Senior 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 are looking for a Senior People & Culture Business Partner – Operations to join Team KFC and play a pivotal leadership role in delivering our People & Culture strategy across the Equity business.

This position is an evolution of the Level 8 PC Business Partner role — designed for an experienced people leader who can shape and drive complex, cross-functional People initiatives that have a strategic and operational impact across the full Equity estate.

You will partner closely with the People Operations Director and the Equity Leadership Team, leading a team of People Capability Coaches and influencing senior operations stakeholders to deliver sustainable business performance through our people.

You will also hold end-to-end ownership of critical and complex cross-functional Equity-specific People projects, ensuring alignment across functions, geographies, and business priorities. These initiatives will often extend beyond regional boundaries, influencing the direction of the Equity business and its organisational evolution.

This is a field-based role within your region, with occasional travel to our Restaurant Support Centre (RSC) in Woking.

WHAT WILL YOU SPEND YOUR TIME DOING

Operate as a Strategic Partner and Senior Advisor

• Lead your region and influence across the full Equity business to maximise the effectiveness of our restaurant teams through organisational design, culture, capability, and engagement.
• Partner with Operations Directors and Equity Leaders as a trusted advisor on strategic people initiatives and workforce planning.
• Provide thought leadership to shape people strategies that drive commercial performance, engagement, and long-term talent sustainability.
• Act as a visible culture champion and trusted senior voice across the Equity leadership community.

Drive Strategic, Cross-Functional People Projects

• Lead end-to-end ownership of critical and complex People & Culture projects that have cross-functional and cross-regional impact across the Equity estate.
• Design, develop, and execute people initiatives in areas such as talent pipeline development, inclusion, organisational effectiveness, and change management.
• Partner cross-functionally (Operations, Finance, Supply Chain, and Brand) to ensure integrated delivery of People priorities.
• Leverage data, insight, and external best practice to continuously evolve our approach to people development and employee experience.

Lead and Develop Teams

• Line manage and coach a team of People Capability Coaches, ensuring delivery excellence across all aspects of operational people support.
• Build capability within your team and across the wider Equity business to drive people leadership at every level.
• Act as a mentor and coach to other P&C Business Partners, supporting a culture of continuous learning and development.

Champion Employee Experience and Engagement

• Drive the evolution of our employee engagement and recognition strategies, building a culture of performance, belonging, and pride.
• Lead initiatives that enhance employee voice and inclusivity, ensuring that every team member feels heard, valued, and supported.
• Partner with Communications, L&D, and Operations to embed meaningful engagement practices that deliver measurable impact.

Act as a Change Agent

• Provide strategic leadership on organisational design, talent transformation, and cultural evolution.
• Drive continuous improvement of People & Culture processes and systems to ensure the Equity business remains agile, compliant, and forward-thinking.
• Anticipate external trends and proactively adapt our people strategy to position KFC as a leading employer in the market.

WHAT WE LOVE FROM YOU

Skills & Capabilities

• A strategic, forward-thinking People leader with proven experience influencing at senior levels across a complex, matrixed organisation.
• Exceptional relationship builder and communicator with strong stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple large-scale projects with cross-functional interdependencies.
• Data-driven decision maker with strong analytical, commercial, and judgement skills.
• An inspiring coach and mentor who develops and empowers others to deliver excellence.
• Confident working in ambiguity, with high resilience and agility in a fast-paced environment.

Experience

• Extensive HR/People Business Partner experience at a senior level, ideally within a multi-site operational business.
• Proven success in leading large-scale, cross-functional people initiatives with measurable impact.
• Line management experience with a track record of developing high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of UK employment and immigration law.
• Experience navigating complex organisational change and transformation

ABOUT YOU

• A genuine team player
• A self-starter with curiosity, energy and adaptability
• Hungry to learn and thrive in a small, mighty team
• A practical problem-solver with strong commercial instincts
• Obsessed with high standards, momentum and getting things done
• And of course… a true KFC believer

Because real ones deserve real rewards

THE ROAD TO BECOMING A REAL ONE...

• Apply (Go on... do it) – send us your CV and answer a couple of app questions.
• Intro call with our Talent Team
• Virtual call with a Senior PCBP + Operations Leader
• F2F interview & Task at our HQ, Home of The Real Ones in Woking with our People Operations Director and CPO

Ready?

We hope so, if you’re ready to be part of our community, now’s the time to apply.

Worried you aren’t ticking all the boxes? Don’t - we’d still love to hear from you.

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