What team will I be part of?

Public Affairs Officer is part of the wider Corporate Affairs team in the UK and Ireland and a community of public affairs practitioners across the other McDonald’s markets and agency partners to deliver to franchisees and the brand. This role will include working with and building relationships with franchisees, internal audiences, agency partners and political and policy partners.

• We protect and promote our freedom to operate and grow
• We provide external perspective and challenge to the business
• We help to inspire change internally, in-line with the external reality
• We identify emerging trends, threats and opportunities
• We build links with political decision makers and their influencers to the benefit McDonald's today, and in future
• We support franchisees, specialised teams within McDonald's establish links with external affairs audience to ensure continued success

What will my key accountabilities be?

This role requires supporting the business in understanding and leading emerging policy issues on farming and agriculture, packaging, recycling, and waste management, climate change, education and skills and health.

• Develop external engagement strategies to build brand trust with elected politicians, government officials, NGOs
• Seek opportunities to amplify McDonald’s campaigns and projects to external partners
• Partner with other functions across the business to support plans and decision-making processes and provide briefings and support to senior leaders in engagement opportunities
• Support the Regional Communications team in building engagement plans for franchisees and responding to local issues relating to restaurants and inform of external changes and challenges with the help of the internal communications team.
• Build and be an outstanding partner with trade associations including the British Retail
• Consortium (BRC), Confederation of British Industry (CBI), and Food and Drink Federation (FDF). Lead in responding or submitting to relevant government or industry consultations
• Represent the business at relevant industry and partner meetings and co-ordinate events and external visits and meetings
• Work with the Media team to respond to media enquiries relating to relevant policy issues and lead external consultancy support to deliver departmental and business objectives
• Contribute UK & Irish perspectives to Global Policy and Engagement team – collaborating and aligning to lead emerging global issues and respond to enquiries from elected politicians, NGOs, and other third parties

What background do I need to have?

• You will have 3-4 years in a policy and communications role either in-house, an agency or in a legislative body
• You will be detailed oriented, curious and resilient.
• You will Write clearly and concisely in multiple formats for different audiences and distil key information in to informative briefings for senior leaders
• Work cross-functionally and across multiple levels of the business and analyse and understand the business impact of regulation or policy decisions
• You will build consensus and aligns with others to meet joint objectives and focus on what matters most to prioritise most important challenges

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status.