Senior Designer

Company Description: 

McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily. We continue to operate from a position of strength. Our updated growth strategy is focused on staying ahead of what our customers want and realizing further growth potential. Our relentless ambition is why McDonald’s remains one of the world’s leading corporations after almost 70 years. Joining McDonald's means thinking big and preparing for a career that can have influence around the world. 

At McDonald’s, we see every day as a chance to create positive impact. We lead through our values centered on inclusivity, service, integrity, community and family. From support of Ronald McDonald House Charities to our Youth Opportunity project and sustainability initiatives, our values keep us dedicated to using our scale for good: good for our customers, people, industry and planet. We also offer a broad range of outstanding benefits including a sabbatical program, tuition assistance and flexible work arrangements. 

Department Overview

Agency123, as part of Global Communications, is McDonald’s in‑house creative agency. We provide enterprise‑wide managed services and creative solutions for the benefit of McDonald’s Corporation. Our team collaborates closely with colleagues across the business to develop sound strategies and compelling productions in support of a wide variety of internal initiatives. We focus on assessing project requirements and delivering solutions that successfully address stakeholder objectives.

The Role

We’re looking for a creative, forward‑thinking Senior Designer to join our team. You’ll be part of McDonald’s Agency123 Production & Design group, creating high‑impact design work across digital, print, experiential, video, events, and communications.

As a Senior Designer, you’ll own projects from concept through delivery, collaborate directly with cross‑functional partners, and help guide other designers. You’ll play a key role in evolving design systems, ensuring brand consistency, and continually pushing for creative excellence. You bring enthusiasm for shaping McDonald’s brand expression, paired with meticulous attention to detail, a strong visual aesthetic, and an eye for emerging design trends. This role requires both hands‑on craft and leadership in execution — balancing detail‑oriented design with the ability to see the big picture.

Duties

Creative Development & Execution

• Lead design projects end‑to‑end, from concept development and mockups to refinement and final production.
• Create across digital, print, social, video, experiential, and environmental platforms.
• Deliver polished, pixel‑perfect design work that meets the highest standards of craft and storytelling.
• Contribute to the evolution of design systems, ensuring consistency across touchpoints.
• Explore new mediums and innovative approaches to keep the brand fresh and forward‑looking.

Brand Stewardship

• Apply and uphold McDonald’s Visual Identity System (VIS ID) across all projects.
• Ensure creative work ladders up to McDonald’s brand standards.
• Act as a brand ambassador, advocating for consistency and excellence in every execution.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Global Communications, Global Marketing, and other teams to align creative with business objectives.
• Collaborate with Production, Creative Operations, and Experience teams to ensure seamless execution.
• Present and articulate design concepts to stakeholders with clarity and confidence.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide guidance and feedback to designers, interns, and contractors.
• Help manage project workflows, timelines, and priorities.
• Champion creative excellence and inspire the team to explore new ideas.
• Support the Design Lead in maintaining alignment and elevating team culture.

Qualifications

Skills and Characteristics

• Deep understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, and layout techniques.
• Ability to lead projects independently while balancing multiple priorities.
• Strong communication skills and ability to present ideas clearly.
• Highly organized, self‑motivated, and proactive problem‑solver.
• Team player with a positive attitude and collaborative approach.
• Always aspires for creative excellence and inspires others to do the same.

Experience and Qualifications

• 4–6 years of professional design experience (creative agency or in‑house).
• Strong portfolio showcasing brand systems, identity, and integrated design expertise.
• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, etc).
• Demonstrated experience designing creative across print, digital, social media, video, apparel/swag, and experiential platforms.
• Proven ability to independently lead projects and deliver polished, production‑ready artwork and assets.
• Keen attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Experience in building digital files, managing revisions, and preparing files for release and production.
• Animation and editing skills (After Effects, Premiere Pro, etc) are a plus.

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range

The expected salary range for this role is $85,014.00 - $106,267.00 per year.

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors.

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. 

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.