Director, Menu Innovation (Beverages) (Chicago)

Job Description:

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 Charities 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.

Position Overview

We are looking for a proven beverage expert to join our global menu innovation team. The Director Menu Innovation, Beverages & Desserts will contribute to the development and execution of our global beverage and desserts category strategy. This person will lead innovation to help optimize our beverage and dessert portfolio addressing current and future customer needs. In this role, the director will oversee a team of menu innovation professionals and work cross-functionally with internal partners and suppliers to deliver end-to-end product innovation with speed and quality top of mind. The role is responsible for providing insights to make strategic decisions that define the future product portfolio within the category and then executing the strategic development plan.

The ideal candidate shows excitement, passion, and a deep understanding of the beverage space. They must be a proven expert with translating strategy into a viable, consumer relevant product - combining customer-centric thinking (needs/opportunities/choice architecture analysis) with complex category/product portfolio management; leveraging the menu innovation processes from concept to commercialization, partnering with supplier and culinary ecosystem to deliver best in class solutions, be articulate and knowledgeable in flavor and visual impact, understand the relationship between food science/ingredients/regulatory landscape with a global mindset, experienced in working through operational and equipment capabilities to balance customer expectations for great taste with speed of service and convenience of McDonalds. Ability to navigate ambiguity and work in whitespace development, bringing an innovative and creative approach to their work. They appreciate a high-paced and globally focused, complex operating workplace.

Duties

• Provide strategic menu guidance and support to our VP, Beverage & Desserts Category Lead across global initiatives
• Lead innovation and category management, including portfolio optimization
• Ensure a robust pipeline of commercially viable concepts
• Oversee core product line extensions, including feasibility checks and development coordination
• Leverages Menu Architecture to surface new opportunities
• Identify and develop white space opportunities to expand the menu and meet emerging consumer demands
• Define consumer needs and key product attributes, translating functional and emotional benefits into compelling product narratives and brand/product books
• Own product and ingredient specification development in collaboration with cross-functional partners
• Ensure global compatibility of ingredient application across food and beverage for system scaling, ensuring compliance with individual markets' regulatory requirements
• Lead concept development and testing, including the creation of supplier briefs and alignment with culinary, operations, and supply chain teams
• Synthesize concept testing learnings and guide prioritization based on consumer, operational, and business impact
• Provide ongoing market support, ensuring relevance and responsiveness to in-market needs.

Qualifications

• Experienced in food product innovation, menu development, or category management, ideally in a global or multi-market environment
• Ability to straddle and fluently converse in both the strategic and technical side of menu innovation
• Deep beverage expertise, with a strong understanding of product forms, preparation methods, and consumer preferences
• Extensive knowledge and relationship with supplier and culinary community
• Proven ability to lead innovation pipelines from concept to commercialization, including product line extensions and white space development
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills; experience working in a matrixed and global, environment
• Strong analytical skills with experience in portfolio strategy, performance analysis, and interpreting consumer and concept testing data
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate consumer needs into product strategies
• Passionate about execution and understanding it isn’t real until it’s in the restaurants
• Requires 8-10 years in beverage and/or liquid product development. Must hold a degree in Food Science, Culinary, or related field and have commercialization experience.

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range

Salary Ranges-$$168,350.00 - $$218,860.00

Competencies

Execution Proficiency

Background & Values

Strategic Proficiency

Building Blocks

Talent Proficiency

Additional Information:

Benefits eligible: This position offers health and welfare benefits, a 401(k) plan, adoption assistance program, educational assistance program, flexible ways of working, and time off policies (including sick leave, parental leave, and vacation/PTO). Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on job classification and length of employment.

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.

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 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.

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