Senior Manager, Global Restaurant Design

Company Description

The Global Restaurant Experience Team is responsible for elevating CX & EX through transforming a restaurant's physical space into a functional, visually appealing, and immersive environment that enhances the overall dining experience, making the McDonald's experience distinctively golden.

The scope includes but is not limited to the following: Experience Strategy, Interior Decors, Customer & Crew Components & Corporate Design.

You will collaborate with development leads for US and International market Segments & the Global Development team to identify and address opportunities to elevate the customer & employee experience, fueling the ability to accelerate new store development & grow sales of the existing portfolio.

Job Description

This role involves all customer-facing areas and brand extensions, and the scope can include interior/terrace decors, crew facilities, brand extensions, family & play, acoustics, lighting, optimizing initial investment and efficiency of operation, all while ensuring solutions stay true to brand & allow markets sufficient license to address local constraints/conditions. You will work closely with relevant external SME (i.e., lighting, acoustics, play, digital, sustainability) and the restaurant Model Team to deliver a holistic restaurant experience. Note: Architecture (layouts/configurations, BOH, façade design & exterior signage) rests with the Restaurant Model Team

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and innovate design concepts that align with the brand's vision and customer experience goals, including concept development and production of design intent assets.
• Plan and optimize the use of space to enhance customer & crew flow and experience.
• Select materials, décor, and fixtures, including technical details and specifications.
• Choose appropriate materials that align with the design and functional requirements.
• Produce 3D models to support conceptual design work.
• Lead the technical aspects of product design with the ability to connect visual storytelling with manufacturing logic, translated into efficient prototyping
• Consult the team on the development of solutions, fixtures, and fittings with a focus on durability, engineering constraints, ergonomics, and cost.
• Support design reviews, supplier workshops, and mock-ups to ensure buildability.
• Continuously refine and improve design concepts based on feedback and new insights.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders: Brand, Insights, RSG, Product, GFM + suppliers, external partners, to develop and execute design projects.
• Ensure all design work adheres to established standards and guidelines.
• Establish briefs capturing the requirements for the new global restaurant design solutions.
• Perform supplier/consultant identification & development.
• Pursue prototyping of components/materials & refinements of pilots in market 0/1 to test design solutions and refine as needed to facilitate effective scaling globally.
• Adapt or enhance quality or value in existing methods; make them better as part of day-to-day activities.
• Contribute to supporting Missions led by other groups as relevant, integrating their needs into the restaurant aesthetic/experiential design.
• Mentor junior designers and provide design critiques to elevate team output
• Collaborate with & support the Integration Team on: -
• Establishment of approvals for any products/solutions required by the aesthetic/experiential design that need to be integrated into GRS (e.g. lockers).
• Inquiries from Segment (high-profile locations/those demanding unique solutions, concept localization)
• Design of Brand Flagship locations
• Engineering etc., solutions/standards to facilitate procurement by Global Strategic Sourcing Services (GSSS).
• On ‘seeding’ new experience designs in Segments
• Transfer knowledge to the design activation team to allow them to create guidelines and training materials for global scaling.
• Contribute to supporting the development of talent across various Markets, and Global and Segment teams to help develop a pool of strong restaurant design and/or development professionals.
• Influence without the direct exercise of command; persuasion is required to effect change.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills, enabling you to engage with individuals who may hold different perspectives but share a common interest, primarily motivated by a shared goal of finding a resolution.
• Play an active role in contributing to the performance of the Team.

Qualifications

• BA or equivalent in architecture or special design, + Product Design
• Significant track record and experience in creating impactful environments, multi-site food and beverage design preferred.
• Experience in product design and “technical know-how”
• Experience working with suppliers and overseeing prototype
• Proven track record driving outcomes with internal and external stakeholders
• Proven track record driving outcomes with internal and external stakeholders
• Expert skills in creating 3D models and visualizations using Rhino and/or SketchUp.
• Proven track record driving outcomes with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Exposure to working with brands and/or branded environments.
• An interest in motion design, animation, video production, and other forms of digital or interactive media.
• Strong sense of ownership, initiative, and creative curiosity
• Resilient under feedback and capable of managing multiple priorities
• Open, collaborative, and inclusive in the creative process

Additional Information

*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.