Sr Director, Strategy & Planning
Let's be part of something together
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London, United Kingdom, N2 8AWEmployeeCompetitive
Apply Overview
About Us
McDonalds 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. McDonalds is one of the UKs largest private sector employers, employing over 170,000 people.
Department OverviewReporting 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.
The Senior Director will lead and develop the UKI strategy capability. The role will work through a combination of direct team leadership, cross-functional project teams and influence across a complex matrix. Final team scope and reporting lines will reflect the UKI operating model.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 ProfileThe 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.
QualificationsBusiness & 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 McDonalds and in the UK and Ireland we are working hard to be the UK & Irelands best-loved restaurant company.
McDonalds 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 McDonalds we are People from all Walks of Life...
People are at the heart of everything we do, and they make the McDonalds 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 McDonalds or elsewhere.
Benefits
perksHybrid Working
Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.wellnessPrivate Medical Care
Corporate employees receive private medical care, either immediately or following 6 months service depending on your role.perksHoliday Allowance
Full-time office employees receive 28 days paid holiday annually, plus 2 months sabbatical per every 10 years’ service.wellnessWellness Benefits
Your wellbeing matters. Enjoy access to wellbeing resources, mental health support, and initiatives designed to help you feel your best – in and out of work.perksPension & Life Assurance
Access our stakeholder pension scheme alongside Life Assurance cover if you contribute a minimum of 3%.perksCareer Growth
We highly value talent and believe in helping our people grow. We support career progression through mentorship, training and leadership development opportunities.wellnessValues Heroes
We live by our values and we reward those who demonstrate their commitment to them.perksPerformance Reviews & Bonus
Your performance will be reviewed formally every 6 months and pay is reviewed annually based on performance. There is also potential to receive an annual bonus each year.perksMeals at Work
You can choose food from our restaurant menu on your break and can even try the latest promotions.recognitionLength of service
Your length of service doesn’t go unnoticed – we reward you with monetary benefits for long service.perksPay & Perks
Receive competitive pay and a range of exclusive perks, including employee discounts and an on-site gym at our Head Office.perksEmployee Discounts
Benefit from our generous employee discount scheme, covering a range of retailers and services across the UK.perksSummer Fridays
Summer Fridays allow our Corporate Careers teams to finish early, every Friday, during the summer months.Sr Director, Strategy & Planning
- Location:
- London, United Kingdom, N2 8AW
- Contract Type:
- Employee
- Pay:
- Competitive
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect from the recruitment process?
The recruitment process differs for each role. If we think you’re a good fit, we’ll invite you to a competency based interview and then onto a second interview usually with an associated task to complete or present.
What are the pay rates at McDonald’s?
Our pay rates differ from role to role, but we always ensure that these rates remain competitive. Alongside this, we also offer a wide range of benefits including holiday and sick pay, and employee discounts that offer savings at over 1,600 retailers.
Does McDonald's offer flexible working?
Enjoy the flexibility of our hybrid working model with 3 days in the office to foster collaborative team environment and 2 days remote to support work/ life balance.
What documents should I provide as proof of eligibility to work?
Before we can employ you, we are required to verify your eligibility to work in the UK & Ireland. You’ll need to provide acceptable original documents such as a valid passport or a valid UK/Ireland visa (with a college letter listing term dates, where applicable). Only original documents will be accepted.
How do I apply for a vacancy at McDonald’s head office?
Either click on the 'Job search' page or the ‘Job search’ button on the page of the vacancy you’re interested in. Then select the role that suits you, and complete an online application form.
How much holiday am I entitled to?
All full-time members of the Head Office team get 28 days paid holiday as well as bank holidays on top. For part-time workers, holiday will be determined on a pro-rata basis.
What do I wear in the office?
At our Head Office, we have a Dress for your Day Policy - the bottom line is that we want you to be empowered to make the decisions that meet the needs of your day.
I have a disability, what support can I get with my McDonald's job application?
During the application process, you can request for any reasonable adjustments to be made so you can find the right support needed during the application and onwards.
I want my pronouns to be known if I get this role, is this possible?
Yes. When you work in Head Office, you’ll receive a company email address and will easily be able to include your desired pronouns in the signature.
Can I get individual feedback on my application or interview?
Due to the high level of applications we receive not everyone will receive individual feedback. This depends on where you are in our process and this could potentially be written or over the phone.
Are there any wellbeing services I can access?
Yes! McDonald’s has a wellbeing hub on the staff website and our colleagues have access to the Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which is run by AXA health care, offering a variety of services.
Is there opportunity for progression at McDonald’s?
Definitely. We highly value talent and always aim to encourage employees to remain within our business. To put it into perspective, half of our Executive Team started their career in restaurants. At McDonald’s, there are no limits to how far or fast you can progress.
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