Senior Manager, Technology Change Management Communications

McDonald's Corporation•Chicago, IL

About The Position

McDonald’s growth strategy, Accelerating the Arches, encompasses all aspects of our business as the leading global omni-channel restaurant brand. As the consumer landscape shifts we are using our competitive advantages to further strengthen our brand. One of our core growth strategies is to Double Down on the 3Ds (Delivery, Digital and Drive Thru). McDonald’s will accelerate technology innovation so 65M+ customers a day will experience a fast, easy experience, whether at one of our 25,000 and growing Drive thrus, through McDelivery, dine-in or takeaway.  McDonald’s Global Technology is here to power tomorrow’s feel-good moments.   That’s why you’ll find us at the forefront of transformative technology, exploring new and innovative ways to serve our millions of customers and spread happiness one delicious Hot Fudge Sundae-dipped fry at a time. Using AI, robotics and emerging tech, we’re digitizing the Golden Arches. Combine that with our unparalleled global scale, and we’re reshaping all areas of the business, industry and every community that is home to a McDonald’s restaurant. We face complex tech challenges every day. But that’s where our diverse and talented teams come in. They’re made up of the best and brightest from all over the globe, and they thrive in the space where feel-good meets fast-paced.   Check out the McDonald’s  Global Technology Technical Blog to learn how technology and our global team are directly enabling the Accelerating the Arches strategy.  Department OverviewThe Senior Manager, Operations Excellence (Technology Communications) leads the strategy and execution of franchisee-facing and internal communications that support US technology deployments, adoption, and support. This role manages a team of three individual contributors and partners closely with Technology, Operations, System Communications, and cross-functional teams to deliver clear, timely, and actionable communications. Balancing strategic planning with hands-on leadership, this role ensures communications are aligned to deployment milestones, grounded in field realities, and designed to enable restaurant teams and owner/operators to successfully adopt new tools and processes. The Senior Manager serves as a trusted communications leader, translating complex technology initiatives into practical, engaging messages that drive understanding and action.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in communications, change management, operations, or related disciplines.
Demonstrated experience developing communications for franchisees, field operations, or consumer-facing technology deployments strongly preferred.
Proven ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable messaging for diverse audiences.
Strong written and visual communication skills, with experience creating engaging presentations, toolkits, and enablement materials.
Experience supporting large-scale technology or program deployments and driving adoption through communications.
Demonstrated ability to partner with senior leaders, provide strategic recommendations, and execute effectively.
Strong people leadership skills, with experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment, balancing structure with flexibility.

Responsibilities

Serve as a communications leader for technology deployments, providing strategic guidance while remaining closely connected to execution.
Lead franchisee- and restaurant-facing communications for technology deployments, including toolkits, FAQs, job aids, visual guides, and activation materials.
Craft clear narratives and messaging that explain what is changing, why it matters, and what actions are required.
Own communication planning and calendars aligned to deployment milestones to ensure consistency, clarity, and timeliness.
Build strong relationships with cross-functional partners to address unique communication needs and ensure alignment.
Partner with senior leaders, subject matter experts and cross-functional teams to ensure communications align with business objectives and field needs.
Translate US Technology initiatives into clear communication priorities and execution plans.
Apply change management best practices to communication strategies to support readiness, adoption, and sustained use of new technology solutions.
Partner with Operations teams to identify adoption risks and proactively address barriers through targeted communications.
Incorporate feedback to continuously improve messaging and materials.
Support internal communications that promote engagement, awareness, and understanding of US Market Technology priorities.
Develop and amplify leadership communications across multiple channels to strengthen cross-functional education and enablement.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of three individual contributors, setting clear expectations and fostering growth and accountability.
Act as a player-coach, directly contributing to high-priority communications while delegating and developing team capabilities.
Build and manage an intake and prioritization process to ensure work is aligned to business priorities and resourced appropriately.
Establish quality standards and consistent ways of working to ensure high-impact, reliable communications.
Manage on-call schedule for after-hours critical support communications.