Head of People & Culture Business Partner

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.

THE TEAM

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.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re looking for a Head of People & Culture Business Partner to join Team KFC and play a key role in shaping the people agenda across our Restaurant Support Centre.

This is a senior strategic partnering role, working directly with C-suite and functional leaders to translate our business strategy into the organisation, talent and culture we need for the future. You’ll be a trusted advisor and thought partner, bringing commercial judgement, constructive challenge and a strong people perspective to some of our biggest business decisions.

You’ll lead across organisation design, workforce planning, talent and succession, leadership capability, performance and culture, while partnering with our Centres of Excellence to turn strategy into meaningful action.

We’re looking for someone who can think strategically but isn’t afraid to get stuck in. Someone who can navigate complexity, influence at the highest levels and create clarity and momentum in a fast-moving business.

This is a hybrid role, based from our Woking RSC two days a week.

WHAT YOU’LL SPEND YOUR TIME DOING

• Partner with C-suite and functional leaders to shape People strategy around commercial priorities and future growth.
• Act as a trusted advisor and coach, bringing challenge, insight and sound judgement to senior decision-making.
• Lead organisation design, workforce planning and capability conversations to ensure we’re set up for the future.
• Strengthen talent, succession, performance and internal mobility, building a strong pipeline of future leaders.
• Shape a high-performance, values-led culture through leadership behaviour, accountability and meaningful action.
• Lead and support significant organisation change and transformation.
• Partner with our P&C Centres of Excellence to turn specialist expertise into solutions that work for the business.
• Stay close to our people, bringing their voice into decisions and continuously improving the employee experience.

WHAT WE’D LOVE FROM YOU

You’ll be an established senior People leader who combines commercial thinking with strong generalist HR expertise.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

• Significant senior-level HR Business Partnering/generalist experience, ideally 10+ years.
• Proven experience partnering, coaching and challenging C-suite and senior leadership teams.
• Strong strategic capability, with experience translating business priorities into People strategy and measurable outcomes.
• Experience across organisation design, workforce planning, talent, succession, performance and change.
• Strong commercial judgement and confidence navigating complex, high-stakes people decisions.
• Experience operating within complex or matrix organisations and partnering effectively with Centres of Excellence.
• Good ER knowledge and understanding of UK employment legislation.
• The ability to operate autonomously, navigate ambiguity and balance strategy with practical delivery.
• Most importantly, you’ll be curious, collaborative, commercially minded and comfortable challenging the status quo, while always remembering that behind every People decision are real people.
• Global mobility a plus