Sr Manager, Operations Excellence
Date: Oct 8, 2025
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
As Senior Manager – Operations Excellence, you’ll be the driving force behind the design and execution of governance frameworks that empower bold decision-making and strategic clarity across high-impact programs. You’ll bring visibility to complex change initiatives, champion governance excellence, and unite cross-functional teams around shared goals, ensuring every step forward delivers measurable value. This is a leadership role for someone who thrives on orchestrating transformation and inspiring alignment at scale.
Responsibilities
- Governance Leadership: Own and evolve the governance process for strategic transformation programs, ensuring consistency, transparency, and accountability.
- Strategic Planning & Oversight: Serve as the first-level decision maker for new plans and changes to existing plans, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and financial governance.
- Budget & Resource Governance: Oversee tracking frameworks and budget governance for transformation initiatives, ensuring compliance and value delivery, in close partnership with Finance stakeholders and leaders across the organization.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to facilitate governance forums, resolve escalations, and maintain strategic alignment.
- Coaching & Enablement: Coach managers and supervisors to execute within the governance framework, building capability and accountability across the team.
- Change Governance: Ensure rigorous change control processes are in place for timelines, scope, and resource allocation.
- Reporting & Insights: Provide executive-level reporting on governance health, risks, and value realization metrics.
Qualifications
- 6+ years of experience in strategic planning, program governance, or transformation leadership roles.
- Proven track record in budget governance and financial oversight for large-scale initiatives.
- Strong executive communication and presence; ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
- Expertise in cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to connect big-picture objectives to operational execution.
- Knowledge of McDonald’s Global Technology organization is a plus.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree or certifications (PMP, Prosci, or equivalent) preferred.
Compensation
Bonus Eligible: Yes
Long - Term Incentive: Yes
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Salary Range
The expected salary range for this role is $149,260 - $190,310 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
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