Head of Technology Deployment

McDonald's is the largest family restaurant in the world, serving approximately 69 million customers across 36,000 restaurants a day: in more than 100 countries. It has operated in UK since 1974 and the business is growing continuously with more than 1,400 restaurants and over 154,000 employees.
McDonald’s UK & Ireland has a proven track record of investing in the development of its employees and offering flexibility as part of its dedication to being a modern and progressive company. Every year, it invests over £40 million in developing people, giving every one of its employees the opportunity to take part in structured training.
McDonald’s buys ingredients from over 17,500 British and Irish farmers and spends over £1.1billion annually on its food and packaging requirements. McDonald’s is a market leader in its field, striving for the highest standard of quality, speed and restaurant experience. Re-generation of our restaurant infrastructure, covering digital ordering, re-imaging and dual-point service make working at McDonald’s more exciting than ever
We're a people business just as much as we are a restaurant business. We strive to be the most inclusive brand in the world by building diverse teams who create delicious, feel-good moments that are easy for everyone to enjoy. Joining McDonald's means thinking big every day and preparing for a career that can have impact around the world.
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. 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
Community: We are good neighbours
Hybrid Working
This role is based in our East Finchley office working 3 days in the office and 2 days remotely
In this exciting opportunity you will lead on ensuring the restaurant’s software deployments are tested, planned and sequenced to minimise restaurant disruption. You will achieve this by frequent communication and engagement with our restaurants and deployment partners. The Head of Technology Deployment and Testing role will operate as a strategic leader within Technology and will ensure that there is a smooth deployment of all software and file management into our restaurants. The role holder will sponsor and provide leadership around continuous platform development and release management as well as adhoc programmes and projects in support of McDonald’s growth plans. The role holder will also provide commercial leadership with a number of key partners in order to drive business value and appropriate governance.
Provide senior leadership within the Technology & Change function to foster a high-performing culture aligned with the company values
Stay close to the business by building and maintaining strong franchisee relationships, particularly with those in the Technology Committee
Provides ongoing coaching and mentoring to members of the Technology Deployment and Testing team, ensuring that the team have strong development plans and career progression and succession plans.
Accountable for the smooth deployment of new platform/ product software into our restaurants
Accountable for the scheduling, coordinating and management of software releases across McDonald’s UK&I for multiple applications and portfolios. Ensure that all restaurants software deployments are planned and sequenced to minimise restaurant disruption
Accountable for communication and engagement with restaurants about the status and timing of their deployments
Accountable for deployment readiness; ensuring restaurants &/or our partners complete the checks which need to be performed ahead of any deployment and accountable for ensuring these have been complete
Works closely with the asset & configuration team to ensure that restaurants have the appropriate hardware and configuration for any new software deployments.
Works closely with service operations to ensure there is a full feedback loop with regards any new software deployments to ensure ongoing continuous improvements in deployment quality and process
Works closely with Global tech planning to ensure that any required defects are included and prioritised in overall market platform/product backlogs
Works closely with the Digital team in marketing around feature and capability enablement that supports the overall digital strategy
Accountable for all market-focused test activities and working with our partners to ensure we receive quality builds and releases
Provides oversight for all LIT and MUAT testing across all projects and initiatives in the UK&I market
Responsible for establishing and executing a testing strategy for the UK that: - Maintains sufficient labs (physical and virtual) and which caters for full end-to-end integration -Enables ongoing test improvement, automation and optimisation -That appropriate tools and techniques are in place to support full functional and no-functional testing (including performance testing)
Supports the development of talent and succession planning
Set standards and hold our testing partners to account for their delivery
Manage the Deployment & Testing G&A workbook and ensure robust financial governance is in place for segment and franchisee spend.
The Head of Technology Deployment & Testing operates as part of the Technology Leadership team.
Global Technology colleagues in other McDonald’s markets and those working in global and segment functions.
The role holder will have senior Technology leadership experience with a broad remit
Well versed in communicating and influencing at senior levels
Advanced knowledge of software development lifecycle
Extensive experience of software release management and testing
Significant leadership experience in information systems operations environment in systems analysis or development
Highly efficient in resource planning and tasks assignment
Knowledge of benefits and dependency mapping and risk management
Experience of Programme and project level financial management Highly proficient IT skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS project
Formal training in project management practices preferred
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 give us strength.
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."
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