Who are McDonald’s?
McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognised brands in the world, with restaurantsin over 100 countries and billions of customers served each year. As the global leader in the food and service industry, we have a legacy of innovation and hard work that continues to drive us. Today, we are growing with velocity and are passionate about modernising our experiences, not to make a different McDonald’s, but to build a better McDonald’s. The UK & Ireland market has operated in UK since 1974 and the business is growing continuously with more than 1,400 restaurants and over 136,000 employees.
We are moving fast and are adding to our outstanding team. Joining McDonald’s means thinking big every day and preparing for a career that can impact around the world. We are customer obsessed, committed to being leaders and believe we are better when we work together. Over the last couple years, we’ve launched home delivery, modernized our restaurant experience through digital enhancements and have so much more to come.
We are dedicated to using our scale for good: good for people, our industry and the planet. From ambitious recycling initiatives and balanced sourcing efforts to our partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities, we are constantly improving. We see every single day as an opportunity to have an impact on our customers, our people and our partners.
The Opportunity
Are you talented and ambitious? We are looking to add to our dynamic team and this is a great opportunity to work on one of the most valuable and iconic brands in the world.
This role will support the Head of Public Affairs in understanding and navigating the political and policy landscape on behalf of the business and our franchisees.
You will be required to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the McDonald’s business and the impact we make nationally and locally and will, at times, be required to represent the brand and the Corporate Affairs department at internal and external meetings.
What will my accountabilities be?
You will be required to digest, understand and engage in a broad range of policy issues that may impact the brand and our operations. The National Food Strategy, Agriculture Bill, Planning reforms and the Government’s latest Obesity Strategy (among others) are all examples of issues that are currently live that we are actively supervising and engaged in.
Understanding the political decision making process across the UK and key individuals and influencers will be an important element of your role that will enable you to help advise and develop plans for our external engagement.
Whether it be working with our agency partners, trade bodies and/or other members of the Corporate Affairs team, you will have the required skillset to communicate verbally or in writing to all of our audiences whether it be a politician, a franchisee, a journalist, Government officials or a senior member of our Executive team. At times, you will also be required to support the Press Office in leading a range of daily media enquiries.
What Team will I be a part?
You will be part of the Corporate Affairs function in the UK & Ireland reporting directly to the Head of Public Affairs. The team is made up of: public affairs, corporate communications and consumer PR, internal communications and regional communications. The role of the Corporate Affairs is to:
- Promote and protect the business;
- Enable the business plan;
- Strengthen trust and build brand engagement;
- Partner across the business to support multiple functions including with our franchisees;
- Develop new foundations to engage our people;
- Lead issues and supervise risks;
- Provide external perspective and identify emerging trends, threats and opportunities.
Who are my customers?
You will be working and building relationships with franchisees, internal audiences, agency partners and political and policy partners. At times, you may be required to support other work streams across the wider team.
What background do I need to have?
- The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in a public affairs / communications role (or similar) either in-house, an agency or in a legislative body;
- You will be detailed oriented, curious and resilient;
- You will write clearly and concisely in multiple formats for different audiences and be able to distil;
- key information into informative briefings for senior leaders;
- You will be able to build relationships, work cross-functionally and across multiple levels of the business;
- You will have the ability and experience in analysing and understanding the business impact of regulation or policy decisions.