Global Partnerships & Experiences

McDonald's Corporation•Chicago, IL

About The Position

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 Charities 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. Global Brand MarketingMcDonald’s is seeking a Director of Global Partnerships & Experiences to bring to life the next‑generation creator strategy while building a global approach to culturally‑led experiences. This role will sit at the intersection of culture, creators, partnerships, and experiential marketing, shaping how McDonald’s shows up in the world through meaningful collaborations and unforgettable brand moments. This leader will be responsible for architecting a global partnership ecosystem — spanning creators, cultural institutions, entertainment, and experience‑led platforms — and translating strategy into scalable, high‑impact programs across markets. The ideal candidate is both a strategic builder and hands‑on operator, equally comfortable setting vision and rolling up their sleeves to make it real. This role sits reports into the Sr Director of Global Brand Partnerships under the Global Brand Marketing team and is responsible for developing long‑term creator relationships, architecting innovative content programs, and overseeing the execution of high‑impact campaigns across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and emerging platforms. The ideal candidate is a seasoned operator who understands the intersection of creativity, entertainment, and brand strategy — and knows how to turn creator partnerships into cultural moments and experiences

Requirements

10+ years of experience in global partnerships, cultural marketing, creator strategy, experiential marketing, or entertainment partnerships
Proven track record building creator‑led and culturally relevant partnerships for iconic or global brands.
Deep understanding of the creator economy, social platforms, and experience‑driven storytelling.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi‑market initiatives and building scalable global frameworks.
Strong negotiation skills with experience managing contracts, usage rights, and talent or partnership agreements.
Ability to translate cultural insight into bold, strategic brand opportunities.
Exceptional leadership, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

An entrepreneurial, builder approach — comfortable creating something new and evolving it over time.
A strong network across creators, culture, entertainment, and experiential partners.
A passion for culture, storytelling, and experiences that create genuine connection.
The ability to balance big ideas with operational excellence and follow‑through.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead McDonald’s global partnerships strategy, with a strong focus on creators, culture, and experience‑led platforms.
Bring to life the McDonald’s global creator strategy by identifying, cultivating, and managing relationships with top creators, talent, and creator agencies globally.
Build a comprehensive partnership ecosystem that spans creators, entertainment, culture, and experiential collaborators — ensuring relevance across markets and audiences.
Serve as a senior leader with a point of view on cultural trends, creator economy shifts, and emerging partnership models.
Define and build a global approach to brand experiences — from pop‑ups and live moments to digital‑physical activations — rooted in culture and storytelling.
Lead the development of partnership‑driven experiences that create emotional connection and cultural impact, not just visibility.
Partner with regional markets to create scalable frameworks and toolkits that allow for local relevance while maintaining global consistency.
Lead end‑to‑end development of partnership‑ and creator‑led initiatives, from strategy and concepting through execution and optimization.
Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams (Brand, Social, Media, PR, Legal, Regional Marketing) to ensure alignment and seamless delivery
Ensure all partnerships and experiences feel authentic to collaborators while delivering against brand and business objectives.
Oversee partnership contracting, negotiations, usage rights, and compliance in partnership with Legal and Procurement.
Establish global standards and frameworks for partnership models, compensation structures, and experiential collaborations.
Balance creative ambition with operational rigor to ensure scalable, efficient execution.
Define success metrics and KPIs for partnerships, creators, and experiences across platforms and markets.
Analyze performance to optimize future strategies and provide clear reporting and insights to senior leadership.