Sourcing Manager, Merchandise Sourcing and Product Development

Role overview

This role leads sourcing and product development for confectionery and packaged consumables within Parks Product Development and Retail, with a strong emphasis on domestic Theme Parks & Resorts. The position focuses on building both near-term and long-term supplier strategies that support product distribution while balancing localization needs, speed to market, financial targets, and seasonal merchandise goals. It also contributes to broader sourcing priorities such as sustainability and expanding source-country diversity.

The manager will guide the full development and sampling journey from concept to Final Line Review, working closely with Product Design and Merchandising. Core work includes vendor and ingredient innovation, feasibility evaluation, recommendations for formulation and packaging, cost estimation, supplier negotiation, vendor communication, and oversight of samples until final approval, final costing, and vendor assignment.

The ideal candidate brings substantial, hands-on experience in candy and confectionery, including sourcing, product development, supplier management, flavor and ingredient decisions, packaging, labeling, and food safety. A strong understanding of confectionery trends, commodities, and global supplier networks is essential for developing high-quality consumer products.

This position reports to the Senior Manager, Merchandise Sourcing and Product Development, and requires domestic and/or international travel.

Sourcing strategy

• Build and execute supplier strategies for the short and long term in coordination with Merchandise Strategy and Product Development teams.
• Complete annual supplier scorecards and evaluations using feedback from cross-functional partners, and participate in joint business planning and performance review discussions with suppliers.
• Work with Trade Compliance, Product Integrity, Food Safety, and Sourcing & Procurement to maintain compliance with applicable laws and safety expectations.
• Support sustainability goals, including materials targets and Scope 3 emissions objectives.
• Help maintain strong product quality by monitoring regulatory requirements and changes to labeling and product composition.
• Anticipate and reduce risks tied to cost and supply impacts from macroeconomic, geopolitical, agricultural, ingredient, labor, packaging, trade, and policy changes.
• Identify when new suppliers or manufacturers are needed, then partner with internal and external stakeholders to evaluate, cost, sample, and onboard them.
• Coordinate with TWDC Global Product & Labor Standards to ensure international labor compliance policies are followed.
• Actively pursue product and process innovation through new materials, methods, suppliers, and seasonal vendor innovation sessions.
• Attend relevant industry trade shows each year to stay current on packaged consumables trends and source new supplier opportunities.

Product development and costing

• Identify opportunities to create new products and improve existing lines.
• Recommend sustainable ingredients and packaging engineering solutions that support company sustainability goals.
• Partner with Product Design to complete packaging and labeling finalization, development samples, costing, and vendor placement so launches happen on schedule.
• Improve merchandise productivity and profitability by spotting and addressing cost drivers.
• Prepare preliminary costing and final business placement summaries, including manufacturing country mix, channel margins, and vendor loads.
• Approve finalized costings and vendor placements, including variant costing or sourcing for all required regional quantities.
• Partner with Trade Compliance on tariff engineering solutions where relevant for domestic and international distribution.
• Lead re-costing or re-development work when production issues affect appearance, formulation, texture, shelf life, or flavor.
• Manage packaging inventory and liability with Planning and Merchandising to reduce risk while maintaining healthy stock availability.
• Create packaging approaches that use fewer materials, support sustainability, and adapt to labeling changes, Extended Producer Responsibility, and similar regulations affecting single-use food packaging.
• Use tools such as AI, PLM, Business Objects, Microsoft Office, and other proprietary systems to manage daily costing and development work.

Production and process

• Oversee samples and guide approvals through delivery.
• Track development and sampling progress against milestone dates and share status updates in weekly cross-functional meetings.
• Prepare standard and custom reporting such as time-and-action calendars and progress updates.
• Ensure products meet safety and quality standards in all target markets, including quarterly Product Review Requests for non-food items with product integrity partners.
• Handle data entry workflows such as item setup, financial roadmaps, and invoicing, while monitoring supplier compliance with international labor and food safety standards.
• Track production with Supply Chain Intelligence and Logistics partners, communicate delivery progress, and help reduce disruptions to protect business continuity.

Collaboration and communication

• Build strong relationships with high-quality suppliers across the company.
• Collaborate across Merchandise, Design, and Planning to support the development of top-tier Disney-branded merchandise.
• Influence stakeholders by presenting a strong business case, driving change, and adapting to evolving priorities.
• Lead scheduled development and costing discussions with suppliers and global partners, which may occasionally require evening hours to match time zones.
• Run regular supplier meetings to review business volume, validate data accuracy, address routine concerns, and align vendors with company processes.
• Join product strategy meetings when needed to shape sourcing approaches for key priorities.
• Use product and service knowledge to coordinate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Leadership

• Guide high-performing teams to support productivity and growth needs.
• Promote teamwork, capability building, innovation, and accountability for results.
• Develop strong working relationships with both internal and external partners.
• Partner across functions on supplier strategy, negotiation, placement, product development, quality and safety changes, and on-time delivery.
• Maintain strong personal standards for performance, integrity, responsiveness to feedback, and resilience while managing complex projects and resources.

Qualifications and skills

• 7 to 10+ years of progressive experience in product development, merchandising, or sourcing, with significant direct work in candy or confectionery.
• Proven ability to manage confectionery items from concept through commercialization, including supplier selection, development, costing, packaging, and quality/regulatory review.
• Strong experience sourcing and developing candy products across multiple formats, with solid knowledge of commodities, ingredient inputs, flavor development, packaging requirements, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Understanding of confectionery packaging production, including printed paperboard, flexible packaging, and seasonal gifting formats.
• Working knowledge of ingredients, formulations, labeling, shelf-life factors, and food safety/regulatory guidelines.
• Team-oriented mindset with the ability to collaborate across design, merchandising, and commercial partners.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Negotiation ability, financial judgment, and strategic thinking to support margin goals and annual operating plans.
• Ability to manage multiple SKUs, deadlines, and priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally.

Work arrangement

This role requires 4 days per week of in-person presence at a company-designated location in Central Florida. This on-site expectation may be changed by the company at any time.

Preferred experience

• Background in candy or confectionery products that are branded, licensed, seasonal, novelty, or gift-oriented.
• Existing network of candy suppliers, co-manufacturers, and packaging partners.
• Experience with formulation changes, flavor development, ingredient sourcing, and commercialization of confectionery items.
• Knowledge of confectionery consumer trends, innovation pipelines, and market dynamics.
• Experience with global or multi-market sourcing and regulatory requirements.

Education

A bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Product Development/Design, Business, or Supply Chain is preferred, or equivalent experience of 7 to 10+ years in a related field.

Compensation and benefits

The hiring range for this position in Florida is $100,100 to $134,200 per year. The actual base salary offered will depend on internal equity, candidate location, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and similar factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may also be included along with the company’s full benefits package, which may cover medical, financial, and other benefits depending on the level and position offered.