Chief Strategy & Insights Officer

About the Role

McDonald's Saudi Arabia, operated by Unified Foods Group, is seeking a visionary and results-driven Chief Strategy & Insights Officer to join its executive leadership team. This pivotal role is designed for a seasoned commercial strategy and insights leader who will shape the future of one of the world’s most iconic brands in one of the fastest-growing markets in the region. Reporting directly to the CEO, the successful candidate will be responsible for defining and executing a robust, enterprise-wide strategy that aligns long-term ambitions with actionable annual priorities across Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Development.

As a key member of the C-suite, you will leverage your deep expertise in commercial strategy, pricing, revenue growth management, and business insights to drive profitable growth and operational excellence. This role offers a rare opportunity to influence the strategic direction of a high-growth restaurant business from the ground up, working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment where innovation and data-driven decision-making are paramount.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and own a 3 to 5-year enterprise-wide strategy, translating long-term ambitions into clear annual priorities and trade-offs across Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Development. Ensure alignment with the broader business objectives of Unified Foods Group and McDonald's Corporation.
• Commercial Insights & Analytics: Lead the generation and analysis of commercial insights across critical business levers, including sales, traffic, margin, menu mix, pricing, promotions, and customer behavior. Transform complex data into sharp, decision-ready recommendations for the CEO and senior leadership team to drive informed decision-making.
• Pricing & Revenue Growth Management: Own the pricing strategy and revenue growth initiatives, conducting in-depth menu engineering, price elasticity analysis, pack architecture design, and promotional effectiveness evaluations. Drive profitable growth by optimizing pricing strategies and promotional campaigns.
• Store Performance Benchmarking: Analyze store-level performance metrics, including sales, guest counts, profitability, and Quality, Service, and Cleanliness (QSC). Identify underperforming stores and establish clear linkages between operational metrics and commercial outcomes to enhance overall performance.
• Customer Behavior Analysis: Examine customer behavior across multiple channels, including dine-in, drive-thru, delivery, and digital platforms. Provide strategic insights to support loyalty programs, frequency initiatives, and customer retention strategies, ensuring a seamless and engaging customer experience.
• Expansion & Investment Analysis: Lead the evaluation of expansion and investment opportunities, including new store business cases, capital expenditure (CapEx) assessments, cannibalization analysis, and return on investment (ROI) evaluations for major capital initiatives such as kiosks, digital boards, and McCafé enhancements. Support the leadership team in making data-driven investment decisions.
• Executive Reporting & Leadership Reviews: Develop and maintain simple, decision-focused executive dashboards to track key performance indicators and strategic initiatives. Lead leadership reviews with the CEO, COO, CMO, and CDO to present insights, recommendations, and progress updates in a clear and compelling manner.

Key Requirements

• Experience: 4 to 8 years of progressive experience in a C-suite or equivalent senior leadership role, with a proven track record in commercial strategy, pricing, revenue growth management, or business insights.
• Industry Background: Demonstrated expertise in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), consulting, or franchising sectors, with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in these industries.
• Strategic & Analytical Skills: A strong analytical mindset combined with the ability to challenge senior stakeholders with confidence, rigor, and commercial conviction. Proven capability to translate complex data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.
• Communication & Leadership: Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to present insights and recommendations clearly and concisely to senior leadership. A collaborative leadership style that fosters cross-functional alignment and drives execution.
• Mobility: Willingness and ability to relocate to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to take on this role and contribute to the growth of McDonald's Saudi Arabia and Unified Foods Group.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a globally recognized brand in a high-growth market. As the Chief Strategy & Insights Officer, you will play a pivotal role in driving the commercial success of McDonald's Saudi Arabia, working alongside a dynamic leadership team to deliver exceptional results. If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for data-driven decision-making and a desire to make a lasting impact, we invite you to apply and be part of our exciting journey.