Sr Director, Organizational Effectiveness & Activation

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Date: Aug 21, 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

McDonald's Global Business Services, Change & Organization Activation COE, is seeking a Sr. Director, Organization Activation Lead to drive organizational activation, operating effectiveness, and capability enablement for the Enterprise Data, Analytics & AI (EDAA) organization. This leader will bring together Organizational Design, Change Management, Communications, and Talent Strategy to help EDAA scale effectively and deliver against its business objectives.

The Sr. Director will shape activation strategy, align cross-functional stakeholders, and guide organizational readiness, adoption, and operating model execution. This role requires strong executive presence, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate complex organizational and workforce challenges into practical business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Organization Activation Strategy

Develop and execute an integrated activation strategy across Organizational Design, Change Management, Communications, and Talent initiatives to support EDAA's growth and evolving operating model.

Drive Organizational Effectiveness & Operating Model Execution

Partner with EDAA and People leaders to design and activate scalable organizational structures, governance, job architectures, and ways of working that enable effective execution across a global organization.

Enable Readiness, Adoption & Workforce Activation

Lead organizational readiness, change, communications, training, talent movement, and workforce planning efforts to ensure successful adoption of new capabilities and ways of working.

Serve as a Strategic Integrator & Advisor

Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, connecting priorities across organizational design, talent, communications, and change initiatives. Drive alignment, manage risks, and ensure strategic objectives are translated into execution.

Lead Executive & Organizational Communications

Develop communication strategies that create clarity, alignment, and engagement across EDAA while helping leaders effectively reinforce organizational priorities and change initiatives

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Organizational Effectiveness, Change Management, or a related field.
  • 12+ years of experience leading organizational activation, organizational effectiveness, change management, operating model implementation, or large-scale transformation initiatives.
  • Experience supporting technology, analytics, data science, engineering, or digital organizations and partnering effectively with technical leaders.
  • Proven ability to influence executives, shape organizational strategy, manage complex stakeholder environments, and drive enterprise-wide adoption of change.
  • Experience partnering with HR and business leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, capability building, and talent strategy.
  • Strong program leadership skills, including governance, risk management, dependency management, and organizational readiness planning.
  • Experience serving in organizational effectiveness, organizational activation, chief of staff, transformation, or related strategic leadership roles.
  • Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous environments while managing multiple priorities and executive stakeholders.

Preferred

  • Master's degree in Organizational Effectiveness, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related discipline.
  • Experience supporting global workforce expansion, localization efforts, and operating model evolution.
  • Management consulting experience with a focus on organizational transformation, talent strategy, or operating model design.
  • Experience supporting AI, analytics, data science, engineering, or digital transformation organizations.

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range

The expected salary range for this role is $208,215 - $260,268 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.

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