Job Posting Title:
Operating Participants ManagerReq ID:
10161676Job Description:
The Operating Participants organization develops and implements strategies related to the procurement and subsequent management of unique and relevant third party “Operating Participant (“OP”)” relationships within Disney Theme Parks, Resorts, Retail, Dining and Entertainment (RD&E) environments as well as any other businesses operated by an OP which supports or enhances the overall Guest Experience at the Walt Disney World® Resort.
General Responsibilities:
The Operating Participants Manager will have the primary responsibility of managing and developing a varied portfolio of existing Operating Participant Tenants in alignment with organizational priorities and business needs. Specifically, the Manager will be responsible for understanding Tenant obligations and ensuring compliance with Disney Standards for Operating Participant hotels, retail, restaurant, recreation, cart & kiosk, and service provider operations. Assist with the development of OP business recommendations to executive stakeholders, negotiating leases, and supporting design and development activities related to renovations and refurbishments of venues currently open for operation or new venues prior to opening to the public. Additionally, this role will provide operational expertise needed to support the business development team and master planning efforts of large scale future tenant related projects. While this role will have the support of the Operating Participants organization, the person in this role is expected to be able to work independently, be resourceful and skilled in leveraging strong networking with internal and external partners to;
- Drive business performance of your portfolio
- Streamline effective processes
- Prioritize work, stay nimble and focused on key priorities
- Ensure OP Tenants deliver on product and service excellence
LEASE MANAGEMENT:
Partner with stakeholders to negotiate Lease Amendments, Services Agreements, letter Agreements and Lease renewal terms related to their portfolio accounts. In addition, this role will be expected to develop and maintain existing lease database/documentation and ensure any changes to deal terms are accurately documented. Partner with Tenant Coordination (“TC”) Team on all OP design review meetings/coordinate tenant drawing submittals to Disney internal stakeholders/partners and track progress, prepare mitigation/contingency plans and identify any applicable risks to Disney stakeholders, monitor Lease obligations to ensure delivery dates required by lease are met, and leverage tenant design criteria manuals provided by TC.
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT:
Act as Lease administrator or “Landlord” by coordinating of all approval processes, partnering with key internal partners including WDI (Walt Disney Imagineering); adherence to Disney standards, ensure routine operational audits are conducted and action plans are established and managed; act as owner’s representative on new projects; assist with development, documentation and implementation of any new processes and procedures.
GUESTS/CLIENT SATISFACTION:
Nurture internal and external business relationships at corporate executive and local levels; develop, drive and manage Operating Participant business opportunities; provide guidance and support to Disney operational leadership and LOB/functional key stakeholders.
CAST EXCELLENCE/DEPARTMENT:
Maintenance and development of departmental operating guidelines, policies and procedures; build alliances with key internal and external stakeholders, at all levels of the organization to articulate an understanding of the value of Operating Participant business, make informed recommendations, be a trusted resource, influential partner and consultant in tenanting strategy.
Basic Qualifications
- 2+ years' experience working with real estate-related contractual agreements; ability to manage legal contracts/agreements
- Strong negotiation skills, specifically negotiation of lease Agreement deal terms for new Leases or renewal of existing Lease Agreements
- Proven ability to lead and serve as subject matter expert related to lease enforcement efforts
- Proven capability to manage and drive strategic problem solving and the development of practical business solutions
- Solid financial acumen; ability to manage/forecast business trends; understanding of financial statements (P&L, Cash Flow)
- Proven ability to communicate in a highly organized, persuasive, confident and credible manner when dealing with executive level partners (internally and externally)
- Demonstrated success as an effective leader/partner/collaborator
- Demonstrated skills in developing and maintaining effective business relationships
- Demonstrated skills/experience with successful Project Management
- Verbal and written communication skills with proven ability to facilitate challenging discussions in a professional manner
- Ability to influence Tenants and internal stakeholders
- Proven self-starter; motivated
- Operational management experience and expertise in retail, food & beverage, hotel and/or real estate management/development experience
- Ability to work in a flexible environment with competing priorities – should have strong multi-tasking abilities
- Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
Required Education
- Bachelor’s degree in business related field or equivalent
Preferred Education
- Master’s Degree in business related field or equivalent
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The hiring range for this position in Lake Buena Vista, Florida is $91,000.00 to $111,200.00 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.Job Posting Segment:
FinanceJob Posting Primary Business:
Global Development, OP & International FinancePrimary Job Posting Category:
Operating Participants - Account ManagementEmployment Type:
Full timePrimary City, State, Region, Postal Code:
Lake Buena Vista, FL, USAAlternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:
Date Posted:
2026-10-01Skills Required
- 2+ years of experience working with real estate-related contractual agreements
- Ability to manage legal contracts and agreements
- Strong negotiation skills involving lease agreement terms for new or renewed leases
- Experience leading or serving as a subject matter expert in lease enforcement
- Strategic problem-solving and practical business solution development skills
- Financial acumen, including business forecasting and understanding financial statements, P&L, and cash flow
- Ability to communicate in an organized, persuasive, confident, and credible manner with executive-level partners
- Effective leadership, partnership, and collaboration skills
- Ability to develop and maintain effective business relationships
- Successful project management experience
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including facilitating challenging discussions professionally
- Ability to influence tenants and internal stakeholders
- Self-starter with strong motivation
- Operational management experience and expertise in retail, food and beverage, hotel, and/or real estate management or development
- Ability to work flexibly while managing competing priorities and multitasking
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
- Bachelor's degree in a business-related field or equivalent
- Master's degree in a business-related field or equivalent
The Walt Disney Company Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about The Walt Disney Company and has not been reviewed or approved by The Walt Disney Company.
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Pay Growth & Progression — Recent union agreements raised wage floors for large groups of park cast members—e.g., Disneyland’s $24/hour minimum rising to $26 over the contract and Walt Disney World’s path from $18 toward about $20–$20.50 by 2026—signaling upward movement in hourly pay. These steps are described as meaningful improvements for many frontline roles.
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials outline medical, dental, and vision coverage for many full‑time roles, wellness resources, and (in Central Florida) access to Centers for Living Well clinics and pharmacy. References to mental‑health support and paid time off reinforce a strong core health offering.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Complimentary theme‑park admission and discounts on hotels, dining, merchandise, and recreation are positioned as signature perks. Education support through Disney Aspire adds notable lifestyle value for eligible hourly employees.
The Walt Disney Company Insights
What We Do
The Walt Disney Company is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that operates through segments including entertainment, sports, and experiences.
