Strategy & Planning Manager

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:

This position is under the direction of the Strategy, Planning, and Governance, Sr. Manager where you will lead and support the strategic development and mobilization efforts in support of Global Technology’s priorities. The Manager will be support the delivery of strategic business analysis, strategy development and recommendations in support of driving value to the broader McDonald’s system through the lens of technology.

You will manage high-priority and complex projects, which often require high functional integration levels with adherence to quality, deadline, and budget standards. This role will function as an individual contributor to lead the strategic development and mobilization efforts to support McDonald’s technology priorities. The key components of this role are to support the definition, execution, and enhancement of the annual planning process. Additionally, the Manager will manage various high-visibility Global Technology programs, processes and research assignments. This role will provide executive-level communication and analysis on an as need basis.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic planning process for Global Technology, with a particular focus on defining and funding key strategic initiatives for McDonald's in alignment with the organizational strategy
• Lead external market and competitive intelligence gathering, identification and recommendation of strategic issues and opportunities based on business needs
• Program manage the branding strategy, ensuring clear operating model, value proposition and engagement strategy are implemented for partner organizations (e.g., Change Management)
• Mature the Global Technology operating model, in support of delivering McDonald’s technology objectives. This includes but is long limited to assessing and enhancing the Annual Planning (short and long term), Change Management, Executive Communications, Talent Development Strategy, Project Intake and Prioritization Process and Capacity Management
• Manage special projects that impact the entire organization and/or key business-unit partner on an as needed basis
• Partner and advise Global Technology Leaders on functional analyses and action plans in support of increasing operational effectiveness and value realization
• Facilitate Strategy Deployment Sessions, including development of Department Vision, Mission, Goals and Annual Targets
• Act as a Subject Matter Resource on strategic and operational activities, questions and leading practices
• Provide executive communications including the drafting of highly sensitive presentations, email communications and memorandums. Work with Strategic Communication function to draft cohesive narratives in support of advancing Global Technology positioning and perception across the McDonald’s system
• Design and develop financial, operational and theoretical quantitative analyses at times in partnership with other Global Technology and McDonald’s functions (e.g., Finance, Capacity Management, Product, etc.)
• Design and implement critical operational and governance processes
• Conduct external market research and partner with external vendors to identify best in class tools, templates, processes and organizational structures

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, strategy, finance, data analytics, IT or related fields
• 6+ years of experience and technical/functional expertise in one or several of the following areas: management consulting, financial analysis, public policy, mergers and acquisitions, operations research, operations and/or marketing
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and peers without direct authority
• Experience managing cross-functional initiatives with multiple Global stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience developing analyses, presentations and support material to successfully implement strategy or change initiatives
• Mature critical thinking, problem solving, analytical, oral and written communication, and presentation skills
• Advanced MS Office skills (Excel, SmartSheet, and PowerBI skills are preferred)
• PMP and/or Prosci ADKAR certified is preferred
• Consumer products experience preferred but not required
• Talented facilitator who skillfully leads discussions
• Self-driven/self-starter, detail-oriented leader who actively works to remove barriers to achieving results
• Adapts to changes in priorities with ease, comfortable working "in the gray" while defining the way forward
• Strong Project Management skills
• Financial acumen or financial management/corporate finance experience a plus
• Experience designing and or implementing processes and or tools
• High attention to detail and ability to consume large amounts of information across disparate artifacts/sources and connect the dot successfully

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.