Manager, Government Relations

Department Overview

McDonald's Global Impact team is aligned around a mission to make McDonald’s one of the most respected, trusted, and admired brands in the world. We will do this through actions to drive responsible business growth, investments to foster community, values-based advocacy, and compelling communications that matter to our customers, our System, and our global stakeholders. Read more about our Purpose & Impact here. 

The U.S. Impact team brings together Communications, Government Relations and Community Affairs, Sustainability & ESG to support the U.S. business, in alignment with McDonald's Global Impact priorities. The team is based across McDonald’s US footprint and supports a range of priorities.

Duties

The McDonald’s State & Local Government Relations and Community & Public Affairs team is looking for a Manager of Government Relations Strategy to manage the strategic enablers and tools that ensure the team can execute regional and state-level GR plans. This role involves  enhancing connectivity and engagement with field teams across the United States, managing legislative tracking and horizon scanning, formulating actionable risk assessments, and gathering insights from stakeholders to shape national advocacy. The role reports to the Director, State and Local Government Relations and Community Affairs Strategy,  and is based at McDonald’s Global Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.  

Primary Responsibilities Include: 
• Monitor, track and organize key state and local policy developments using legislative tracking tools and industry insights. Ensure a sustainable process for collaboration and sharing timely updates/insights across the team, cross functional partners, and leadership to support informed decision-making on priority state and local issues.
• Support the execution of the national strategy for State & Local Government Relations by maintaining a comprehensive calendar of legislative sessions, internal reporting timelines, and key stakeholder engagements. Lead improvements to team processes, including meeting schedules, training sessions, and internal communications, to help the broader organization understand and engage with the team’s work.
• Manage core government relations operations and ensure tools and strategies are coordinated across teams. Plan and manage agendas and logistics for strategic meetings, ensuring clear goals and follow-through.
• Act as a collaborative partner across functions, contributing ideas and helping connect the team’s work to broader impact strategies.
• Develop policy positions and tools on state and local issues, as needed, ensuring the organization is well-prepared to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Support implementation of new projects and initiatives, as directed
• Develop a deep understanding of the global brand and business 

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree 
• Knowledge of and interest in policy, legislative and regulatory issues, and state and local government landscape 
• Knowledge of and ability to thrive within large, matrixed organizations or systems
• Excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills, including ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment and hit deadlines
• Proven ability to adapt quickly to a fast-paced environment and support multiple high priority work streams with ambiguous or undefined parameters (pilots, sprints, etc.)
• Self-starter with a bias towards action and focus on delivering quality results
• Effective and nimble collaborator who will work cross-functionally with different levels of leadership and teams.
• Strong project management skills and experience managing partner relationships, SMEs, and cross-functional partners
• Confidence to engage across all levels of the business and influence without authority while exercising sound judgement and strengthening trust through transparency and accountability
• Professional communicator, experience with stakeholder engagement activities 
• Relationship building skills internally and externally, strong ambassador outside of the company

Preferred Qualifications
• Prior experience as a government relations professional within a corporation, trade association, or private firm on issues pertinent to the restaurant/retail/technology industry 
• Demonstrated leadership role, within industry working groups, and a strong and established stakeholder network 
• Experience advocating or lobbying to organizations at the state and local level, trade association or policy think tank preferred 
• Advanced degree in Public Policy, Government, or related field

Compensation

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range

The expected salary range for this role is $112,860.00 - $143,900.00 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.

Competencies