Local Engagement Partner

Gated Talent; Woking; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Take one man with a big idea, add 11 herbs and spices, grit, ambition, and buckets of heart – you’ve got KFC.

Since 1939, we’ve been bringing finger lickin’ good chicken to the world, and today we’re proud to be in over 1000 communities across the UK & Ireland. But without our people, none of it would be possible. Just like our recipe, they’re all original.

Join us. Bring it. And together, we can be part of something truly extraordinary.

Bringing it to the role.

KFC’s Corporate Affairs & Sustainability function has an ambition to be the best in the business. Our job is to shape an environment in which the brand can thrive, and shaping the brand so it can thrive in that environment. We cover corporate communications, public affairs, sustainability, our community impact work, including the KFC Youth Foundation – and now we’re hiring a key role to help expand our work in our local communities.

As a business with now over 1,000 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, we know that we have an active and important role to play in local communities. The jobs we create, the community programmes we run, and the footfall we drive play a crucial role in supporting local and responsible growth.

And with plans to expand over the next ten years, we’ll need to work on the ground with more local communities and Local Authorities to help us get there. That’s where our Local Engagement Partner will come in.

The role will be reporting to our Senior Policy and Reputation Manager. There will be an element of field-based responsibility, so you’ll spend some time out and about in local communities, around our restaurants and working remotely, though we will want to see you at the Restaurant Support Centre (RSC), our head office, for two days a week.

What you’ll be responsible for:

• Work with our Development team to build and execute political and community engagement plans in target areas, with the objective of paving the way for new restaurant openings.
• Make representations directly to Local Authorities and stakeholders about the benefits of having a KFC restaurant locally, and addressing any local concerns.
• Advise and support Region, Area and Restaurant management in political, stakeholder and community engagement – both proactive and reactive.
• Alongside our PR & Press Office team, you’ll support with handling any regional/local media interest and identify opportunities to tell our story.
• Collaborate with our Local Marketing team to land our messages with the right local stakeholders and audiences.
• You’ll need to build up and protect our reputation in key parts of the country. You’ll identify opportunities for us to contribute to the communities we’re part of, through our Community Impact work: the KFC Youth Foundation, our food donation programme in partnership with FareShare, and our youth employability scheme, Hatch. And you’ll also address any concerns which local stakeholders might have about us, where we’re already present and where we hope to be in the future.
• Inform our work on corporate reputation at a national level with the insights you gain representing the brand in local communities.
• Lead on our work with our Youth Advisory Board, maximising opportunities for the youth voice in all we do.
• You’ll lead our communications and engagement with the Councillors and Local Authority officials – spotting opportunities to tell our story directly and in the local media. It’ll be your responsibility to show communities and their representatives why having a KFC in town will benefit everybody.
• Support the wider Corporate Affairs team with key project activations as required.

What we’d love from you

ABOUT YOU

• Top-notch communication skills – verbal and written – and an ability to speak publicly.
• Knowledge and experience of local government/political parties/planning applications.
• If you love to see tangible results of your work, this role could be for you: ultimately, you could be the person who brings dozens of jobs, new opportunities and an iconic brand to communities around the country.
• You’ll be able to spot opportunities where we can widen awareness of our community impact, partnerships and the role our restaurants play in local communities.
• You’ll need to be able to motivate and make decisions for yourself, whilst supporting the overall objectives of the Corporate Affairs and Sustainability function.
• You’ll thrive in this role if you have a real appetite for winning hearts and minds, you’re keen to travel, and engage face-to-face with all kinds of people.
• A get-up-and-go attitude – we’re looking for someone with the ambition to make a success of this role, who can use their initiative and energy to make our vision a reality.
• The ability to present arguments, evidence, data and ideas in a compelling way.
• The ability to persuade, influence, effectively collaborate and build relationships across cross-functional teams and with external stakeholders, even in challenging circumstances.

EXPERIENCE

• At least four years’ experience working in or around public affairs, communications, local politics, local/regional news or town planning. You don’t need experience in all of these areas – if you have one or two, and you meet the other criteria, we’d love to hear from you.
• Full UK driving license, and a willingness to travel regularly – sometimes over long distances.
• Some knowledge / experience of the town planning process.
• Some knowledge / experience of politics or public affairs.
• Some knowledge / experience of PR / media relations.
• Experience working on campaigns, either in public affairs, PR, Local Government or elsewhere is a must.
• Knowledge of the local planning process, and the workings of local government, are essential.

Be Original.

If you are ready to bring your passion, skills, and dedication to KFC, we encourage you to apply now. We look forward to welcoming you to our team and embarking on this extraordinary journey together. Bring it.

Don’t tick all the boxes? Don’t worry. If you don’t match all the criteria for the role and still think you’d be a great fit, we’d love to hear from you.