At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic planning and drive growth initiatives for McDonald's UKI.
- Company: Join McDonald's, a leading employer with over 1500 restaurants in the UK and Ireland.
- Benefits: Enjoy a dynamic work environment with opportunities for career advancement and personal development.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inclusion and community impact.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a beloved brand while influencing senior leadership decisions.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in strategy consulting or corporate strategy roles.
The predicted salary is between 113400 - 138600 £ 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
Reporting to the UKI business leadership, the Senior Director, Strategy, Insights will play a central role in shaping and supporting the UKI growth agenda. The role will translate enterprise and market priorities into clear strategic choices, generate and assess opportunities for sustainable growth, and provide high-quality insight to support leadership decisions. Working collaboratively across the UKI business and with global and international partners, the Senior Director will help define strategic priorities, lead selected cross-functional initiatives and build alignment around practical plans. The role requires a strong balance of strategic thinking, commercial judgement and hands-on delivery, with the credibility to influence senior stakeholders without relying on formal authority. This role offers significant exposure to senior leadership and provides a strong platform for continued development into broader leadership positions.
Duties
- Lead and continuously improve the UKI strategy function's operating rhythm, working closely with functional, market and enterprise partners.
- Coordinate the annual and longer-term strategic planning process for the UKI, supporting clear prioritisation, resource choices and alignment with enterprise direction.
- Partner with senior leaders to develop robust, consumer-led strategies that support profitable growth and market share performance.
- Lead selected high-priority, cross-functional initiatives from problem definition through recommendation and implementation planning.
- Bring together consumer, commercial, competitive and operational insight to identify opportunities, challenge assumptions and improve decision quality.
- Translate strategic choices into practical roadmaps, measures and governance, working with accountable business owners to maintain momentum.
- Build strong relationships across the UKI, international and global organisation to share learning, access expertise and connect market priorities.
- Maintain an informed view of the external environment, competitor activity and changing consumer needs relevant to the UKI market.
- Develop the capability of the strategy team and broader organisation by promoting disciplined problem solving, evidence-based decisions and effective prioritisation.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is an accomplished strategist with relevant experience in a top-tier strategy consulting environment and/or a corporate strategy role. They will combine structured thinking and analytical depth with strong commercial instincts and a practical approach to implementation. Comfortable operating with ambiguity, the candidate will be able to frame complex questions, develop clear recommendations and engage senior decision-makers across a matrixed organisation. The successful candidate will be collaborative, low-ego and delivery focused. They will demonstrate the judgement to know when to challenge, when to build consensus and how to move from strategic ambition to executable action.
Required Leadership Skills
- Strategic orientation: Thinks beyond the immediate issue, connects external trends and internal performance, and translates insight into focused choices for the UKI business.
- Results orientation: Brings pace, discipline and accountability to complex work, while remaining pragmatic about what is required to move from recommendation to delivery.
- Collaboration and influencing: Builds credibility quickly, listens well and creates alignment across senior leaders, peers, teams and external partners. Challenges constructively where needed.
- Commercial judgement: Understands the drivers of consumer demand, growth and value creation, and applies sound financial and operational judgement to strategic decisions.
- Team leadership and capability building: Sets clear expectations, develops strong talent and creates an inclusive, high-performance environment. Balances empowerment with a hands-on approach.
- Communication: Distils complexity into compelling, concise narratives and adapts communication effectively for executive and cross-functional audiences.
Qualifications
Business & Functional Experience - Must Have / Nice to Have
Must Have
- Strong strategy consulting and/or corporate strategy experience.
- A track record of developing and supporting the implementation of consumer-centric commercial strategies.
- Experience leading complex, cross-functional projects and turning analysis into clear, actionable recommendations.
- Experience operating in matrixed environments and influencing senior stakeholders without direct authority.
- Strong analytical, financial and commercial capability. Experience in a consumer-oriented business or advising consumer-facing organisations.
- People leadership and team-development experience appropriate to a Senior Director role.
