Senior Director, Operations Excellence

Company Description:

McDonald’s growth strategy, Accelerating the Arches, encompasses all aspects of our business as the leading global omni-channel restaurant brand. As the consumer landscape shifts we are using our competitive advantages to further strengthen our brand. One of our core growth strategies is to Double Down on the 3Ds (Delivery, Digital and Drive Thru). McDonald’s will accelerate technology innovation so 65M+ customers a day will experience a fast, easy experience, whether at one of our 25,000 and growing Drive Thrus, through McDelivery, dine-in or takeaway. 

McDonald’s Global Technology is here to power tomorrow’s feel-good moments.  

That’s why you’ll find us at the forefront of transformative technology, exploring new and innovative ways to serve our millions of customers and spread happiness one delicious Hot Fudge Sundae-dipped fry at a time. Using AI, robotics and emerging tech, we’re digitizing the Golden Arches. Combine that with our unparalleled global scale, and we’re reshaping all areas of the business, industry and every community that is home to a McDonald’s restaurant. We face complex tech challenges every day. But that’s where our diverse and talented teams come in. They’re made up of the best and brightest from all over the globe, and they thrive in the space where feel-good meets fast-paced.  

Check out the McDonald’s Global Technology Technical Blog to learn how technology and our global team are directly enabling the Accelerating the Arches strategy. 

Job Description:

Technology is at the heart of running great restaurants and a critical element of every major initiative underway.  Developing and deploying technology across 13,000+ restaurants in the US requires major alignment and focus to ensure seamless execution that protects our restaurant operations.  

We are looking for a highly skilled Senior Director to lead the US Technology Operational Excellence team.  This team is the backbone of our US Technology organization, responsible for leading a team who:

• Drives integrated planning for the department (intake)
• Leads our most complex technology deployment programs to ensure reliable, on-time, high quality delivery (PMO)
• Manages a highly complex operator funding model
• Leads local supplier management for technology products
• Is driving improvement of our communications both internally and externally to drive more positive sentiment towards the great work that we do  
• Leads a highly effective governance model with our critical owner/operator team

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and nurture the Operational Excellence organization
• Build alignment within a complex organization
• Bring excellent PMO leadership to further develop and lead the US Technology intake and PMO function, which is accountable for all integrated planning and manages all critical, cross-product initiatives for US Technology
• Drive improvements into the integrated planning function to ensure that plans are timely, robust and that the US Technology team only works on products and projects that deliver value
• Lead the team to simplify our highly complex operator funding model, including driving transparency with key owner/operator stakeholders 
• Lead our critical governance group with key owner/operator leadership to remove friction which will ensure faster delivery and higher adoption of technology initiatives
• Lead the strategic alignment and communications team who will drive significant improvement in sentiment within the organization and with all critical stakeholders through a clear focus on improved communications and transparency
• Establish and drive a data-driven culture across US Technology - through project execution, financial management and governance processes
• Lead a team of directors and managers - provide strategic vision for the department while also balancing near term deliverables
• Develop and evaluate business cases and the ability to effectively advocate for necessary investments
• Deliver concise, compelling, data driven business recommendations as you update the leadership team and decision-makers on project status and progress

Qualifications:

• Computer Science / Engineering degree
• 10+ years of technically focused experience
• To be a change agent and have a strong passion for improving process
• Strong Program/Project management experience in a complex organization
• Retail and Digital technology experience
• Broad experience across the IT SDLC including development, deployment and support, as well as multidisciplinary expertise in financial, vendor management, communications and driving results in a global organization
• Ability to build and leverage talent, inspire & promote teamwork leading to the development of high performing teams, regardless of reporting lines
• Strong ability to partner, negotiate and influence: peers and other technology leaders, leaders from other functions, and owner/operators

Additional Information:

McDonald’s is an equal opportunity employer committed to the diversity of our workforce. We promote an inclusive work environment that creates feel-good moments for everyone. McDonald’s provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities as part of the application or hiring process or to perform the essential functions of their job. If you need assistance accessing or reading this job posting or otherwise feel you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact mcdhrbenefits@us.mcd.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

McDonald’s provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, disability status, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, protected military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Nothing in this job posting or description should be construed as an offer or guarantee of employment.