Operations Excellence Manager Jobs in Illinois

Company Description

McDonald’s growth strategy, Accelerating the Arches, encompasses all aspects of our business as the leading global omni-channel restaurant brand. As the consumer landscape shifts we are using our competitive advantages to further strengthen our brand. One of our core growth strategies is to Double Down on the 3Ds (Delivery, Digital and Drive Thru). McDonald’s will accelerate technology innovation so 65M+ customers a day will experience a fast, easy experience, whether at one of our 25,000 and growing Drive thrus, through McDelivery, dine-in or takeaway.

McDonald’s Global Technology is here to power tomorrow’s feel-good moments.

That’s why you’ll find us at the forefront of transformative technology, exploring new and innovative ways to serve our millions of customers and spread happiness one delicious Hot Fudge Sundae-dipped fry at a time. Using AI, robotics and emerging tech, we’re digitizing the Golden Arches. Combine that with our unparalleled global scale, and we’re reshaping all areas of the business, industry and every community that is home to a McDonald’s restaurant. We face complex tech challenges every day. But that’s where our diverse and talented teams come in. They’re made up of the best and brightest from all over the globe, and they thrive in the space where feel-good meets fast-paced.

Check out the McDonald’s Global Technology Technical Blog to learn how technology and our global team are directly enabling the Accelerating the Arches strategy.

Department Overview

The Manager, Program Management & Operations Excellence, is a dual-focused role crafted to own the execution of high-impact programs while driving operational perfection through standardized processes, tools, and performance measurements. This position is pivotal in aligning program delivery with the Global Technology Infrastructure & Operations (GTIO) roadmap, encouraging collaboration, and ensuring a consistent approach to program execution across the organization.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and hands-on practitioner who thrives at the intersection of program execution and operational strategy. They excel in crafting and embedding best practices, defining measurable KPIs, and delivering value through focused program management.

Duties

Program Management Excellence

- Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of cross-functional programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities.
- Champion standardized program management frameworks, templates, and tools to enable consistent, high-quality execution across all projects.
- Lead governance processes, including stage-gate reviews, and dashboards, to monitor program health and drive accountability.
- Proactively identify risks, interdependencies, and opportunities, working cross-functionally to implement solutions that enhance outcomes.

Operational Excellence

- Define and implement standardized processes and tools for the PMO to ensure operational consistency and efficiency.
- Develop and supervise critical metrics to measure program performance, execution quality, and business value.
- Establish a framework for evaluating lessons learned, integrating feedback into program planning, and driving continuous improvement.
- Create and maintain a transparent reporting system to provide collaborators with a single source of truth on program metrics and outcomes.

Strategic Alignment and Execution

- Align program execution and operational support with the GTIO roadmap, ensuring resources are dedicated to the highest-priority initiatives that deliver measurable impact.
- Collaborate closely with leadership to link program activities to strategic organizational goals and outcomes, providing clarity on alignment and expected results.
- Drive resource allocation efforts to ensure teams are equipped to deliver on critical programs while optimizing capacity across multiple initiatives.
- Lead special projects and initiatives that address organizational needs, working cross-functionally to deliver results on time and within scope.
- Support capacity planning efforts, ensuring a clear understanding of resource availability, open roles, and staffing requirements for successful program execution.

Partner Collaboration and Communication

- Champion strong partnerships across teams and departments to align program execution with operational strategy.
- Prepare and deliver professional, succinct narratives and updates for leadership and key partners.
- Facilitate key governance meetings, assembling and tracking action items to ensure follow-through and accountability.
- Act as a connector between program delivery teams and operational strategy teams to drive cohesive outcomes.

Key Competencies

- Operational Strategist: Deep understanding of standardized processes and tools that drive program success and operational efficiency.
- Outcome-Focused Executor: Confirmed ability to deliver measurable results through focused program and operations management.
- Data-Driven Decision Maker: Skilled in developing KPIs and leveraging data to inform program and operational decisions.
- Effective Influencer: Ability to guide cross-functional teams and align diverse stakeholders toward shared goals.
- Detail-Oriented Organizer: Exceptional attention to detail in planning, tracking, and communicating program activities.

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in program/project management, operations strategy, or a related field, with a focus on standardization and performance tracking.
- Demonstrated success in defining and implementing operational processes, tools, and metrics.
- Expertise in governance, risk management, and resource allocation in a technology or operations-driven environment.
- Strong proficiency in program management and operational tools (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, financial models, dashboards).

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range

The salary range for the role is $112,860-$143,900 per year.

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.

Job Details

Job title

Manager, Program Management & Operations Excellence

Position Type

Date Posted

09/10/2025

Job Classification

Location(s)

Chicago, IL, 60607, US

Job ID

1424