Director, U.S. Media

McDonald's Corporation•Chicago, IL

3d•$168,212 - $210,265

About The Position

The Media Director, Menu & Investment is a senior leader on the U.S. Media team responsible for connecting marketplace intelligence, portfolio investment strategy, and high-impact campaign planning to drive business and brand outcomes. This leader oversees portfolio investment, menu, sports, multicultural media, marketplace and agency partnerships, and budget stewardship. The role also leads and develops a team of media experts and partners across the organization, Owner/Operator community, agencies, and media platforms to deliver against enterprise priorities.

Requirements

Significant experience leading media investment, strategy, planning, or marketplace partnerships for a large consumer brand, agency, or media organization.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-channel media portfolios and make sound investment decisions at scale.
Deep working knowledge of the media marketplace, including video, digital, social, audio, sports, multicultural media, and emerging channels.
Experience leading agencies, negotiating or shaping strategic partnerships, and working across matrixed organizations.
Proven people leadership, with the ability to set direction, develop talent, and build an inclusive, accountable team culture.
Ability to communicate clearly and influence senior leaders and varied stakeholder groups, including translating complex investment decisions into clear, actionable recommendations.
Strong financial and analytical orientation, with experience managing budgets, assessing performance, and applying learning to future decisions.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.

Responsibilities

Lead the Menu & Investment pillar, including developing a team of media experts, establishing clear priorities, decision rights, and ways of working.
Create an inclusive, high-performing team environment that builds strategic, investment, marketplace, and campaign-planning capability.
Connect Menu & Investment priorities with the broader U.S. Media operating model.
Own portfolio investment strategy and stewardship, including leading investment strategy for national U.S. paid media across channels and campaigns.
Oversee portfolio allocation, budget management, optimization, and stewardship to maximize effectiveness across the media portfolio.
Translate business priorities, audience insights, performance data, and marketplace dynamics into clear investment recommendations for senior leaders and Owner/Operator stakeholders.
Shape marketplace partnerships and agency relationships, including leading the strategic approach to Upfronts, joint business partnerships, and priority marketplace relationships.
Identify and test high-impact media opportunities with agency and platform partners, balancing innovation, business impact, and financial discipline.
Guide agency relationships, expectations, and performance to ensure strong strategic work, integrated delivery, and accountable execution.
Lead Menu, saliency, sports, and multicultural media, including overseeing national Menu campaigns from brief through performance assessment.
Advance saliency and sports media strategies that connect investment choices to brand and business priorities.
Guide omnichannel multicultural media campaigns in partnership with multicultural agencies and cross-functional activation and communications teams.
Ensure campaign plans are audience-led, channel-integrated, operationally executable, and designed with clear learning agendas.
Drive integration, learning, and influence by partnering closely with various internal teams and agencies.
Use performance signals, portfolio learning, and marketplace intelligence to improve future planning and investment decisions.
Serve as a trusted media subject-matter expert with Owner/Operator groups and senior stakeholders.
Communicate complex tradeoffs and recommendations with clarity, balancing short-term campaign needs with long-term portfolio health.