Director, Crisis Communications

Company Description

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.

We are enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid work model, in which employees spend part of their week connecting with co-workers in our state-of-the-art headquarters. Located in the booming West Loop of downtown Chicago, it's set up to be a global hub that cultivates collaboration:

• Take a class at Hamburger University
• Sample future items in our Test Kitchen
• Utilize the latest technology to connect with your team around the globe

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to the diversity of our crew members, staff, operators, and suppliers. We promote an inclusive work environment that creates feel-good moments for everyone.

The Director, Crisis Communications will lead efforts to strengthen McDonald’s resiliency and capability to protect and build brand reputation.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Global External Affairs, the individual in this role will be responsible for:

• Developing proactive crisis preparedness and response protocol and supporting adoption of the communications program across the business.
• Leading real-time and cross functional communications responses to issues and crises, to protect and build reputation.
• Working with Performance and Insights and key business units to use data to inform communications response approach.
• Managing response to daily inbound media inquiries to the Global External Affairs team.
• Conducting crisis communications capability building initiatives and offerings to upskill teams and strengthen resilience globally.
• Building and expand connections with a network of media that cover the brand and industry.
• Training and preparing senior leadership and subject matter experts for media interviews and briefings.
• Managing and overseeing performance of a team of crisis communications managers.

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, communications, business or related field.
• Crisis communications and rapid response leadership at an agency, corporation and/or political campaign.
• Experience in data security, litigation communications and geopolitical issues.
• Deep communications expertise that is global in nature and spans both external (partners such as consumers and influencers) and internal subject areas, either in-house or at an agency.
• Experience working with legal counsel to support communications related to corporate litigation.
• Media relations experience.
• On-the-record experience as a spokesperson with local, national and international media organizations.
• Global eye for business, with a strong grasp of finance as well as a demonstrated ability to understand business strategy and how to use communications as a mechanism to drive that strategy.
• Natural storyteller with excellent speaking, writing and editing skills; can easily simplify messages.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, strategic, solutions-focused leader with the following attributes:

• A great teammate with people management experience.
• Strong executive presence and experience managing high-exposure assignments.
• Proven experience advising senior-level executives and activating communications strategy with c-suite executives.
• Comfortable leading on developing executive communications strategies AND rolling up sleeves to execute.
• A problem solver with a bias for action; understands how to aim to clarify amidst ambiguity.
• Thrives in fast-paced environments. Able to work independently with minimal direction. Is flexible, collaborative and deadline driven.
• Open, honest and direct but tactful and respectful in communications style and approach.

McDonald’s is an equal opportunity employer committed to the diversity of our workforce. We promote an inclusive work environment that creates feel-good moments for everyone. McDonald’s provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities as part of the application or hiring process or to perform the essential functions of their job. If you need assistance accessing or reading this job posting or otherwise feel you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

McDonald’s provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, disability status, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, protected military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Nothing in this job posting or description should be construed as an offer or guarantee of employment.