Executive Communications Manager

McDonalds is the largest and best-known global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 restaurants, serving 46 million customers each day in 121 countries. Our outstanding brand recognition, experienced management, high-quality food, site development expertise, advanced operational systems and unique global infrastructure position us to capitalize on global opportunities. We plan to expand our leadership position through great tasting food, superior service, everyday value & convenience. Visit our web site to learn more about us.

Position Purpose:
This position will play a key role in developing and executing communications strategies designed to convey executive leadership messages to key internal and external audiences. The position reports to the Senior Director of Management Communications and Alignment in U.S. Communications.

Principal Accountabilities:
In addition to McDonald's policies and procedures, principle accountabilities include, but are not limited to:

* Strategy and Leadership: Work with company leadership and communications management to develop and execute communications platform and strategies aimed at conveying messages about the company's business and financial goals, plans, and performance.

* Strategic Counsel: Provide advice and counsel to executive leadership on using communications to maximize their positive impact on various company actions as well as manage executive image.

* Best Practices: Identify best business communications practices and recommend actions based on those that are most relevant to the company's culture, goals, and objectives. Manage continuous improvement activities and analyze measurements to determine communications outreach effectiveness and system awareness of business strategies.

* Executive writing: More than 70% of time focused on business writing and messaging. Provide editorial leadership to management communications team.

* Business Coordination/Liaison:
- Act as liaison with business research, finance, investor relations teams as well as other functional departments to identify and communicate key compelling data in concise formats.
- Ensure that key internal audiences are informed of leadership communications and messages to enhance execution of business strategies.
- Monitor internal messaging and global leadership communications to help ensure consistency of messages about the U.S. business.

* Communications:
- Develop and execute business communications plans designed to support the company's growth strategies and key initiatives. Interface with U.S. leadership team to identify and write key business messages; mostly remarks / speeches.
- Write sales updates, earnings releases, analyst presentations and speeches, message points for media interviews, and meeting materials.
- Prepare written background materials on key projects and initiatives to help executive management stay current on company results and ongoing progress.

People / Relationship Management:
* Ensure alignment and maintain relationships with internal and external department sources for content development. Coordinate with agencies, divisions/regions and global departments to develop content. Interact with all levels of management and owner/operator constituencies.

Skills and Competencies:
* 6 - 8 years of business communications experience in management, business, and/or corporate communications.
* Candidate must have excellent writing background, including executive presentations, business messaging and speeches.
* College degree in communications-related field.
* Demonstrated acumen for strategic focus and an overall business perspective. Must have depth and maturity to "add value at the table" in working with " C" level executives and senior officers.
* Knowledge of the financial implications of strategic planning (e.g., business case development, budget and planning, resource allocation and forecasting)
* People and team development skills as well as ability to influence and motivate others.
* Ability to work independently, and build relationships and consensus among varied groups. Accountable for individual assignments and shared responsibility for group or team assignments.
* In cooperation with other communications staff, will orchestrate and plan blueprints for senior executive message platform.
* Ability to translate and communicate business objectives to different audiences.
* Works effectively as a team member to plan, facilitate and participate in meetings and deliver on-time results.
* Ability to maintain an independent perspective and offer differing opinions, when appropriate. Continually searches for ways to improve processes and helps others see the benefits of change.
* More than 25% percent travel possible.