📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Manager, Brand Content and Culture
🔹 Company: McDonald's Corporation
🔹 Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States
🔹 Job Type: Full-time, On-site
🔹 Category: Marketing
🔹 Date Posted: April 3, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading brand campaign initiatives across various creative outputs
- Managing the branding relevance pillar for retail programs
- Collaborating with agency partners and internal teams
- Developing and executing content strategies for dedicated local programs
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong background in brand management and cross-functional team leadership within a high-growth environment.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead ongoing creative excellence education for local agency teams
✅ Lead content development and execution for dedicated local programs
✅ Lead coordination and collaboration with COE teams
✅ Lead quarterly local agency check-ins
✅ Develop Local retail and creative plans & comms plan
✅ Oversee and lead creative office hours for local agency teams on a weekly basis
✅ Manage GRC feedback for local programs
✅ Lead development and execution of Brand Trust windows
✅ Strategic planning / collaboration for PR-led Brand Trust initiatives
✅ Participate and support Brand Trust committee meetings
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of collaboration and influence across multiple teams and stakeholders.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's Degree with 5 years of relevant experience or Master's Degree with 3 years of relevant experience
Experience: Proven experience leading highly visible, cross-functional strategic initiatives in a high-growth environment
Required Skills:
- Highly collaborative and adept at leading and influencing cross-functional teams effectively
- Customer-focused, entrepreneurial, and result-oriented leadership style
- Ability to translate business needs into technology requirements
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as experience and comfort around executive communications
- Strong business acumen and proven strategic, analytical and creative abilities
- Significant knowledge and experience working in a highly matrixed organization
- Ability to think with agility, work and thrive in a self-starter, fast-paced and changing environment
- Ability to manage multiple workstreams at once under time pressure
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in a digital customer-focused industry
- Strong consensus-builder with ability to listen and synthesize multiple perspectives into a path forward
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in digital marketing and brand management are likely to be the best fit for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $112,860 - $143,900 per year
Benefits:
- Health and welfare benefits
- 401(k) plan
- Adoption assistance program
- Educational assistance program
- Flexible ways of working
- Time off policies (including sick leave, parental leave, and vacation/PTO)
Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for a Manager-level role in Marketing within the Chicago area.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: McDonald's operates in the Restaurants industry, with a focus on global foodservice retailing.
Company Size: McDonald's Corporation has over 10,000 employees worldwide, with over 37,000 locations in over 100 countries.
Founded: McDonald's was founded in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald.
Company Description:
- McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer, serving over 70 million customers daily.
- The company is committed to using its scale for good, focusing on initiatives such as sustainability, community involvement, and employee development.
- McDonald's offers a broad range of outstanding benefits, including a sabbatical program, tuition assistance, and flexible work arrangements.
Company Specialties:
- Restaurant operations
- Sustainability
- Foodservice
- Franchising
- Operations
- Real estate
- Supply chain
- Communications
- Human resources
- Finance
- IT
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Investor relations
- Charities
- RMHC
- Diversity
- CSR
- Legal
- Insurance
Company Website: https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/
ASSUMPTION: McDonald's is a well-established company with a strong global presence and a commitment to corporate social responsibility.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Managerial level, with potential for growth and development within the organization.
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Senior Director, US Marketing.
Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site position with the opportunity for flexible work arrangements.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to work on national or local activations
- Opportunity to gain exposure to other programs and teams
- Possibility to grow within the US Marketing team or explore other opportunities within the organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for professional growth and development within a large, established organization.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Corporate headquarters with a collaborative, fast-paced work environment.
Office Location(s): 110 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Geographic Context:
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Diverse and vibrant city with a strong job market and numerous cultural attractions
- Accessible public transportation and major international airport
Work Schedule: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with the opportunity for flexible work arrangements.
ASSUMPTION: The work environment is dynamic and fast-paced, with a strong focus on collaboration and teamwork.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the hiring team
- Final interview with senior leadership
Key Assessment Areas:
- Brand management expertise
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Strategic planning and execution
- Communication and presentation skills
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills
- Prepare examples of your brand management experience and achievements
- Research McDonald's brand campaigns and be ready to discuss your ideas for improvement
ATS Keywords: Brand management, cross-functional team leadership, strategic planning, marketing, brand campaigns, content development, retail programs, agency collaboration
ASSUMPTION: The application process is thorough and competitive, with a strong focus on finding the best fit for the role and the organization.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira)
- Creative software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma)
- Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot, Salesforce)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the projects and teams the candidate works with.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-focused
- Entrepreneurial
- Result-oriented
- Collaborative
- Inclusive
- Integrity-driven
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic
- Highly collaborative and cross-functional
- Focused on results and continuous improvement
- Data-driven and analytical
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment?
- Are you comfortable managing multiple workstreams and prioritizing tasks under time pressure?
- Do you have a strong background in brand management and cross-functional team leadership?
ASSUMPTION: McDonald's values a diverse and inclusive work environment, with a strong focus on collaboration and teamwork.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple workstreams and prioritizing tasks under time pressure
- Collaborating effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- Adapting to a dynamic and fast-paced work environment
- Balancing the need for creativity and innovation with the constraints of a large, established organization
ASSUMPTION: The role presents unique challenges that require strong organizational skills, adaptability, and a results-driven mindset.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on managing the branding relevance pillar for retail programs
- Similar roles in other organizations may focus more broadly on brand management or marketing strategy
- Career paths in this field may include progression to senior marketing roles or leadership positions within the organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to specialize in a specific aspect of brand management within a large, global organization.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a brand campaign for a new product launch
- Managing the creative office hours for local agency teams to ensure brand consistency and excellence
- Collaborating with COE teams to develop and execute a brand trust initiative
ASSUMPTION: The specific projects and initiatives the candidate works on will vary depending on the organization's priorities and the candidate's role within the team.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does this role fit into the overall marketing strategy for the US?
- What opportunities are there for growth and development within the US Marketing team or the organization as a whole?
- How does the company support work-life balance for its employees?
- What are the key challenges facing the brand and the marketing team, and how can this role help address them?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, insightful questions demonstrates the candidate's interest in and understanding of the role and the organization.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the following link: https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/McDonaldsCorporation/744000051847240-manager-brand-content-and-culture-
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills, with a focus on brand management and cross-functional team leadership
- Prepare examples of your brand management experience and achievements
- Research McDonald's brand campaigns and be ready to discuss your ideas for improvement
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
