Sr Director, Creative & Design

McDonald's; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 208,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus Eligible

LT Incentive

Benefits Eligible

Job summary

McDonald’s seeks a Senior Director, Creative & Design to set the creative ambition for our brand programs worldwide, elevating craft and ensuring consistent identity across markets. You will partner with brand strategy, agencies, and markets to guide development and protect the brand’s visual system globally.

The role leads senior agency relationships, annual Summits, and capabilities-building initiatives, shaping concepts early and driving breakthrough creative across channels.

Qualifications

• 12+ years leading creative teams and integrated marketing programs.
• Strong design craft and ability to elevate ideas with clear feedback.
• Experience managing senior agency relationships and top-to-top reviews.
• Ability to build communities through summits, workshops, and capability-building.
• Experience governing visual identity across channels.

Responsibilities

• Provide thought leadership on big ideas for brand programs and moments.
• Lead top-to-top creative reviews with agency partners.
• Lead annual Agency Summit, curating content and facilitation.
• Drive capabilities-building moments (webcasts, awards).
• Support markets with creative programs and workshops.
• Own and evolve visual identity standards globally.
• Strengthen ways of working with simple frameworks and feedback loops.

Skills

Creative leadership

Design excellence

Integrated marketing

Agency management

Global branding

Job description

The Senior Director, Creative & Design will set the creative ambition for McDonald’s most critical brand programs—helping big ideas take shape, raising the bar on craft, and ensuring the brand shows up with consistency and distinction around the world. This leader partners closely with brand strategy, agency teams, and markets to guide creative development, strengthen capabilities, and protect the visual identity of the brand.

Why Join This Team

• Global impact — Our work sets the tone for markets around the world, influencing how millions of people experience the brand every day.
• Creative stewardship — We’re the guardians of the brand’s identity, ensuring every message, design, and experience feels unmistakably “us.”
• Cross-functional collaboration — Partner with Digital, Menu, Comms, Operations, and agencies to bring big ideas to life.
• Campaign leadership — Drive global campaigns that inspire markets and spark cultural conversation.
• End-to-end influence — Shape the creative expression behind product launches, restaurant experiences, and digital innovations.

Duties

• Provide thought leadership on big ideas for critical brand programs and real-time cultural moments—shaping concepts early and guiding work toward breakthrough creative.
• Lead top-to-top Creative Reviews across key agency partners, ensuring clear direction and an uncompromising bar for craft.
• Lead the annual Agency Summit, including agenda development, content curation and facilitation to strengthen shared ambition and creative output.
• Lead capabilities-building moments, including Capabilities Webcasts and the Feel Good Marketing Awards—recognizing great work and raising creative standards across the system.
• Support select markets with creative programs and workshops, bringing guidance where markets need help elevating work and building capability.
• Own and evolve visual identity standards, ensuring global consistency and enabling teams to apply the system with clarity across channels and markets.
• Strengthen creative ways of working by building simple frameworks, guidance and feedback loops that help teams move faster while improving the work.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in creative leadership, design, and/or integrated marketing
• A strong creative point of view with high standards for craft and the ability to elevate ideas through clear feedback
• Experience leading senior-level agency relationships, including top-to-top reviews and stakeholder alignment
• Ability to build and lead communities—facilitating summits, workshops, and capability-building moments
• Strong design literacy and experience owning or governing a visual identity system across channels
• Clear communication with influence across a global, matrixed organization

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range

The expected salary range for this role is $208k-$260k 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.