At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformation initiatives and drive measurable outcomes across McDonald's UK & Ireland.
- Company: Join McDonald's, a leading employer with over 170,000 staff in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonuses, free parking, lunch, gym access, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Collaborative culture that values your ideas and offers career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on transformation while shaping the future of a global brand.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in leading large-scale transformations and managing complex projects.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
About Us
McDonald's has run its business in the UK since 1974 and currently operates over 1500 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, serving almost four million customers each day. McDonald's is one of the UK's largest private sector employers, employing over 170,000 people.
Department Overview
As Senior Manager, Transformation, you’ll own execution and shape how transformation is delivered across McDonald’s UK & Ireland. Reporting to the Transformation Director, you’ll sit at the heart of market execution, working closely with restaurants, franchisees and corporate teams to turn priorities into measurable outcomes.
Duties
- Leading the end-to-end execution of transformation initiatives, setting clear priorities, and ensuring delivery against agreed outcomes, timelines and quality standards.
- Owning and managing the UK & Ireland transformation portfolio, setting roadmaps, sequencing delivery, managing dependencies, and maintaining a forward-looking view of execution.
- Owning the Operational Excellence and simplification agenda, shaping how improvement is identified, prioritised and realised across the business.
- Establishing and evolving a Project Management Centre of Excellence, setting high standards for execution, governance and ways of working that are practical and fit for the business.
- Partnering with senior leaders to balance business-as-usual performance with transformation delivery, ensuring plans are realistic, prioritised and grounded in operational reality.
- Leading, coaching and developing a team of program and operational excellence professionals, building sustainable capability and future talent.
- Acting as a key market voice into global and enterprise forums, advocating for UK & Ireland priorities and operational realities.
- Building strong cross-functional partnerships to reduce friction, enable collaboration and accelerate execution.
Qualifications
What you’ll bring
- You’re an experienced transformation leader who knows how to translate strategy into delivery at pace. You bring strong delivery discipline, a practical mindset, and the confidence to lead complex change in a fast-paced, operationally grounded environment.
- Significant experience leading large-scale transformation, program delivery or operational excellence initiatives with clear accountability for outcomes within complex, matrixed organisations.
- Strong program and portfolio management capability, making informed trade-offs to deliver outcomes, value realisation and execution at pace.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and work effectively across global, segment and market teams.
- A collaborative leadership style, with experience building capability and developing high-performing teams.
- Commercial awareness, balancing value, capacity and risk to make sound delivery decisions.
- An adaptable, pragmatic approach – comfortable navigating ambiguity while maintaining rigour and momentum.
- Alignment to McDonald’s values: Serve, Inclusion, Integrity, Community and Family.
What you’ll get
- A senior, visible role with real influence over how transformation is executed across McDonald’s UK & Ireland.
- Competitive salary, plus a comprehensive benefits package including bonus, cash allowance, free parking, lunch and gym access.
- Hybrid working, offering flexibility between home and our East Finchley Support Centre.
- Access to industry-leading learning, development and career progression opportunities.
- The chance to work in a collaborative, inclusive culture where your ideas are valued and your impact is visible.
- The opportunity to make a meaningful difference for restaurants, franchisees, people and customers across the UK & Ireland.
Sr Manager, Transformation in London employer: McDonald's Corporation
Contact Detail:
McDonald's Corporation Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sr Manager, Transformation in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at McDonald's through LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding McDonald's transformation goals. Show us how your experience aligns with their vision. Bring specific examples of how you've led change in previous roles to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You want to convey your passion for transformation and operational excellence clearly. We recommend rehearsing with a friend or in front of a mirror to nail that confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the team and ready to make an impact.
We think you need these skills to ace Sr Manager, Transformation in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Manager, Transformation role. Highlight your experience in leading transformation initiatives and how you've successfully delivered outcomes in similar environments. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Your Leadership Style: In your application, let us know about your collaborative leadership style. Share examples of how you've built high-performing teams and influenced senior stakeholders. We value leaders who can inspire and drive change, so make sure this shines through!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make your achievements stand out. We appreciate straightforward communication, especially when it comes to complex transformation projects.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! This ensures that your application goes directly to us and is reviewed promptly. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at McDonald's Corporation
✨Know Your Transformation Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your transformation knowledge. Understand McDonald's current initiatives and how they align with the role. Be ready to discuss specific examples of large-scale transformations you've led and how you achieved measurable outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Senior Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your collaborative leadership style. Prepare to share stories about how you've built high-performing teams and developed talent. Highlight your ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate complex environments.
✨Be Ready for Real-World Scenarios
Expect scenario-based questions that test your problem-solving skills. Think about how you would balance business-as-usual performance with transformation delivery. Have examples ready that showcase your pragmatic approach to navigating ambiguity while maintaining momentum.
✨Align with McDonald's Values
Familiarise yourself with McDonald's core values: Serve, Inclusion, Integrity, Community, and Family. Be prepared to discuss how these values resonate with you and how you've embodied them in your previous roles. This will show that you're not just a fit for the job, but also for the company culture.