Sr Manager, UX Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr Manager, UX Design

Company: McDonald's Corporation

Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: November 14, 2025

Experience Level: 10+ years (implied by Sr. Manager level and 8+ years requirement)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This Sr. Manager, UX Design role is critical in shaping the user experience for enterprise applications, specifically focusing on the Market Configuration Tools and Menu Board Framework.

• The position demands a blend of hands-on design craft, strategic thinking, and strong leadership to drive innovation in user-centered design for a global brand.

• Responsibilities include leading product discovery, creating detailed design deliverables, and ensuring seamless integration of user needs with business objectives across the entire product lifecycle.

• The role requires a deep understanding of Human-Centered Design principles, accessibility standards (WCAG), and the ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive user interfaces for a global scale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The title "Sr Manager, UX Design" combined with the responsibilities and experience requirements strongly suggests a leadership role with direct impact on product strategy and team collaboration. The focus on "Market Configuration Tools" and "Menu Board Framework" indicates a B2B or internal-facing application, requiring a nuanced understanding of enterprise user needs and operational efficiency.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire design lifecycle for enterprise applications, from initial concept and user research to post-launch analysis and continuous improvement.

• Conduct and leverage user research (both internal and external) to gain deep insights into user behaviors, needs, and pain points within the market configuration context.

• Translate research findings and business requirements into actionable user flows, customer journey maps, data-flow diagrams, wireframes, and high-fidelity designs.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and cross-functional stakeholders to drive product innovation, define roadmaps, and ensure design integrity is maintained throughout development.

• Champion user-centricity by advocating for user needs and ensuring business goals are met through thoughtful, data-informed design solutions.

• Actively participate in and facilitate design reviews, providing constructive feedback and ensuring design requirements are accurately implemented.

• Contribute to the maintenance and evolution of the menu board component design system, including co-writing component specifications and defining accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Employ facilitation techniques to effectively lead collaborative design thinking sessions and workshops with diverse teams.

• Understand and articulate technical considerations necessary for designing across various platforms and global scales.

• Present design concepts, research findings, and strategic recommendations to stakeholders at all levels, using clear and persuasive communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "Market Configuration Tools" and "Menu Board Framework" implies a need for expertise in designing for complex data-driven interfaces, operational efficiency, and potentially internationalization. The role requires a strong ability to balance user needs with business imperatives within a large, established enterprise.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Experience: 8+ years of experience in user-centered experience design, with a demonstrated track record of leading design initiatives and delivering impactful solutions.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in user-centered experience design methodologies and best practices.

• Proven ability to conduct user research, analyze findings, and translate them into actionable design strategies and deliverables.

• Proficiency in design and prototyping tools such as Figma for creating detailed wireframes, user flows, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Experience with project management and issue tracking tools like JIRA for managing design tasks and collaborating with development teams.

• Strong understanding and practical application of accessibility standards, including WCAG guidelines.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and persuasion skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and influence stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration with Product Management and Engineering.

• Capacity to lead design review cycles and ensure design requirements are met during implementation.

Preferred Skills:

• A strong, curated portfolio showcasing creative design thinking, a deep understanding of Human-Centered Design, and successful UX solutions for enterprise applications or global platforms.

• Experience with market analysis, customer feedback integration, and usability testing for continuous product improvement.

• Advanced UX research capabilities and a proactive approach to uncovering user needs.

• Familiarity with technical considerations across various platforms relevant to enterprise software.

• Experience in delivering designs and services at a global scale.

• Ability to approach challenges holistically, identifying solutions that span the entire customer journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "8 plus years" requirement and "Sr. Manager" title suggest that candidates with 10+ years of experience, particularly those with experience in enterprise-level product design or complex system configuration, will be highly competitive. The emphasis on "global scale" and "enterprise applications" points towards a need for candidates who can handle complexity and large-scale impact.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong command of Human-Centered Design principles and a history of delivering successful UX solutions.

• Case studies that showcase end-to-end design processes, from initial research and ideation to final execution and impact measurement.

