Sr. Manager, External Affairs (Corporate Communications)

Job Description
We are improving the Global Communications function of the Global Impact Team to advance how we tell the incredible stories of our business, brand, and impact!
The Sr. Manager, Global External Affairs will help develop integrated communications and media engagement strategies to deliver McDonald’s Accelerating the Arches business strategy and strengthen the brand through advocacy and action across the two Impact priorities of People and Planet. This role reports to the Director of Global Corporate Communications, and primary responsibilities would include leading media relations, partner engagement and executive insight to advance McDonald’s business and brand strategies. This would include initiatives related to the M-C-D pillars (Marketing, Core Menu, Digital, Delivery, Drive Thru and Development) and business performance (e.G., earnings and investor communications).
In addition to following McDonald’s policies and procedures, The Senior Manager will:
Strategy &
Planning
Apply critical thinking &
understanding of internal/external landscape to develop integrated external affairs and media engagement plans that advance and promote Accelerating the Arches business priorities.
Lead third-party relationships with priority industry SMEs, suppliers and business partners as related to projects/initiatives.
Proactive Storytelling
Lead development of communications assets &
materials, including but not limited to:
media strategies, key messages, press releases, statements, question and answer documents and develop assets.
Prepare reactive media relations materials and engagement for corporate/business initiatives, develops risk and leak mitigation strategies to protect the business and/or influence the landscape for efficient storytelling.
Triage and handle media issues and crisis in the areas of role focus.
Cross-Functional Coordination
Partner with global and regional/market Communications and cross-functional partners to serve and advance business initiatives under Accelerating the Arches
Align cross-functional subject matter authorities in Marketing, Menu, Customer Experience, Technology/Digital, Government Relations, Investor Relations and Legal to understand, develop, and deploy key elements/messaging of the Impact narrative.
Serve as an external affairs subject matter authority for partners across the company to deliver a cohesive corporate perspective across key initiatives/critical issues related to the role.