Summer 2025 Global Communications Internship

Company Description:

McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily. We continue to operate from a position of strength. Our updated growth strategy is focused on staying ahead of what our customers want and realizing further growth potential. Our relentless ambition is why McDonald’s remains one of the world’s leading corporations after almost 70 years. Joining McDonald's means thinking big and preparing for a career that can have influence around the world.

At McDonald’s, we see every day as a chance to create positive impact. We lead through our values centered on inclusivity, service, integrity, community and family. From support of Ronald McDonald House Charities to our Youth Opportunity project and sustainability initiatives, our values keep us dedicated to using our scale for good: good for our customers, people, industry and planet. We also offer a broad range of outstanding benefits including a sabbatical program, tuition assistance and flexible work arrangements.

We are enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid work model, in which employees spend part of their week connecting with co-workers in our state-of-the-art headquarters. Located in the booming West Loop of downtown Chicago, it's set up to be a global hub that cultivates collaboration:

• Take a class at Hamburger University
• Sample future items in our Test Kitchen
• Utilize the latest technology to connect with your team around the globe

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to the diversity of our crew members, staff, operators, and suppliers. We promote an inclusive work environment that creates feel-good moments for everyone.

Job Description:

 

Department Overview

This Internship will sit within our Global Communications function.  We are an integrated Global Communication team meant to promote and protect the McDonald’s reputation, to grow the businessacting cross-functionally as one connected team.

Global Communications Areas of Responsibility:   

The Global External Affairs & Crisis team works with national and international media outlets to tell stories about McDonald’s business and its positive impact on communities across the world. If you've ever watched CNN or CNBC and saw a story about McDonald’s business performance, that was us! We also work to manage reputational issues and crises to ensure McDonald’s can keep serving fans.

The Global Enterprise Communications team leverages our expertise in internal communications to advise and equip key stakeholders across the business to tell a consistent McDonald’s story to unite and inspire all audiences - Employees, Suppliers, and Franchisees - through a collective understanding of our core business priorities.  

Story Lab owns McDonald’s Corporate social channels across Linkedin, Instagram and TikTok, and leverages this platform to tell stories about McDonald's business, food, people and how we impact our planet. We're responsible for finding, writing, filming and posting these stories on our website, in the office and on social media. We use real talk and popular styles to make employees, customers and the public pay attention to our news.

The Communications Measurement & Insights Team helps facilitate data-driven decision making and prioritization by uncovering reputation, issues/trends/ and communications performance-based insights. We support teams from across McDonald's in the development of reputation insights, monitoring and measurement processes that help inform day-to-day communications activity and long-term planning.

 Agency123 is McDonald's in-house agency. We provide creative services (project management, video, design, etc.) and managed solutions (attendee engagement, meeting planning, photo services, etc.) for the McDonald's system. We work cross-functionally across Global Communications to help amplify the McDonald’s business strategy and enterprise narrative through best-in-class creative production of visual and experiential story telling embodying the McDonald's brand standards.

The Reputation Communications team helps bring greater clarity and visibility to the positive impact reputation can have on the business. Our job is to equip and arm teams across the global System with an insights led POV focused on People and Planet to proactively help defend and protect McDonald’s business model.

Segment Communications supports McDonald’s markets (outside of the U.S) to bring to life the narrative for McDonald’s business plan and progress locally.

Internship Overview

For the duration of the internship, you will be able to enjoy a flexible work environment where you can think critically and feed your need (and ours) for innovation. After going through initial training, you’ll dive in with your full-time team to learn the business and what will be expected of you for the duration of your internship. Our robust programming includes a variety of events such as our Executive Speaker Series, Learning Sessions, Peer Lunches, Employee Business Network sessions, and other exciting events happening at MHQ throughout the summer! We designed this internship to provide a smooth transition into McDonald’s so don’t worry - if you bring curiosity and work ethic, we will guide you through everything you need to know about us.

In addition, the skills and knowledge you will gain during the internship will set you up for a variety of career paths depending on your interests and strengths. Being a part of the internship program gives you early access to our full-time post-graduation opportunities as well.

Internship Details

• This internship is based out of our global headquarters in Downtown Chicago. You MUST be willing to relocate to the Chicagoland area, if applicable, for the duration of the internship program.
• We offer housing options
• You must be authorized to work in the U.S. and not require visa sponsorship for the internship and future employment.
• Our interns work full time, Monday - Friday, during all 10 weeks of the internship (June 9 - August 15, 2025).
• You would be eligible to participate in our Summer Hours program.
• The internship pays $25/hr.

Qualifications:

You are a strong candidate if you:

• Are a Junior working towards your Bachelor’s degree with a graduation date in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026
• Are pursuing a preferred major including: Communications, Public Relations, Broadcast Communications,  Hospitality/Event Planning, Journalism, Political Science, English or equivalent.
• Exhibit organizational involvement or experience related to crisis communications, public relations, media relations, public relations, meeting/event/production planning insights or related fields.
• Have strong communication skills, both oral and written, and can adapt them based on your audience. 
• Are committed to a culture of inclusiveness
• Have a curious & collaborative mindset:  Enjoy working with cross-functional teams and embrace creative problem solving to develop innovative solutions and approaches to challenges
• Are agile:  Comfortable with complex topics; displays an ability to think independently and unafraid to ask questions to gain clarity all while working in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment supported by a strong work ethic and personal integrity
• Demonstrate accountability & motivation: Self-starter with a strong sense of initiative; displays an ability to manage multiple projects with simultaneous deadlines
• Are capable of developing and leveraging relationships: Understands the importance of building and sustaining relationships in a corporate environment
• Are team oriented: Displays a strong team-minded approach with ability to work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels

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.