Summer Intern - Business Development & Innovation Graduate

Job Description

About the Role & Program

The ESPN Business Development & Innovation team is responsible for identifying, developing and driving new business opportunities that further enhance ESPN's content and product offerings. The team continually evaluates prospective partners in traditional and digital media and assists in managing third-party relationships.

As a pioneer for applications of AI technologies, you will use your unique combination of business and technical expertise to accelerate the design and prototyping of tools and technology that enable employees to build novel experiences. You'll work with cross-disciplinary teams to translate ideas into tangible tools that can be tested and potentially used across the business! Your purview will extend to the evaluation of potential partnerships and technologies with third-party companies.

We are looking for candidates who are passionate about artificial intelligence, machine learning, sports, and business development. This unique role will provide the opportunity to learn about the magic we bring to fans and the back-end systems that power content every day! If selected for this role, you will report to a Sr. Manager, Business Development and Innovation.

What You Will Do
• Play a key role in bridging technical and business aspects of AI projects, ensuring that the scopes are feasible, aligned with technical capabilities' roadmap, market maturity, and targeted towards tangible business values.
• Lead complex project plans, ensuring seamless collaboration across various teams and workstreams.
• Craft user stories and requirements, authoring project artifacts to ensure alignment of scope and strategy across partners.
• Foster seamless collaboration with technology, creative studios, production, and product teams to meticulously drive the execution of avant-garde capabilities.
• Work with cross-functional teams to understand project requirements and contribute to the research of innovative AI solutions.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI, machine learning, and emerging technologies, proposing new ideas to keep ESPN at the forefront of media and innovation.
• Collaborate with senior executives to create and manage AI concepts, actively mitigating potential risks.
• Manage the relevant legal and corporate processes to ensure projects and tools remain compliant.

Required Qualifications & Skills
• At least 2 years of product management experience in technology
• Strong foundation in AI, machine learning, and deep learning concepts. Proficiency or industry exposure in programming languages such as Python, AWS, and JavaScript
• Knowledge of Large Language Models and emerging AI products, including ChatGPT, VertexAI, Llama2, Adobe Firefly, etc.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex product concepts to both technical and non-technical collaborators
• Deep passion for sports and a keen interest in enhancing the fan experience through AI
• Experience or interest in business development and evaluating potential partnerships
• Proficiency in Agile methodologies, Scrum management, with a history of successful project velocity and completion forecasting
• Familiarity with cloud technologies (AWS, GCP, Azure) and a strong understanding of current LLM technologies, and their business applications
• Demonstrated expertise using project management tools, especially JIRA, Confluence, and GitHub
• Excellent attention to detail, problem-solving, and communication skills, capable of engaging effectively with both business and technical teams
• Experience with financial/budget management and complex cost-benefit analysis
• Experience managing and prioritizing projects within the portfolio

Education
• Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, information systems, design, cognitive science, human-computer interaction, or a related field.

Eligibility Requirements & Program Information

Candidates for this opportunity MUST meet all of the below requirements:
• Be enrolled in an accredited college/university taking at least one class in the semester/quarter (spring/fall) prior to participation in the internship program OR must have graduated from a college/university within 6 months at time of application posting OR currently participating in a Disney College Program or Disney Professional Internship
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Possess unrestricted work authorization
• Have not completed one year of continual employment on a Disney internship or program

Additional Information

Program Dates: The summer season will run May through August 2024. Interns will work 40 hours per week throughout the internship and must be fully available.

Work Environment: This internship is based in New York City. Interns must provide their own housing and transportation.

The pay rate for this graduate internship in New York City is $30.40 per hour. Select benefits may be provided as part of the compensation package, such as medical, financial, and/or other benefits. To learn more about our benefits visit: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rzv1kn-18-191-195-110-42 in your application.