Project Manager - Project Hire

Walt Disney Imagineering makes the impossible possible by combining innovation and storytelling to bring Disney stories, characters, and worlds to life. Imagineering is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production, project management, and research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company. Representing more than 150 subject areas, its talented corps of Imagineers is responsible for the creation - from concept initiation through installation - of Disney Resorts, theme parks and attractions, real estate developments, regional entertainment venues, cruise ships, and new media technology projects.

The FF&E/Project Manager (FF&E/PM) will report to the Project Design & Delivery Studio Executive & work in tandem with the Principle Project Manager who will oversee the work of the FF&E/PM. The FF&E PM is the project lead accountable for ensuring that all furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) are designed, ordered, fabricated, delivered and installed within the overall budgetary, schedule and design constraints of the project. To perform this role, the FF&E Manager provides support to the Project Team across various WDI studios and leads the FF&E procurement and execution efforts, coordinating with both internal and external project partners, including but not limited to WDI interior design managers, creative leads, construction management, sourcing and procurement, project planning, estimating, finance, operations, warehousing and logistics, outside design firms, furniture vendors, specification writers and procurement agent(s). The FF&E Manager will also serve as the Responsible Individual for the procurement agent contract(s).

You Will/Responsibilities:

• Manage all submittals and forward comments/approvals to vendors. Coordinate and obtain timely approvals from Design Team on strike-offs, prototypes, samples and shop drawings.
• Liaise with the Interior Design manager to collect, develop and analyze technical data to determine project requirements and prepare information regarding specifications, materials, equipment, estimated costs, and completion times.
• Maintain and update intensive master FF&E and responsibility matrices for the project and ensure alignment and coordination with infrastructure (i.e. power and data requirements) and other project requirements. Responsible for the input, management, and accuracy of all data for the FF&E scope. Responsible for generating reports and other queries as requested, with the assistance of Sourcing & Procurement and Finance Teams as needed.
• Coordinate FF&E activities with Interior Design Manager and other project partners to identify furniture, special equipment, and technology requirements during the design phase or prior to procurement and to ensure that any special building requirements, such as in-wall blocking for wall-mounted or supported items, or fasteners embedded in the slab for fixed floor-mounted items, has been properly coordinated in the drawings.
• Transportation or hidden damage, improperly manufactured product, substandard/inferior quality, incorrect product, etc.
• Negotiate attic stock requirements with key project stakeholders prior to bid/award; secure attic stock/unused FF&E from vendors and coordinate delivery to Operations warehouse.
• Lead order tracking and expediting to meet established timelines. Order expediting/FF&E status reporting to Owner and Owner’s Warehouse to include PO numbers, shipping dates, warehouse delivery dates, and other pertinent information.
• Maintain a log of submittal status including initial receipt/collection, actual versus budget reporting, and other progress/status reports as required to the Project Manager.
• Keep accurate records for all furniture purchases.
• Lead the cost estimating process for project FF&E budget development; establish and monitor project budgets and timelines; ensure expenditures are within allocated budgets; propose budget changes where appropriate and/or required; ensure that a design-to-budget mentality is maintained throughout the process; participate in the FF&E value engineering activities of the design/project teams and the operator.
• Work with Global Sourcing and Procurement team to coordinate and lead the RFP process including bid analysis, summary, and awarding vendors.
• Recommend changes and/or options to enhance or improve daily business processes and procedures. Assist other staff by facilitating questions and/or providing support.
• Supervise quality and schedule of items in production, expediting, and logistics, and be responsible for FF&E installation. Create and track punch lists for FF&E. Arrange and coordinate any testing required.
• Coordinate delivery and installation scheduling, transportation, and freight logistics with key project team members and vendors.
• The FF&E Manager will be responsible for leading the FF&E procurement and execution process for the assigned project, including:
• Provide regular reports to project management on the status of FF&E schedules, procurement, cost estimates, and installation, and recommend corrective action when necessary.
• Work with vendors to request, organize and submit project close-out documentation prior to project turnover to include: Fire certificates, warranty/guarantee documentation, training documentation, manufacturers recommended maintenance/cleaning documentation
• Define and coordinate project installation plans and resolve issues with internal and external team members.
• Take the lead on the preparation of competitive bid packages, working with the Interior Design Manager and Sourcing & Procurement Team.
• Maintain communication on a regular and timely basis ensuring that all project participants are informed of project status, next steps, and schedules.
• Participate in the FF&E specification review process.
• Coordinate the review/verification/approval of purchase orders and payments. Provide a purchase order preparation/transmittal/receipt confirmation with vendors.
• Work collaboratively with all key partners to ensure successful project completion.
• Work with Project Management, Interior Design Manager and Sourcing & Procurement Team to establish the procurement strategy; develop FF&E project schedules, work plans, and warehousing/installation strategy (with Construction Management) and ensure coordination of teams, vendors, and consultants to meet milestone deadlines.
• Manage vendor invoice auditing/payables reporting to Project Manager.
• Work with vendors on product issue resolution including but not limited to:
• Develop and handle budgets and schedules from the design phase through construction, ensuring that furniture orders are completed within budget and on time. Work with Project Planner to develop, coordinate and maintain integrated project schedules for all phases.
• Maintain project documentation including correspondence, drawings, samples, specifications, and turnover documentation.
• Interact and work closely with designers and consultants for specification creation and clarification, as well as helping to define their selections and explore options.
• Set meetings, develop agendas, take meeting minutes, transcribe and distribute meeting minutes.
• Establish the overall FF&E management strategy and coordinate the overall FF&E procurement plan.

You Will Have/Basic Qualifications:

• Ability to maintain established work schedules and budgets.
• Knowledge of project planning and management principles.
• Solid understanding of word processing, spreadsheets, calendaring, project management, collaboration and document management programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Bluebeam).
• Must be able to sit and work at a computer for long periods of time, with occasional travel required.
• Incredibly detail-oriented and process-drive, with strong skills to organize, prioritize and plan work effectively to achieve timely progress.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of work-related information and materials.
• Must be able to visit a construction and installation site and environment which includes unfinished spaces, and physical movements including bending, kneeling and climbing.
• Knowledge of project administration, the construction industry, and construction terminology.
• Excellent analytical and thinking skills to anticipate and identify issues and information requirements. Skill to apply appropriate research and analysis procedures. Ability to think logically, interpret data, and identify anomalies, trends, and potentially invalid data. Skill to make logical deductions and independently decide appropriate action where no clear guidelines are available.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university in Architecture/Interior Design/Construction Management/Engineering or other related area, or equivalent experience
• Five years of directly related, progressively responsible experience managing or coordinating projects.
• Hospitality industry project management experience preferred.

Critical Knowledge and Preferred Skills:

• Solid understanding of customs and transportation logistics (preferred).
• Knowledge of methods of purchasing and contract administration (preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to define problems, develop methodologies for solving problems, perform analyses and summarize findings, and develop and implement recommendations.
• Knowledge of budget development, administration and accountability; bid and purchasing procedures and expense control; FF&E specification writing (preferred).
• Ability to provide information clearly, accurately and succinctly for the appropriate target audience.
• Principles, practices, and methods of space layout, design, and utilization (preferred).

Benefits and Perks:

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

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