Manager, Strategy & Planning
Date: Jan 14, 2026
Location: Chicago, IL, US, 60607
Company: McDonald's Corporation
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.
Department Overview
This position will support the Global Technology Strategy & Planning team’s efforts in support of our technology priorities. The Strategy & Planning Manager role will report to the Sr. Manager within the broader remit of the Planning & Program Management Office team. This role will drive Global Technology’s strategy and planning processes inclusive of Phase Planning as well as the integrity of various key planning artifacts.
This role will support the evolution of the Integrated Business Planning Process on behalf of the Consumer Platform and serve as a subject matter expert on Enterprise Planning at McDonald’s. This position will partner with key collaborators within, but not limited to, Product/Technology, Global Customer Engagement, Delivery, and Global Business Services to support enterprise-wide initiatives and meet critical planning achievements.
Duties
- Coordination of Enterprise Phase Planning process for Global Technology, in collaboration with market and segment teams
- Support the evolution of project plans to inform Enterprise Planning Roadmaps – informing a standardized approach that ties to our overall planning goals and deliverables
- Act as a subject matter expert on strategic and operational activities, questions and establishing best practices
- Partner closely with key center collaborator groups to enable all enterprise planning deliverables
- Help ensure accuracy and alignment of key project artifacts by regularly communicating Enterprise Roadmap updates and deadlines to the Project Management Office
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, strategy or related fields
- 5+ years of experience and technical/functional expertise in one or several of the following areas: management consulting, technology, planning, operations and/or marketing
- Demonstrable ability to influence senior leaders and peers without direct authority
- Experience leading multi-functional initiatives with multiple Global collaborators
- Demonstrated experience developing analyses, presentations, and support material to implement strategy or change initiatives
- Mature critical thinking, problem solving, analytical, oral, and written communication, and presentation skills
- Advanced MS Office skills (Excel and Powerpoint)
- Smartsheet or Power BI experience preferred
- Dedicated facilitator who strategically leads discussions
- Hard-working/self-starter, diligent 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
- High attention to detail and ability to consume large amounts of information across disparate artifacts/sources and successfully connect the dots
Compensation
Bonus Eligible: YES
Long - Term Incentive: YES
Benefits Eligible: YES
Salary Range
Additional Information:
Benefits eligible: This position offers health and welfare benefits, a 401(k) plan, adoption assistance program, educational assistance program, flexible ways of working, and time off policies (including sick leave, parental leave, and vacation/PTO). Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on job classification and length of employment.
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