Manager, Operations Innovation

McDonald's Corporation•Chicago, IL

49d•Onsite

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. Department OverviewA career at McDonald’s is an opportunity to excel in an environment where you are valued and respected. We are committed to creating a workplace where employees are rewarded and recognized for their contributions and supported through meaningful growth opportunities. Our Corporate Home Office has an exciting opportunity for an Ops Innovation Manager. The ideal candidate will live within driving distance of MHQ and Chicagoland restaurants. This role provides leadership, coaching, and strategic direction to operations project teams. The candidate will demonstrate McDonald’s values and leadership behaviors while building strong relationships with U.S. business leaders, cross‑functional project teams, area supervisors, restaurant leadership teams, and crew members.

Requirements

Resilience and adaptability to changing circumstances
Experience in business growth consulting with data‑driven insights and innovative solutions
Excellent stakeholder management skills
Collaborative and customer‑focused approach
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
Ability to consult on equipment placement and restaurant design
Strong operations proficiency
Advanced problem‑solving skills
Deep understanding of equipment functionality and restaurant processes
Ability to translate ideas into workable solutions
Strategic thinker who connects work across the business
Must reside in Chicagoland for visits to concept restaurants and in‑person MHQ discussions

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience with Speedee Labs testing, staffing, scheduling, and positioning

Responsibilities

Support the development of robust charters and roadmaps for strategic initiatives
Maintain a portfolio‑level view of all strategic initiatives and facilitate leadership discussions on strategic portfolio planning
Track initiative progress against defined timelines and milestones
Provide ongoing thought partnership and support to project teams
Manage regular reporting to leadership
Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to lead restaurant implementations, including new store standards, procedures, and experience impacts
Advocate for the employee and customer experience
Partner in developing operational support and training materials for major business programs
Work strategically with McOpCo, U.S. Technology, Operations Experience, Restaurant Experience, Customer Experience, and Employee Experience teams
Advise on training tools, technology, and restaurant layouts that impact operations
Build relationships and collaborate across U.S. and Global departments
Partner with McDonald's suppliers and vendors on solution‑based approaches