Global Policy Manager

Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA
Posted on  

Job Description

Manager, Global Policy and Issues Management

full-time

Illinois

Oak Brook

Job Description

An important driver of a unified corporate relations function (including communications, public affairs, and government relations) is a strong understanding of the key issues that McDonald’s faces and the actions that are needed to address them. The Manager, Global Issues Management will be a part of a global Center of Excellence (COE) team that proactively identifies, monitors, analyzes, prioritizes, and develops action plans for issues in the public policy, regulatory, and reputational arenas. The Manager will support the COE’s goal to ensure a system-wide, proactive, anticipatory, and strategic approach to global issues management in order to help the business strengthen and to protect reputation to support growth.

Global in focus, the position reports to the Director, Global Issues Management. The position works closely with the broader Global Policy and Engagement team, including Public Affairs and Communications colleagues in markets around the world to ensure that issues are being managed in a proactive and outcome-driven manner. This role will principally focus on global issues related to food quality, safety, and ingredients. The role will also need to be conversant across the full range of developing and emerging issues and will help source information relative to them, particularly in regards to issues in Latin America, and provide perspectives to assist the decision making of the COE.

CORE COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills & competencies:

Intellectual Ability & Problem-Solving – intelligent and agile; comfortable with concepts and complexity; able to think independently and make sound, reasoned judgements and solve problems within a large organization.

Accountability – self-starter with strong sense of initiative, focused on results; ability to manage multiple, simultaneous projects and, at times, within ambiguous and undefined circumstances.

Communication – excellent oral, written and overall communications skills; can credibly adopt a broad range of communication styles; sensitive to specific audiences in tone as well as content.

Business Acumen/Strategic Perspective – understands business and the strategic role of Issues Management/Public Affairs in assessing and analyzing challenges and opportunities in line with business objectives.

Ability to Influence – strong influencing skills and change management skills to effectively manage internally in a complex matrix environment that is undergoing transformation and change.

Team-Orientation – a strong team-minded approach with ability to lead teams and effectively manage projects; ability to work assertively and collaboratively with management and colleagues at all levels of a decentralized organization.

Composure – Comfortable working in a fast-paced & deadline-driven environment; strong work ethic and personal integrity; calm under pressure.

Understanding Others – understands different perspectives and is able to work comfortably and effectively in a diverse, multi-cultural and international environment.

Relationship Management – ability to build and sustain relationships with numerous internal stakeholders around the world.

Responsibilities

Monitor external political, stakeholder, societal, and other developments and trends in delegated issue areas of responsibility.

Anticipate, identify, analyze, quantify, and prioritize reputational and regulatory issues within scope of principal responsibility.

Manage those issues by working with cross-functional teams in the corporate office and around the world to develop and execute action-oriented plans, and to create messaging, talking points, toolkits, and other tools and guidance.

Conduct materiality and other analyses (i.e. PESTLE); write issue briefs, talking points, media statements and other relevant materials; manage online repository of information on these issues..

Act as the global “go-to” person on issues with the scope of principal responsibility and respond to internal (corporate and market) stakeholders’ questions and requests.

Identify potential new issues and potential gaps in ongoing issues management to be presented to COE leadership.

Identify and analyze other developing and emerging issues, particularly in regards to Latin America and provide perspectives to assist the decision making of the COE.

Serve on global cross-functional teams (i.e. public affairs, restaurant operations, menu innovation, and supply chain) in area of responsibility.

Support director in managing issues monitoring and tracking systems to ensure that all relevant issue areas/geographies are covered.

Support the COE by reviewing the system and proposing continuous improvement recommendations.

Prepare and manage Global Policy and Engagement division budget.

Minimum Requirements

Basic Qualifications

BA/BS degree required.

5+ years of experience in Public Affairs/Public Policy or relevant field.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Business Administration or related area preferred.

Industry related experience preferred.

Fluency in Spanish preferred.

International experience and mindset, understanding the impact of developments/issues across the world.

An ability and desire to understand McDonald’s business, influence, and internal structure – become involved in the business with strong relationship building, collaboration and influencing skills.

Demonstrated ability to build credibility within a complex environment.

Strong written, verbal, and analytical skills.

Ability to translate complex information into concepts that are more easily understood and clearly articulates its impact on the bottom line.

Ability to draft materials that are suitable across a range of target audiences, including media and political/NGO stakeholders. Experience writing for the media is a plus.

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

We seek someone who shows passion, energy, excitement and enthusiasm for the journey ahead at McDonald’s.

Position is based in McDonald’s Headquarters in Oakbrook, IL (which will be located in downtown Chicago in spring 2018).

Some travel required.