Manager, Partnerships

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

We are charting the course for the future of Global Brand Partnerships at McDonald's to build long-term brand love, elevate the brand's relevance, and deliver business results.

The Manager, Global Brand Partnerships, will lead world-class partnerships that position McDonald's at the center of culture. This role sits at the intersection of entertainment, music, gaming, licensing, and retail marketing—shaping how McDonald's shows up through meaningful collaborations, breakthrough campaigns, must-have consumer products, and unforgettable brand moments.

This individual will champion McDonald's partnership ecosystem, driving strategic collaborations across entertainment studios, music artists, gaming platforms, cultural institutions, consumer brands, licensors, and experience-led platforms. They will drive implementation of McDonald's global licensing strategy and execution of key marketing campaign partnerships and Happy Meal programs.

The ideal candidate is entrepreneurial and culturally fluent, with experience building successful partnerships, negotiating high-impact deals, and translating emerging trends into scalable global programs. They are a voracious consumer of culture today and will bring expertise across sport, entertainment, fashion, gaming, creators, and more. They are knowledgeable and curious about new and emerging trends, channels, and subcultures and able to convert that curiosity into tangible strategies to drive business and brand results. 

Duties

This role will be accountable for:

• Drive McDonald’s global partnerships strategy across entertainment, music, gaming, retail, sports, licensing, and emerging cultural platforms. 
• Identify, negotiate, and manage high-impact global partnerships that drive brand affinity, consumer engagement, and business growth. 
• Manage partner and talent relationships across global brand campaigns and Happy Meal programs, including marquee moments, cultural collaborations, and integrated marketing initiatives.
• Champion McDonald’s Global Licensing and Consumer Products growth by owning program and product development across key initiatives, building collaborative relationships with licensees, identifying new partner and product opportunities, and operationalizing licensing within McDonald’s system. 
• Contracting: Partner with legal, agency, and business teams to negotiate fair deals and ensure timely execution of contracts by all stakeholders 
• Budgeting: Ensure programs are within budget and invoices are submitted in a timely manner 
• Collaborate closely with brand, social, consumer engagement, communications, consumer insights, legal, commercial, and market teams to ensure integrated executions, scalable partnership frameworks and measurable impact. 
• Manage agency and external partner relationships to deliver best-in-class execution globally. 
• Stay ahead of cultural trends, consumer behavior, and emerging platforms to identify new opportunities for the brand. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years of experience in partnerships, entertainment marketing, cultural marketing, brand strategy, licensing, or experiential marketing. 
• Proven track record developing and executing large-scale global partnerships and culturally relevant campaigns. 
• Network and experience across entertainment, music, gaming, retail, sports, and/or licensing industries.
• Strong strategic thinking combined with operational excellence and executional rigor. 
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity and build new capabilities. 
• Operates with a growth and transformation mindset, willingness to challenge the status quo and a commitment to craft and excellence across all projects 
• Exceptional relationship-building, influence, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills with ability to lead cross-functional teams and managing multiple high-profile projects simultaneously. 
• Strong understanding of global culture, trends, and consumer behavior. 
• Deeply curious, asking questions and seeking out new perspectives to inform your work, and a willingness to learn and take on new challenges 
• Passion for creativity, storytelling, and building iconic brand moments

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range