Franchise Lead

Welcome to KFC. Home of the real ones.

We sell the world’s best chicken. Seriously. And we’ve done it since 1939, when the idea of crispy, original recipe chicken took Kentucky by storm. Now, we’re proud to serve 1000+ communities across the UK and Ireland, bringing the grit, pride and iconic reputation that we started with, all those years ago.

Across the Restaurant Support Centre (RSC), we come to work to be ourselves, and to make something of ourselves. We want to see our potential go that little bit further, as part of one of the world’s most iconic brands.

What’s the gig? Well, you support our restaurants — and we’ll support you every step of the way. Simple. Our doors are open — and they can take you anywhere.

All we ask is that you be you. Because that makes us, us. Sound good? Great. Let’s find out about that job.

Our People and Culture team creates a place where people don’t just work - they thrive and feel genuinely proud to be part of something real. We’re here for all 36,000 members of Team KFC – shaping a bold, inclusive culture where everyone feels supported, included, and empowered to grow.

We lead with smart, heart, and courage and are people first, always. From finding and nurturing top talent to unlocking growth opportunities, we’re ambitious about our people’s potential. We ask questions, push boundaries, and challenge the usual way of doing things - if it means building a better experience for our teams, we’re all in.

This role is all about building a one-team, people-powered community across our 28 franchise partners and 700+ restaurants. You’ll unite our People & Culture leaders behind a shared strategy, levelling up people experience across the system while strengthening the partnership between People & Ops to deliver legendary employee and customer moments.

You’ll unlock growth by raising people standards, driving brilliant governance, and making sure our franchise system has the support, insight and challenge it needs to win. Real impact, real responsibility, real teamwork.

• Use data, insight and people metrics to fuel strategic conversations with Franchise Business Leaders and the LT, helping them drive the numbers that matter.
• Build know-how with FBLs so they can confidently deep-dive people data and have intrusive, action-orientated conversations with franchisees.
• Turn market trends and people insight into clear, consistent people standards across the system.

• Shape and drive the people compliance roadmap, ensuring we meet policy, legal and brand standards with clarity, pace and accountability.
• Be the go-to on People governance and risk, leading activity linked to the Enterprise-wide Risk Management framework.
• Horizon scan for emerging risks, patterns and red flags — making sure the People function is ahead, not behind.
• Work closely with People Leaders and Principal Operators on critical people issues, including managing our Franchise Speak Up platform.
• Hold the bar on crisis management, guiding teams to make the right call for our people and our brand.
• Partner with our internal legal team and external employment law experts to keep the system safe and compliant.

• Build trusted, open and respected relationships with franchise partners — understanding their business and supporting them to grow capability and performance.
• Lead the partnership with Franchise Business Leaders to bring People & Ops together as one aligned force
• Create the space and energy for sharing best practice across the system and RSC teams.
• Represent the Franchise People agenda cross-functionally, ensuring employee experience is always part of the plan.

• Partner with franchisees and FBLs to shape future org design, capability and talent needs.
• Use people metrics to inform long-term talent, capability and standards decisions.
• Apply commercial and insight-led thinking to influence people standards and initiatives across the brand.
• Lead PPR with franchise partners — ensuring talent, succession, capability and development stay front and centre.
• Champion great training and culture execution,…