Job Description

We are looking for research & development professionals with strong commercialization experience that have a passion for flavor, food, and beverage. As part of the U.S. Menu Strategy, Culinary & Operations Team, you will help build the future of the menu at McDonalds while influencing how culture tastes, helping to drive the business to meet annual financial goals while leading the everyday needs of the business. You will set short term and long-term product development goals based on business strategies. You will be accountable for finding opportunities that demonstrate McDonald’s competitive advantage to grow our business. You will drive cross-functional team engagement and alignment; teams are comprised of other marketing functions, consumer insights, operations, equipment, quality systems, marketing, finance, and supply chain colleagues.

Your responsibilities will include menu product research & development for the Rest of Day (ROD) Menu, Chicken, and Beef category. Areas of accountabilities include product innovation and renovation exploration, ongoing menu simplification, anticipating menu trends, and bringing conceptual products to life through commercialization across multiple vendors/suppliers. In this position you will also be using consumer insights to unlock and develop menu items for the next generation of customers and shaping the way culture tastes. Work closely in engaging with our owner/operator partners and suppliers.

Key Responsibilities & Expectations of the role:

• Responsible for product creation and research & development to meet the overall business strategies, initiatives, and relevant marketing plans
• Responsible for supplier relationships and implementing commercialization activities for product launches
• Responsible for taking conceptual products and commercializing those products through multiple vendors/suppliers and lines of supply
• Driving food culture through flavor and taste
• Expected to be called upon to work on and/or collaborate in other product categories (Breakfast, Core, Coffee, and Beverage) depending on resource allocation
• Leads day-to-day cross-functional partnerships as the product technical liaison between development and overall business strategies
• Must be a standout colleague and collaborate cross functionally to include Marketing, Consumer Insights, Supply Chain, Quality Systems, Equipment, Food Safety, Nutrition, Operations, and Global Partners to bring strategies to life
• Influence alignment across Marketing and Cross-Functional teams to meet overall business strategies, initiatives, and relevant marketing plans
• Reporting Structure; Reports to Sr. Manager of ROD, Chicken, and Beef. There are no direct reporting accountabilities for this role
• Domestic Travel up to 40% of time for commercialization responsibilities and market visits

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or Food Process Engineering required
• Master's degree preferred
• Equivalent work experience in Food Science and/or Food Process Engineering
• Validated product development background required, with experience in manufacturing practices, conceptualization, flavor development, leading change, and food service
• Proven ability in crafting, developing, and commercializing food and beverage
• Solid understanding and technical background in food processing and manufacturing
• Strong technical R&D and commercialization experience is required
• Experienced in analytical testing equipment & interpretation of analytical data
• Familiar with overall processing equipment and stages of processing in multiple product categories
• Strong communication and relationship management skills

Additional Information

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Nothing in this job posting or description should be construed as an offer or guarantee of employment.