast platforms, with a focus on scripted and unscripted originals.
• Demonstrated ability to forecast trends and consumer demand in global or regional markets and apply those insights to content development decisions.
• Background in mentoring creative teams and fostering a collaborative, innovative environment conducive to high-quality content development.
• Experience collaborating with production studios and external vendors to resolve production challenges and ensure successful execution of complex projects.
• Bilingualism, English and French, will be an asset but not required

The hiring range for this position in Ontario, Canada is C$121,200 to C$196,900 CAD 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 full range of medical, financial, and/or other variable pay or benefits, may be offered dependent on the level and position offered. Our Company proudly provides equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants. We welcome and encourage applications from persons with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in any aspect of the selection process. At Disney, we incorporate certain artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support aspects of our recruitment process. Specifically, AI may be used to: • Recommend potential job opportunities • Prioritize applications based on job qualifications and role requirements • Assist in automating scheduling of interviews • Supplement recruiter notes during interviews • Personalize communication to improve the recruitment experience We are committed to ensuring that the use of AI does not introduce bias into our hiring practices. Our AI tools are designed and monitored to promote fairness, consistency, and compliance with applicable equal employment opportunity laws. Human review is incorporated into every aspect of the recruitment process, from review to hire. AI tools are intended solely to assist and enhance the recruitment process. All final candidate advancement and hiring decisions are made by human recruiters and hiring managers.