European Franchise Capability & Compliance Lead

YUM; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

KFC in the UK is seeking an European Franchise Capability & Compliance Lead to protect and strengthen our brands across Europe by building franchise partner capability in supplier and product food safety and quality assurance.

You will set clear standards, translate Yum! minimum requirements into practical market standards, oversee risk management and crisis readiness, and partner with markets, suppliers and cross-functional teams, travelling regularly.

Qualifications

• Around 10 years of experience in food safety, quality assurance or related field.
• Degree in agronomy, food science or a related university program.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP and GFSI audit guidelines.
• Experience leading complex projects and change initiatives.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration with franchise partners.

Responsibilities

• Build franchise capability by translating minimum requirements into market-ready FSQA standards.
• Shape and deliver the long-term strategy for supplier FSQA and franchise capability across the region.
• Create smarter systems and tools to give teams visibility of suppliers, products and risks.
• Maintain a strong compliance overview and implement focused mitigation plans.
• Partner with markets, franchisees and cross-functional teams; travel regularly.
• Monitor and report on supplier/product approvals, audits, and specifications in TV.

Skills

HACCP knowledge

Quality management

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Education

Agronomist degree

Food-related degree

Job description

It all started with one cook who created a finger lickin' good recipe more than 75 years ago, a list of secret herbs and spices scratched out on the back of the door to his kitchen.

European Franchise Capability & Compliance Lead

KFC

Hybrid

As European Franchise Capability & Compliance Lead, you will help protect and strengthen our brands across Europe markets lead by master franchises by building franchise partner capability in supplier and product food safety and quality assurance. You will set clear standards, turn risk insights into practical action, and build trusted partnerships that keep our markets compliant, resilient and crisis-ready.

Yum! Brands is home to iconic restaurant brands including KFC, Taco Bell and Habit Burger & Grill, with more than 44,000 restaurants across 151 countries and territories. Together with our franchise partners, we are building the world’s most loved, trusted and connected restaurant brands powered by an unrivalled culture where smart decisions, courageous ambition and leading with heart help everyone bring their best.

Location: Woking, UK

Contract: Permanent, full-time

Build franchise capability across Europe by translating Yum! minimum requirements into practical, market-ready standards for supplier and product food safety, quality assurance and crisis management.

Shape and deliver the long-term strategy for supplier FSQA (Food Safety & Quality Assurance) and franchise FSQA capability and resourcing across the region.

Create smarter ways of working, systems and tools that give teams clear visibility of suppliers, products and emerging risks in every market.

Maintain a strong compliance overview, identify gaps early and partner with markets to put focused, effective mitigation plans in place.

Be a trusted partner to franchisees and cross-functional teams, responding to evolving needs and travelling regularly to markets and suppliers.

• Monitor and report on compliance, including supplier and product approvals, audit requirements, and specifications in TV.

Around 10 years of relevant experience in food safety, quality assurance or a related field, supported by an agronomist, food-related, or similar university degree.

Strong knowledge of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) and quality management systems, including Yum! and GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) audit guidelines, food legislation and food manufacturing processes.

A proven track record of leading change and delivering complex projects, with the strategic and analytical thinking to anticipate risk and turn insight into action.

An influential, collaborative communication style that builds trust with franchise partners, suppliers, senior leaders and global teams.

Commercially minded, solution-oriented and fluent in written and spoken English.

• Flexibility to travel around once to twice a month in the region.