Head of Legal (Commercial Legal Practice) - 1 Year FTC

Company Description

About Us

McDonald’s has run its business in the UK since 1974 and currently operates over 1500 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, serving almost four million customers each day. McDonald’s is one of the UK’s largest private sector employers, employing over 170,000 people.

Hybrid Working

This role is based in our East Finchley office working 3 days in the office and 2 days remotely

Job Description

What You’ll Be Doing

This is a high-impact leadership role at a pivotal time of growth and innovation for McDonald’s UK & Ireland. You’ll lead our Commercial Legal Practice Group, shaping legal strategy across supplier contracts, marketing, digital, IP, food law, public health, and people/culture.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading a collaborative, non-hierarchical legal team with a strong internal culture and shared purpose.
• Owning business-critical legal matters with high visibility across senior leadership.
• Driving strategic initiatives and supporting operational execution across the business.
• Navigating complex challenges including crisis management, marketing campaigns, and people strategies.
• Mentoring and empowering your team, fostering a culture of curiosity, inclusion, and growth.

Qualifications

This role offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact and could be a stepping stone to a longer-term career with McDonald’s.

What You’ll Bring

• Qualified solicitor with 8+ years PQE, including in-house experience.
• A track record of managing high-stakes legal matters.
• Proven ability to lead and develop legal teams, with high emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
• A hands-on, approachable attitude - ready to roll up your sleeves and get involved.
• Strategic thinking and operational agility, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate complex environments.

What You’ll Get

• Access to industry-leading training and career development opportunities.
• A collaborative and inclusive culture, where your ideas are valued.
• Competitive salary, plus a comprehensive benefits package including bonus, cash allowance, free parking, lunch, and gym access.
• Hybrid working, offering a mix of office and remote flexibility.

Additional Information

Company Vision and Culture…

Our Global vision is to build a better McDonald’s and in the UK and Ireland we are working hard to be the UK & Irelands best-loved restaurant company.

McDonald’s is defined by its culture. Our culture shapes and informs everything we think and everything we do. Our culture influences the way we interact with each other, and how we interact with customers, franchisees and suppliers. Our culture motivates and inspires us to attract and retain great talent, creating positive, energising, exceptional working environment for us all.

Our values drive our culture and shape our beliefs, our priorities and our actions. They influence the decisions we make, how we treat one another and how we show up as a brand to the world.

Serve: We put our customers and our people first

Inclusion: We open our doors to everyone

Integrity: We do the right thing

Community: We are good neighbours

Family: We get better together

At McDonald’s we are People from all Walks of Life...

People are at the heart of everything we do, and they make the McDonald’s experience. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture that means people can be their best authentic self in our restaurants and offices, which helps us to better serve our customers. We have a strong heritage of diversity and representation within our communities, which we are proud of. The diversity of our people, customers, Franchisees and suppliers gives us strength.

We do not tolerate inequality, injustice or discrimination of any kind.  These are hugely important issues and a brand with our reach and relevance means we have a very meaningful role to play.

We also recognise our responsibility as a large employer to continue being active in our communities, helping to develop skills and drive aspirations that will help people to be more aware of the world of work and more successful within it, whether with McDonald’s or elsewhere.”