Nice to Have
- Experience identifying and developing strategic partnerships or alliances.
- Food and beverage, retail, hospitality or another high-frequency consumer sector.
- Experience working across international markets or on global projects.
- Experience supporting enterprise or market-wide planning and prioritisation processes.
At McDonald's, we are People from all Walks of Life...
Company Vision and Culture
Our Global vision is to build a better McDonald's and in the UK and Ireland we are working hard to be the UK & Ireland's best-loved restaurant company. McDonald's is defined by its culture. Our culture shapes and informs everything we think and everything we do. Our culture influences the way we interact with each other, and how we interact with customers, franchisees and suppliers. Our culture motivates and inspires us to attract and retain great talent, creating positive, energising, exceptional working environment for us all. Our values drive our culture and shape our beliefs, our priorities and our actions. They influence the decisions we make, how we treat one another and how we show up as a brand to the world.
- Serve: We put our customers and our people first.
- Inclusion: We open our doors to everyone.
- Integrity: We do the right thing.
- Community: We are good neighbours.
- Family: We get better together.
At McDonald's we are People from all Walks of Life... People are at the heart of everything we do, and they make the McDonald's experience. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture that means people can be their best authentic self in our restaurants and offices, which helps us to better serve our customers. We have a strong heritage of diversity and representation within our communities, which we are proud of. The diversity of our people, customers, Franchisees and suppliers gives us strength. We do not tolerate inequality, injustice or discrimination of any kind. These are hugely important issues and a brand with our reach and relevance means we have a very meaningful role to play. We also recognise our responsibility as a large employer to continue being active in our communities, helping to develop skills and drive aspirations that will help people to be more aware of the world of work and more successful within it, whether with McDonald's or elsewhere.
Sr Director, Strategy & Planning in London employer: McDonald's
McDonald's is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises inclusion, integrity, and community. As part of the Construction Department, you'll have the opportunity to lead impactful projects while benefiting from extensive employee growth opportunities and a commitment to continuous improvement. With a strong focus on diversity and a supportive environment, McDonald's empowers its employees to thrive and make a meaningful difference in the lives of customers and communities across the UK and Ireland.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sr Director, Strategy & Planning in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Sr Director, Strategy & Planning in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers talk, especially in management! When detailing your achievements in your CV or cover letter, don’t just say you improved team performance. Instead, say you boosted productivity by 30% over six months through effective strategy implementation. This makes your application pop and shows us what you can bring to McDonald's.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to narrate your professional journey. We’re looking for motivation and a clear understanding of what corporate leadership means to you. Dive into your aspirations and how they align with the values and vision of McDonald's. Make it personal – we want to get to know you!
Tailor Your CV for Management Roles:Ensure your CV reflects the management skills that are essential for this role. Focus on competencies like strategic planning, team building, and problem-solving. Use a clean layout, and don’t forget to align your experiences with those keywords mentioned in the job listing. This will help you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at McDonald's
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
You’ll want to thoroughly convey your unique approach to leadership. During the interview with McDonald's, be ready to share real-life examples of how you've inspired and motivated teams in the past. Think about specific achievements that illustrate your strategic thinking and your ability to drive results.
✨Brush Up on Management Theories
Expect some technical questions related to management theories and practices. Brush up on concepts like transformational leadership, servant leadership, or situational leadership. Be prepared to discuss how you would apply these theories to the role at McDonald's, especially in the specific context of the challenges they’re currently facing.
✨Craft Your Vision for the Company
Since this is a full-time leadership role, spending time thinking about your vision for McDonald's could really set you apart. Consider potential strategies for growth and how you would lead teams towards achieving them. This shows not just enthusiasm, but also strategic foresight that they’ll likely be looking for in a candidate.
✨Emphasise Team Dynamics and Culture
In corporate leadership, team dynamics and organisational culture are everything. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered a positive work environment in previous roles. Bring up examples of how you've managed diverse teams effectively—this will resonate well at McDonald's as they’re likely seeking a candidate who can enhance their workplace culture.
