Sr. Director, Brand, Content & Culture

Company Overview 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 We are seeking a forward-thinking Senior Director – Brand, Content & Culture to shape the future of the McDonald’s brand by defining, creating, and scaling culture through world-class creative excellence and modern marketing innovation. This leader will serve as a creative and cultural architect, responsible for ensuring McDonald’s is not only present in culture but actively shaping it, translating deep consumer insight into breakthrough ideas and experiences that drive brand relevance, affinity, and business growth. You will lead the development of transformative, integrated marketing strategies that push beyond traditional campaigns, building platforms, moments, and partnerships that are native to how people engage today. You will champion a creative-first mindset, elevate the quality and impact of all brand expression, and embed innovation across channels, technologies, and ways of working, consistently delivering bold, culturally resonant work that drives measurable impact. As a key member of the Brand, Content & Culture leadership team, you will oversee agency partnerships, inspire high‑performing teams, and drive a holistic approach to creative excellence and effectiveness, ensuring every touchpoint contributes to a cohesive, culturally relevant brand story for all campaigns, including Happy Meal. Responsibilities Shape Culture Through the Brand Develop culturally relevant brand platforms that influence consumer behavior and perception. Translate emerging trends, creator ecosystems, and audience insights into scalable growth opportunities. Ensure McDonald’s remains authentic, timely, and culturally influential. Drive Creative Excellence Lead the development of distinctive, breakthrough creative ideas across all consumer touchpoints. Champion a "big ideas first" mindset and inspire bold, insight-driven work grounded in consumer truths. Elevate creative standards across internal teams and agency partners. Lead Integrated Marketing & Innovation Develop integrated marketing strategies connecting brand, menu, digital, and customer engagement priorities. Ensure seamless execution across paid, owned, and earned channels. Advance innovative approaches across content, channels, technologies, and partnerships to improve effectiveness and impact. Lead Partnerships & Influence Direct a best‑in‑class agency ecosystem while fostering strong cross‑functional collaboration. Build relationships with creators, influencers, operators, and enterprise stakeholders to drive alignment and execution. Lead the Operator Brand & Menu Committee and support enterprise‑wide campaign integration. Build High‑Performing Teams Develop and lead high‑performing teams through coaching, accountability, experimentation, and continuous improvement. Drive speed, prioritization, and operational excellence while maintaining high creative standards. Ensure End‑to‑End Brand Integrity Oversee development and execution of national campaigns across all channels. Maintain consistency, quality, and excellence throughout concept, production, and execution. Success Measures Delivers culture‑shaping ideas that strengthen brand relevance and consumer engagement. Produces distinctive, best‑in‑class creative work that drives business and brand outcomes. Accelerates innovation, agility, and modern marketing capabilities across the organization. Strengthens customer engagement, digital growth, and commercial performance through integrated marketing. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or related field required; advanced degree a plus, with significant experience in brand, creative, or cultural marketing leadership roles (client-side and/or agency) Proven track record of developing breakthrough, culture-driving marketing platforms, not just campaigns that deliver both brand impact and business results Demonstrated ability to lead and deliver creative excellence, including experience driving bold, insight-driven work that stands out in‑market and elevates brand distinctiveness Deep understanding of modern marketing ecosystems, including social, digital, creator/influencer, experiential, and platform-native content strategies Strong cultural fluency, with the ability to identify emerging trends, shifts in consumer behavior, and translate them into relevant, scalable brand opportunities Experience building and executing integrated marketing strategies that connect brand storytelling with commercial outcomes (e.g., traffic, frequency, digital engagement, sales) Proven leadership in a multi‑agency environment, with the ability to inspire, challenge, and align partners to deliver best‑in‑class, innovative work Exceptional storytelling and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and advocate for bold, non‑traditional ideas Demonstrated creative bravery, including comfort taking calculated risks, pushing beyond convention, and leading teams through ambiguity and change Strong consumer‑first mindset, with the ability to translate deep insights into meaningful engagement, participation, and brand connection Operational excellence and agility, with the ability to lead across multiple priorities, drive speed to market, and continuously optimize for impact Experience leading and developing high‑performing teams, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement Proven ability to connect marketing to measurable business outcomes, balancing creative ambition with financial discipline and ROI accountability Change leadership capability, with a track record of evolving ways of working, embedding innovation, and driving transformation in marketing organizations Strong financial and resource management skills, with the ability to balance creative ambition with budget discipline and efficiency Compensation Bonus Eligible: Yes Long‑Term Incentive: Yes Benefits Eligible: Yes Salary Range: $208,000 - $260,000 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 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 Employment Opportunity 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 McDonald's