HR Lead, UK & Ireland (12-month FTC)

About Us

McDonald’s has run its business in the UK since 1974 and currently operates over 1500 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, serving almost four million customers each day. McDonald’s is one of the UK’s largest private sector employers, employing over 170,000 people.

Job Description

What You’ll Be Doing:

We’re looking for a dynamic leader to step into a high-impact interim role at McDonald’s UK & Ireland, leading a strategic agenda focused on organisational culture and design. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on change and transformation—someone who’s ready to hit the ground running and shape the future of one of the most iconic global brands.

In this role, you’ll guide corporate reputation strategy while spearheading transformational projects that drive organisational performance and foster a people-first culture. You’ll partner closely with senior leaders, franchisees, and global teams to embed strategic HR initiatives and evolve how we support our people and communities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading the corporate People Business Partnering and Reputation teams
• Driving strategic people initiatives that influence company culture and long-term talent outcomes
• Embedding our global Employee Value Proposition (EVP) across the UK & Ireland market
• Shaping organisational design to support business transformation and future-fit ways of working
• You'll also lead on our DEI strategy to reflect and celebrate the diverse communities we serve
• Collaborating with senior stakeholders and franchisee partners to ensure alignment and impact
• Acting as a change leader—guiding initiatives through transformation, innovation, and growth
• Enhancing internal capability through team leadership, coaching, and thought partnership

Qualifications

What You’ll Need:

• Proven experience in senior HR leadership roles within large or complex organisations.
• Expertise in organisational design, cultural transformation, and strategic change delivery
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to align people priorities to business performance
• Inspiring leadership with a track record of building high-performing teams
• Demonstrable DEI leadership—strategy setting, implementation, and stakeholder engagement
• Confidence operating at executive level and leading through influence and collaboration
• Hands-on attitude and the ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery

What You’ll Get:

• Competitive salary + Bonus + Location and Car Allowance
• Free parking, lunch, and gym access at the office
• A collaborative culture where your ideas are valued
• Hybrid working with 3 days a week in the office and 2 days remote

Additional Information

Company Vision and Culture…

Our Global vision is to build a better McDonald’s and in the UK and Ireland we are working hard to be the UK & Irelands best-loved restaurant company.

McDonald’s is defined by its culture. Our culture shapes and informs everything we think and everything we do. Our culture influences the way we interact with each other, and how we interact with customers, franchisees and suppliers. Our culture motivates and inspires us to attract and retain great talent, creating positive, energising, exceptional working environment for us all.

Our values drive our culture and shape our beliefs, our priorities and our actions. They influence the decisions we make, how we treat one another and how we show up as a brand to the world.

Serve: We put our customers and our people first

Inclusion: We open our doors to everyone

Integrity: We do the right thing

Community: We are good neighbours

Family: We get better together

At McDonald’s we are People from all Walks of Life...

People are at the heart of everything we do, and they make the McDonald’s experience. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture that means people can be their best authentic self in our restaurants and offices, which helps us to better serve our customers. We have a strong heritage of diversity and representation within our communities, which we are proud of. The diversity of our people, customers, Franchisees and suppliers gives us strength.

We do not tolerate inequality, injustice or discrimination of any kind. These are hugely important issues and a brand with our reach and relevance means we have a very meaningful role to play.

We also recognise our responsibility as a large employer to continue being active in our communities, helping to develop skills and drive aspirations that will help people to be more aware of the world of work and more successful within it, whether with McDonald’s or elsewhere.”