Training Specialist, Disney Institute

Job Summary:

For over 35 years, Disney Institute has helped business professionals learn the Disney approach to customer and employee experiences. Rooted in powerful business insights on leadership, employee engagement, and quality service, the Disney approach highlights stories and examples of our culture of excellence across the Walt Disney Company. Disney Institute helps professionals, teams, and organizations around the world adapt and apply these business insights to improve their own experiences. Disney Institute offers professional development in-person and virtually through public courses, private engagements for groups, and advisory services for entire organizations. Disney Institute’s mission centers on delivering world-class, immersive stories though impactful content, inspiring participants from across the globe.

The Training Specialist for Disney Institute plays a crucial role in supporting training and certification efforts for DI Cast members. This role will develop personalized learning plans, guiding new hire onboarding, and delivering continuous training. Maintenance of training materials, overseeing certification procedures, and crafting assessments are essential, while also conducting sessions throughout DI’s organization using diverse in-person and online methods. Additionally, this role will contribute to design and development initiatives, leveraging feedback and evaluation data to enrich learning experiences and assess learner performance. You will assist with designated projects and stay updated on product knowledge, occasionally traveling for specific training requirements.

The Training Specialist for Disney Institute will report to the Professional Development Courses (PDC)/Private Learning Events (PLE) Content Manager and sits in Celebration, FL.  

Responsibilities:

• Partner with subject matter experts and DI leaders to plan, create, and deploy key training and certification processes.
• Maintain training materials, track certification process steps, create knowledge assessments and surveys, assist with facilitated sessions, and perform other administrative tasks as needed.
• Facilitate sessions and training programs across all DI areas within the organization, both in domestic locations and online (live/virtual), using a variety of facilitation techniques and methods for audiences at all levels.
• Analyze learner performance and provide coaching and feedback throughout the training process.
• Manage site-based relationships (e.g., Delivery and Ops teams at Disneyland Resort) for location-specific training needs, consult and provide performance recommendations, and be the key decision-maker onsite during training events, ensuring all decisions are in the best interest of the business and learners.
• Apply critical thinking skills proactively to make decisions, take timely actions, manage risks, and solve problems.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships while establishing credibility with subject matter experts across various domains (technology, operations, sales, content, delivery, etc.) to optimize training design and methodologies, while collaborating effectively with team members, partners, support teams, and internal client areas.
• Handle the administrative and logistical aspects of training implementation, including scheduling, as well as curating and communicating training tools, resources, and support materials effectively.
• Maintain and update comprehensive knowledge of all product offerings, business practices, and policies to effectively manage diverse responsibilities in a dynamic environment, ensuring consistency and timely updates across all product lines, and supporting the DI Knowledge Base.
• Assist with design and development projects, applying solid instructional design skills, learning principles, and creativity to effectively transfer knowledge and engage participants in the learning process.
• Occasionally travel to domestic locations.
• Ensure communication is clear, concise, and consistent, advocating effectively for change.
• Quickly adapt to leadership guidance and feedback.
• Manage shifting priorities and complete multiple tasks in a constantly evolving environment.
• Uphold the highest integrity in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications: 

• 3+ years’ experience training and/or facilitating learning and effectively communicating with employees/partners across all organizational levels. 
• Strong background in training delivery, implementation, logistics, and maintaining knowledge of internal client areas.
• Extensive experience in learning and development consulting, collaborating closely with internal clients.
• Proven ability to analyze learner performance and provide ongoing coaching and feedback across hourly and salaried audiences.
• Demonstrated expertise in creating technical and soft skill training across various formats including computer-based, facilitator-led, blended learning, self-study, and job aids.
• In-depth knowledge of human performance improvement and learning methodologies.
• Highly motivated and adaptable self-starter, consistently meeting or exceeding client expectations independently.
• Skilled in project management, handling multiple priorities, and meeting deadlines in fast-paced environments.
• Strong time management, delegation, organizational, and process-centric thinking abilities.
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills, offering creative solutions and ensuring follow-up.
• Thrives in multifaceted environments, maintaining professionalism, good judgment, and composure under pressure.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, adept at conveying information to diverse organizational levels.
• Builds strong partnerships, influences stakeholders, and excels in relationship-building.
• Proficient in various computer applications and contributes thoughtful insights to enhance learning experiences.
• Demonstrated leadership experience contributing to successful outcomes.
• Flexible with work schedule, including evenings, weekends, variable shifts, holidays, and travel.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Working knowledge of training industry, the Disney Cruise Line, National Geographic Expeditions, and Adventures by Disney Products.
• Proficiency with learning management systems (D Learn).
• Experience with Confluence or other knowledge management system.
• Proven knowledge of and experience working with innovative learning methodologies.
• Familiarity and/or application of ADDIE model or related learning models in pervious roles. 
• Bilingual, Multilingual.

Required Education:

• BA/BS in Facilitation, Consulting, Instructional Design & Curriculum Development, or related field or equivalent work experience.

Preferred Education:

• Master’s Degree or formal certification/education in performance consulting, adult development theory or curriculum development desired or equivalent experience.

Additional Information

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.

About The Walt Disney Company

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.

About Disney Experiences:

Disney Experiences brings the magic of Disney stories and franchises to life through theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, unique vacation experiences, products and more around the world. Disney shines in the travel industry with six resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Plus, Disney’s global consumer products operations include the world’s leading licensing business; the world’s largest children’s publishing brands; one of the world’s largest licensors of games across all platforms; and Disney store locations around the world and on the web.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Disney Business Productions, LLC, which is part of a business we call Disney Experiences.

Disney Business Productions, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

Disability Accommodation For Employment Applications

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, email Candidate.Accommodations@Disney.com with your request. This email address is not for general employment inquiries or correspondence. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.