• Examples of designing for complex enterprise applications or systems, highlighting problem-solving skills and strategic thinking.

• Visualizations of user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs, clearly explaining the design rationale behind each.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase experience in documenting design processes, including user research methodologies, design sprints, and collaboration workflows.

• Provide examples of how you've contributed to component design systems, including specification writing and defining design patterns.

• Demonstrate understanding of how to integrate design deliverables with development workflows, potentially referencing tools like JIRA.

• Illustrate how you champion continuous improvement by incorporating market analysis, customer feedback, and usability findings into design iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this Sr. Manager role, the portfolio should not only showcase design skills but also leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex design processes for enterprise-level solutions. The emphasis on "Market Configuration Tools" and "Menu Board Framework" means case studies related to operational efficiency, data management interfaces, or complex configuration systems would be highly relevant.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $167,366.00 - $209,207.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health and welfare benefits

• 401(k) plan

• Adoption assistance program

• Educational assistance program

• Flexible ways of working

• Time off policies (including sick leave, parental leave, and vacation/PTO)

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time)

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Sr. Manager level UX Design role in a major metropolitan area like Chicago, especially within a large corporation like McDonald's. The bonus and Long-Term Incentive (LTI) eligibility indicate a performance-driven compensation structure common for senior management positions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage / Technology / Retail

Company Size: Large Enterprise (McDonald's is a global corporation with tens of thousands of employees worldwide)

Founded: 1940 (McDonald's Corporation)

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Global Experience Design team, which is part of the larger Global Technology Team.

• This structure suggests a matrixed environment where design collaborates closely with product management, engineering, and potentially marketing and operations teams.

Methodology:

• The team operates at the forefront of transformative technology, focusing on innovation and solving complex tech challenges.

• A strong emphasis is placed on "Accelerating the Arches," McDonald's growth strategy, which includes doubling down on "Delivery, Digital and Drive Thru."

• The design methodology is user-centric, data-driven, and focused on delivering a fast, easy, and "feel-good" experience for millions of customers daily.

• Methodologies likely include Agile, Design Thinking, and Lean UX principles, with a focus on iterative development and continuous improvement.

Company Website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/ (Global) and https://medium.com/mcdonalds-technical-blog (Global Technology Technical Blog)

📝 Enhancement Note: McDonald's, as a global leader, offers a unique environment where technological innovation meets immense scale. The "Accelerating the Arches" strategy highlights a forward-thinking approach, particularly in digital and customer experience. The Global Technology Technical Blog provides insight into their tech culture and ongoing projects.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Management / Design Leadership

This role represents a significant step in a UX design career, moving beyond individual contribution to strategic influence and potential team leadership. It involves shaping product direction, mentoring designers, and driving best practices across a major global organization.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Sr. Manager typically reports to a Director or VP within the Global Technology or Experience Design organization. They will likely manage a team of UX Designers and/or UX Researchers and collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads.

Operations Impact: The Sr. Manager, UX Design will directly impact the efficiency and effectiveness of internal operational tools (Market Configuration, Menu Boards), which in turn affects the consistency, accuracy, and speed of service delivery across thousands of McDonald's locations globally. Their work will also influence the customer-facing digital experience, contributing to the "feel-good" moments McDonald's aims to create.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Director-level role, managing larger teams and broader product portfolios.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the overall UX strategy for key global technology initiatives.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in enterprise UX, design systems, or specific areas of digital transformation within the QSR industry.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Gain experience leading complex, cross-functional projects with significant business impact.

• Mentorship: Guide and develop junior and mid-level designers, contributing to the growth of the UX discipline within McDonald's.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Sr. Manager title implies a trajectory towards higher leadership within the organization. The focus on enterprise tools and global scale provides opportunities to develop expertise in complex system design and large-scale implementation, highly valuable for future career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site (Chicago, IL)

Office Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, United States

Workspace Context:

• The role is based in McDonald's Chicago headquarters, suggesting a dynamic corporate environment designed for collaboration and innovation.

• Employees will have access to modern workplace amenities, likely including collaborative spaces, meeting rooms, and technology infrastructure to support design work.

• The on-site nature of the role facilitates direct interaction and collaboration with product teams, engineering, and other key stakeholders, essential for driving complex design initiatives.

• Expect a fast-paced, professional atmosphere where innovation and efficiency are paramount, aligning with McDonald's "Accelerating the Arches" strategy.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility implied by "Flexible ways of working" within the benefits, though the primary work arrangement is on-site. This suggests a professional environment that balances structured work with some degree of adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Chicago indicates a need for candidates who are comfortable working in a central corporate hub and engaging directly with colleagues. This environment is conducive to rapid iteration and close collaboration, which is often essential for complex design projects.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios. Candidates with strong alignment to the required experience and a compelling portfolio will be invited for an initial conversation.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation focused on assessing experience, leadership potential, understanding of UX principles, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing specific case studies that highlight their design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. A design challenge or whiteboard session may be included to assess on-the-spot problem-solving and design thinking.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Management and Engineering leads to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and ability to integrate design within development cycles.

• Final Interview: Potentially with higher-level leadership to assess strategic thinking and overall fit for the Sr. Manager role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 strong case studies that best represent your experience in enterprise UX, complex systems, and driving user-centric solutions. Prioritize projects demonstrating leadership, problem-solving, and measurable impact.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the solutions you proposed, and the outcomes or impact achieved. Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., improved efficiency by X%, reduced errors by Y%).

• Highlight Process: Show your thought process, not just final deliverables. Include wireframes, user flows, data models, and explain why you made certain design decisions.

• Demonstrate Leadership: For this Sr. Manager role, emphasize instances where you led design initiatives, mentored others, or influenced product strategy.

• Address Enterprise/Global Scale: If possible, include examples that demonstrate your ability to design for complexity, large user bases, or global markets.

• Accessibility Focus: Clearly articulate how you incorporated accessibility standards (WCAG) into your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design philosophy, how you approach ambiguity, and how you collaborate with non-designers.

• Practice articulating complex design problems and solutions concisely.

• Understand McDonald's business strategy ("Accelerating the Arches," 3Ds) and how UX contributes to it.

• Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, JIRA, and design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "design sensibility," "articulate storytelling," and "hands-on role focused on both product discovery and design deliverables" suggests the interview process will be thorough, assessing both strategic leadership and practical design execution. The portfolio review will be a critical component, requiring candidates to demonstrate a deep understanding of enterprise UX and the ability to translate complex requirements into user-friendly solutions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, and creating high-fidelity designs. Proficiency is specifically mentioned as required.

• JIRA: Required for managing design tasks, collaborating with engineering, and tracking implementation progress.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: General proficiency in other industry-standard tools may also be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey) is implied by the responsibilities.

• Data Analysis Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, the ability to interpret usage data, A/B test results, and customer feedback metrics is crucial for driving continuous improvement.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly specified for this UX role, but understanding how UX design integrates with broader CRM strategies and workflow automation for enterprise applications would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and JIRA is explicitly stated as a requirement. The role also implies a strong need for user research tools and analytical thinking to integrate feedback and metrics into the design process, especially for enterprise-level applications.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Focus: A primary value, ensuring all design decisions are rooted in understanding and serving user needs.

• Innovation: Driving new and innovative ways to serve customers and improve internal processes through technology.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across product, engineering, and other departments to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using market analysis, customer feedback, and metrics to inform design strategies and improvements.

• Efficiency & Speed: Aligning with McDonald's fast-paced environment and its strategic focus on digital and drive-thru acceleration.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: Designing for a diverse global user base and adhering to accessibility standards.

Collaboration Style:

• Emphasizes close partnership with Product Management and Engineering to drive innovation.

• Utilizes facilitation methods to lead collaborative sessions and ensure buy-in across teams.

• Requires clear communication and presentation skills to effectively share work and rationale with stakeholders.

• Fosters a culture of continuous improvement through feedback loops and data analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as "feel-good" yet "fast-paced," highlighting a dynamic environment that values both employee well-being and business agility. The emphasis on collaboration and data-driven decision-making is key for success in this role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Enterprise Needs with User Experience: Designing intuitive interfaces for complex enterprise tools (Market Configuration, Menu Boards) while meeting stringent business requirements and operational constraints.

• Global Scale Implementation: Ensuring design solutions are scalable, adaptable, and culturally relevant for diverse markets worldwide.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Taking initiative and driving design outcomes with minimal direction in a large, complex organization.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively managing stakeholder expectations and driving consensus among various departments (Product, Engineering, Operations, Marketing).

• Maintaining Design Systems: Contributing to and ensuring consistency within a growing design system for enterprise applications.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic UX Leadership: Developing skills in product strategy, roadmap influence, and senior stakeholder management.

• Enterprise Design Systems: Gaining in-depth experience in building and maintaining design systems for large-scale enterprise applications.

• Digital Transformation in QSR: Deepening understanding of how technology and UX are transforming the Quick Service Restaurant industry.

• Mentoring and Team Building: Opportunities to lead and develop a team of UX professionals.

• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Tech: Working with AI, robotics, and emerging technologies as part of McDonald's innovation initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in large enterprises, requiring strong problem-solving, communication, and strategic thinking skills. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a clear path for career advancement within a global organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing stakeholder requirements with user needs. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your negotiation, communication, and user advocacy skills.)

• "How do you approach designing for complex enterprise systems like menu configuration or market management? What are the key considerations?" (Highlight your understanding of B2B/enterprise UX, data structures, and operational workflows.)

• "Walk us through your process for creating and maintaining a design system. What are the benefits, and what challenges have you faced?" (Demonstrate your understanding of scalability, consistency, and component-based design.)

• "How do you ensure accessibility (WCAG) is integrated into your design process from the outset?" (Show your commitment to inclusive design and understanding of standards.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about McDonald's and this specific role within our Global Technology team?" (Research "Accelerating the Arches," the 3Ds, and their commitment to technology.)

• "How do you align your design philosophy with a 'feel-good' yet 'fast-paced' environment?" (Connect your approach to efficiency, user delight, and business impact.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction of McDonald's/role, overview of your portfolio, deep dive into 2-3 key case studies, and a concluding summary.

• Case Study Depth: For each case study, clearly state the problem, your role, the process (research, ideation, design, testing), key decisions, the solution, and the impact/results. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your strategic contributions, leadership in design decisions, and ability to mentor or guide others, especially for this Sr. Manager role.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics and data to demonstrate the value of your work whenever possible.

• Address Enterprise Context: If possible, tailor your examples to show experience with complex systems, large user bases, or global considerations.

• Q&A Readiness: Be prepared for in-depth questions about your design choices, problem-solving approaches, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess not only design craft but also leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to operate within a large, global, and fast-paced organization like McDonald's. Candidates should be ready to articulate their impact and vision for UX at McDonald's.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr. Manager, UX Design position at McDonald's Corporation:

• Visit the McDonald's Careers website and locate the job posting using the provided URL or job ID.

• Submit your application through their online portal, ensuring all required fields are completed accurately.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate your strongest 2-3 case studies that best represent your experience with enterprise applications, complex systems (like configuration tools), and your leadership capabilities. Ensure these highlight your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and measurable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "User-Centered Design," "Enterprise Applications," "Figma," "JIRA," "UX Research," "Design Systems," "Global Scale," and "Accessibility Standards (WCAG)." Emphasize achievements and leadership experience.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design philosophy, how you approach ambiguity, and your collaborative style. Prepare to discuss specific examples from your portfolio that demonstrate your ability to drive innovation and user focus within a large organization.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with McDonald's "Accelerating the Arches" strategy, their focus on digital and drive-thru, and their technology initiatives. Understand how UX design contributes to their business goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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