Job Description

We are looking for research & development professionals with a diverse background in the food industry. Ideal candidates have experience in product development, commercialization, culinary arts, culinary sales, and/or food science. We are looking for a gastronomist with a passion for culture, flavor, food, and beverage.

As part of the US Strategy and Menu Team, you will help create the future of the menu at McDonalds while influencing how culture tastes, helping to drive the business to meet annual financial goals while managing the everyday needs of the business. You will set short term and long-term product development goals based on business strategies. You will be accountable for identifying opportunities that demonstrate McDonald’s competitive advantage to grow our business. You will drive cross-functional team engagement and alignment; teams are comprised of other marketing functions, consumer insights, operations, equipment, quality systems, marketing, finance, and supply chain colleagues. You will need to be able to calibrate with these functions to help meet the needs of the business.

Your responsibilities will include menu product research & development across menu categories depending on the business needs at that time. Areas of accountabilities include product innovation and renovation, exploration, ongoing menu simplification, anticipating menu trends, and bringing conceptual products to life through commercialization across multiple vendors/suppliers. In this position you will also be leveraging consumer insights to unlock and develop menu items for the next generation of customers and shaping the way culture tastes. Work closely in engaging with our owner/operator partners and suppliers to bring strategies and products to life in the restaurants. Possessing excellent presentation skills will also be key in getting but-in of these ideas and products to leadership at McDonald’s.

Key Responsibilities & Expectations of the Role:

• Has an R&D background but also have ability to understand and move to other disciplines across the organization
• Needs to understand other portions of the business and how we affect other groups
• Must understand how to put insights and strategy into viable ideas and/or concepts and present/articulate them to others
• Responsible for product creation and research & development to meet the overall business strategies, initiatives, and relevant marketing plans
• Responsible for supplier relationships and executing commercialization activities for product launches
• Responsible for taking conceptual products and commercializing those products through multiple vendors/suppliers and lines of supply
• Customer focused driving food culture through flavor and taste.
• Expected to be called upon to work on and/or collaborate in multiple product categories (Breakfast, Core, Coffee, and Beverage) depending on resource allocation
• Must be a team player and collaborate cross functionally to include Marketing, Consumer Insights, Supply Chain, Quality Systems, Equipment, Food Safety, Nutrition, Operations, and Global Partners to bring strategies to life
• Influence alignment across Marketing and Cross-Functional teams to meet overall business strategies, initiatives, and relevant marketing plans
• Must be an excellent communicator and proficient in Microsoft Word, Excell, and PowerPoint
• Must have a leadership presence and be able to present ideas, concepts, and menu items effectively to stakeholders at McDonald’s.
• Reporting Structure; Reports to Sr. Manager of AM and Add-on. There are no direct reporting accountabilities for this role
• Domestic Travel up to 40% of time for commercialization responsibilities and market visits
• Must be able to lift at least 50lbs and meet the physical needs of the job

Benefits eligible : Yes
Bonus eligible : Yes
Long term incentive eligible : Yes
The expected salary range for this role is $ 112,860 - $143,900 **** 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.

Qualifications

• 5-10 Years Working in the Food Industry
  • Experience working restaurants, food production, and/or culinary sales
  • Experience in creating, developing, and commercializing food and beverage
• Bachelor's or master's degree in food science, food process engineering, and/or culinary science
  • Additional bachelor’s or master's in business is also plus
• Proven product development background required, with experience in manufacturing practices, ideation, flavor development, leading change, culinary sales, and/or foodservice
• Knowledge and technical background in food processing and manufacturing
• Technical R&D and commercialization experience is a plus
• Strong communication and relationship management skills
• Strong presentation skills and ability to communicate
• Strong culinary skills and ability to cook as well as present concepts, ideas, and insights around menu offerings
• Must be a team player and able to collaborate with others

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 mcdhrbenefits@us.mcd.com. 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.