Director, Brand Marketing
Date: May 20, 2026
Location: Chicago, IL, US, 60607
Company: McDonald's Corporation
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 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.
Department Overview
Click to add description here.
Duties
The Director, Brand Strategy will help set the ambition, direction and ways of working for Vertigrated global programs + Chicken—translating business opportunities into clear brand choices that markets and partners can activate. This leader will connect strategy to execution, navigate complex cross‑discipline partnerships, and ensure the brand shows up with clarity, creativity and consistency at global scale.
Lead global Gen Z programs strategy, identifying key growth opportunities and working with cross‑discipline teams to align on consumer insights, meal construct and role of collectible.
Oversee agency relationships across the Gen Z programs portfolio, ensuring strong partnership, clear scopes and the agility to evolve structure and ways of working as business needs change.
Partner with Digital, CRM and Experience teams to shape Gen Z engagement mechanics (content, offers, loyalty, and in‑restaurant moments), ensuring programs are insight‑led, brand‑right and market‑ready.
Partner with the Chicken category team to provide brand guidance grounded in unique category challenges, including positioning, go‑to‑market approach and opportunity analysis.
Bring clarity to complexity by creating high‑quality strategy deliverables (briefs, narratives and decision documents) that help teams move faster with confidence.
Measure what matters by partnering with Consumer Insights and Analytics to define success metrics, track performance and translate learnings into next‑wave recommendations
Qualifications
You bring 10+ years of experience in brand strategy, marketing, and/or integrated brand leadership, with a track record of influencing senior stakeholders.
You have proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and agency partners through ambiguity—from problem definition through decision and delivery.
You pair strategic rigor with a bias for action, translating insights into clear choices and executable plans.
You have experience operating in a global, matrixed organization with multiple stakeholders and diverse market needs.
You’re an excellent communicator with the ability to craft compelling narratives and briefs.
Compensation
Bonus Eligible: Yes
Long - Term Incentive: Yes
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Salary Range
The expected salary range for this role is $178,121.00 - $222,651.00 per year
The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors.
Additional Information:
Benefits eligible: This position offers health and welfare benefits, including but not limited to comprehensive health insurance, which includes medical, prescription drug, mental health, dental and vision coverage, as well as, life insurance.
Bonus eligible: This position is eligible for a bonus, calculated based on individual and company performance.
Long term Incentive eligible: This position is eligible for stock or other equity grants pursuant to McDonald’s long-term incentive plan.
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.
Nearest Major Market: Chicago