Director, Partnerships

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 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 Overview Global Brand Marketing Role Overview McDonald’s is seeking a Director of Global Partnerships & Experiences to bring to life the next‑generation creator strategy while building a global approach to culturally‑led experiences. This role will sit at the intersection of culture, creators, partnerships, and experiential marketing, shaping how McDonald’s shows up in the world through meaningful collaborations and unforgettable brand moments. This leader will be responsible for architecting a global partnership ecosystem — spanning creators, cultural institutions, entertainment, and experience‑led platforms — and translating strategy into scalable, high‑impact programs across markets. The ideal candidate is both a strategic builder and hands‑on operator, equally comfortable setting vision and rolling up their sleeves to make it real. This role sits reports into the Sr Director of Global Brand Partnerships under the Global Brand Marketing team and is responsible for developing long‑term creator relationships, architecting innovative content programs, and overseeing the execution of high‑impact campaigns across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and emerging platforms. The ideal candidate is a seasoned operator who understands the intersection of creativity, entertainment, and brand strategy — and knows how to turn creator partnerships into cultural moments and experiences Duties Global Partnerships & Creator Strategy Develop and lead McDonald’s global partnerships strategy, with a strong focus on creators, culture, and experience‑led platforms. Bring to life the McDonald’s global creator strategy by identifying, cultivating, and managing relationships with top creators, talent, and creator agencies globally. Build a comprehensive partnership ecosystem that spans creators, entertainment, culture, and experiential collaborators — ensuring relevance across markets and audiences. Serve as a senior leader with a point of view on cultural trends, creator economy shifts, and emerging partnership models. Experiences & Cultural Activations Define and build a global approach to brand experiences — from pop‑ups and live moments to digital‑physical activations — rooted in culture and storytelling. Lead the development of partnership‑driven experiences that create emotional connection and cultural impact, not just visibility. Partner with regional markets to create scalable frameworks and toolkits that allow for local relevance while maintaining global consistency. Campaign Development & Execution Lead end‑to‑end development of partnership‑ and creator‑led initiatives, from strategy and concepting through execution and optimization. Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams (Brand, Social, Media, PR, Legal, Regional Marketing) to ensure alignment and seamless delivery. Ensure all partnerships and experiences feel authentic to collaborators while delivering against brand and business objectives. Governance, Negotiation & Operations Oversee partnership contracting, negotiations, usage rights, and compliance in partnership with Legal and Procurement. Establish global standards and frameworks for partnership models, compensation structures, and experiential collaborations. Balance creative ambition with operational rigor to ensure scalable, efficient execution. Measurement & Impact Define success metrics and KPIs for partnerships, creators, and experiences across platforms and markets. Analyze performance to optimize future strategies and provide clear reporting and insights to senior leadership. Qualifications 10+ years of experience in global partnerships, cultural marketing, creator strategy, experiential marketing, or entertainment partnerships. Proven track record building creator‑led and culturally relevant partnerships for iconic or global brands. Deep understanding of the creator economy, social platforms, and experience‑driven storytelling. Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi‑market initiatives and building scalable global frameworks. Strong negotiation skills with experience managing contracts, usage rights, and talent or partnership agreements. Ability to translate cultural insight into bold, strategic brand opportunities. Exceptional leadership, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills. What You Bring An entrepreneurial, builder approach — comfortable creating something new and evolving it over time. A strong network across creators, culture, entertainment, and experiential partners. A passion for culture, storytelling, and experiences that create genuine connection. The ability to balance big ideas with operational excellence and follow‑through. Compensation Bonus Eligible: Yes Long - Term Incentive: Yes Benefits Eligible: Yes Salary Range The expected salary range for this role is $178,121.00 - $222,651.00 per year. The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job‑related factors. Benefits Eligible This position offers health and welfare benefits, including but not limited to comprehensive health insurance, which includes medical, prescription drug, mental health, dental and vision coverage, as well as life insurance. Bonus Eligible This position is eligible for a bonus, calculated based on individual and company performance. Long Term Incentive Eligible This position is eligible for stock or other equity grants pursuant to McDonald’s long‑term incentive plan. Equal Opportunity & Accommodations 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr