Senior Director, Accelerating The Organization (Ato) Program Lead

The Strategy & Planning team is focused on strategy formulation and prioritization, strategic and operational planning, program management, and vendor management efforts while building next-gen Total Cost of Ownership capabilities.

The Senior Director, AtO Program Leader is accountable and responsible for the delivery of the AtO strategy and the role reports to the Vice President, Global Technology Strategy & Planning.

The primary focus of the role is inclusive of the following:

• Lead and supervise the AtO portfolio of technology specific transformation initiatives, ensuring effective governance, collaborator engagement, prompt delivery and verified benefits
• Define and lead the portfolio of transformation initiatives, including prioritization, resource allocation, and risk assessment, to achieve desired business outcomes.
• Cultivate strong relationships with internal collaborators, act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, and effectively communicate program progress, benefits, and risks to various audiences.
• Act as the spokesperson representing GT with the Business Transformation Office (BTO) ultimately responsible for AtO corporate-wide.
• Collaborate with technology leaders and executives to develop the technology transformation roadmap and critical initiatives, ensuring alignment with business priorities.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Program Leadership

• Develop and supply a comprehensive program management framework, including processes, methodologies, and tools, to support the successful execution of initiatives.
• Supply strategic direction and guidance to project managers and program teams, promoting standard processes and ensuring adherence to project management standard

Portfolio Management

• Proactively identify potential risks, challenges, and dependencies across programs, and develop mitigation strategies to ensure successful program outcomes.
• Define and manage the portfolio of transformation initiatives, including prioritization, resource allocation, and risk assessment, to achieve desired business outcomes.
• Regularly review and evaluate the performance and progress of individual programs, finding areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions, as necessary.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, senior executives, and collaborators to align program objectives with organizational goals, ensuring effective communication and coordination.

Relationship Management

• Develop strong relationships with internal partners, including technology teams, executive management, and business units, to understand their needs and align program objectives accordingly.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing regular updates on program status, risks, and opportunities, and making recommendations for adjustments as needed.
• Provide thought leadership and drive alignment with consultant resources to increase value from the investment and accelerate delivery
• Cultivate a collaborative and high-performance culture within the program management team, promoting knowledge sharing, professional development, and effective teamwork.

Communication and Advocacy

• Manage the calendar, determine agenda, develop content, coordinate with stakeholders, facilitate the meeting
• Translate complex technical jargon into accessible language, ensuring that the value and benefits of the solutions are understood by different audiences.
• Effectively communicate program progress, benefits, and risks to executive leaders and to various stakeholders, both internal and external to the organization.

Manage Related Workstreams

• Mapping the work / transition execution
• Provide leadership and direction for third-party (e.g., McKinsey) resources
• Identify gaps in AtO strategy and work to close open items with the core team
• Establish, maintain, and report on contingency budget needs

McDonald’s Transformation Office Collaboration– GT Representative

• Coordinate with initiative owners and provide regular initiative updates
• Complete deliverables as requested, i.e. Charter, Milestones, Progress reports
• Update milestone & value tracking tool as needed
• Provide transparency on GT initiatives and progress

AtO Financial Management

• Develop and manage the AtO program budget, tracking expenses and optimizing vendor costs to achieve cost savings and efficiencies.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., business, technology, project management) or equivalent practical experience.
• Willingness and ability to live the McDonald’s values every day: Serve, Inclusion, Integrity, Community, and Family.
• Proven experience in program leadership, leading complex transformation initiatives, and delivering results within scope, timeline, and budget.
• Strong understanding of program management methodologies, tools, and standard processes.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to actively engage and influence collaborators at all levels.
• 10+ years of experience in large, technology program management

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent presentation and advocacy skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to different audiences and create compelling narratives.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and a high-performance culture within the program management team.
• Proven expertise in stakeholder management, establishing relationships with diverse internal and external partners, and acting as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.
• Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., business administration, technology management) or equivalent advanced certification (e.g., PMP, PgMP, CBRM, MBRM).
• Demonstrated experience in portfolio management, including prioritization, resource allocation, and risk assessment, preferably in a global or multi-national context.
• Critical thinking and planning abilities, with a track record of developing technology transformation roadmaps aligned with business objectives.

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