People & Culture Advisor (6 Month Contract) in Woking

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.

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.

About the role: We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-driven, positive thinking individual with a passion to learn to join our People & Culture (P&C) team as a P&C Advisor (6 month contract). As an integral part of the team, you’ll be an ambassador for our heart led culture through your day-to-day people touchpoints across all stakeholders. Our people are our most important asset and with your approachable and warm nature you’ll play a big part in their employee experience throughout the employment lifecycle.

Reporting into the Senior P&C Business Partner, you’ll utilise your high attention to detail, passion for continuous improvement, and problem-solving skills to bring change and drive efficiencies within the People & Culture space, establishing yourself as key point of call for all first line P&C queries. You will be well organised, proactive, and responsive, with the ability to communicate at all levels and work well across different teams. You will be flexible and adaptable and able to apply tact and discretion when managing sensitive and highly confidential information.

What you will be responsible for:

• Employee Life Cycle: Knowledge & understanding of all pre‑employment checks; ability to complete right to work checks in line with statutory requirements as well as ensuring references and verification checks are carried out and recorded according to internal policies and procedures. Support with Tier 2 Visa sponsorship and ensure the company is compliant with the Home Office’s sponsorship guidance to fulfil the duties as a sponsor. Produce contracts/offers of employment, enabling a seamless transition into the brand, and providing relevant documentation for contract adjustments where required, creating a world class onboarding/offboarding experience. Support the wider P&C team to review and update central P&C documentation (e.g., letter and contract templates) in line with legislative changes and best practice. Assisting employees with MyKFC, accessing payslips, booking holiday etc. Ensure the RSC and Restaurant are connected by arranging for every new starter to work in restaurant for a week as part of their induction. Partnering with the business and Business Partners to provide advice to employees and managers on people topics and executing lifecycle process tasks both effectively and efficiently. Implementing programs to improve the employee experience such as new starter interviews, stay interviews and exit interviews to provide data driven insights. Support the P&C Business Partners (P&C BPs) in reviewing talent, including succession planning and organisational design. Contribute to a positive working environment, encouraging a proactive approach to people's wellbeing. Partner with internal comms team to share updates on new starters, leavers, promotions, or any other relevant updates. Responding to any external employment reference requests, and salary confirmation requests. Supporting on activity in relation to our annual Building People Capability Cycle. Involvement in year-end process, including supporting Reward team with creation of letters. Collaborate with Executive Assistants and P&C BPs to maintain an up-to-date org chart monthly.
• Employee Relations: Guiding Coaches on all employee relations issues including first line support for performance management. Advising on absence management guidance as well as maintaining partnership with Occupational Health provider. Support the education and coaching to line managers on all People & Culture matters.
• Policies: Monitor and review P&C policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance whilst being fit for purpose. Stay up to date with employment legislation and abreast of any upcoming changes. Highlight issues with a strategic, legal or employee relations impact to P&C Business Partners. As the subject matter expert, provide advice and guidance on policies/procedures and practices, as well as terms and conditions of employment.
• Payroll: Ensure & maintain accurate, up to date and relevant data is held on HRIS by processing payroll monthly. Act as a key point of contact for the Payroll team to ensure employees are paid correctly, on time and helping them with any queries that may arise.
• Data & insights: Collate and provide analysis on people metrics where required. Work in partnership with the P&C BPs to ensure employee and manager queries are resolved effectively, spotting trends and patterns, and proposing solutions.

What we would love from you:

• A practical self-starter, the successful candidate will be used to managing conflicting priorities, delivering to tight deadlines and used to partnering effectively with internal customers and external stakeholders.
• Proven process mind-set and ability to manage deadlines within a fast‑paced environment, whilst maintaining high levels of detail and accuracy.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to develop effective relationships with the business and across the P&C team to leverage results.
• Ability to work on own initiative and without need for close supervision, with strong communication skills where support is needed.
• Employee relations experience providing first line support to Coaches on employee relation cases.

Education: CIPD qualified or working towards.

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.

What’s in it for you: We offer benefits that make your life that little bit easier, because we know the juggle is real. From flexible, hybrid working to Fri-Yay early finishes and Live Well Days, we’ve created a package that supports the real you, in and out of work. Hybrid working from our Woking RSC (just 24 mins from London). This role is based 2 days a week in our RSC at Woking. Up to 11% company pension contributions. Fri-Yay finishes at 1pm every Friday. 25 days’ holiday (plus bank hols). 5 Live Well Days a year, just for you. Bonus scheme linked to company & personal performance. Private healthcare, Digital GP access & mental health coaching. Enhanced parental leave and flexible return options. Study support, income protection, life cover & more. And yes—25% off the chicken KFC for everyone.

Whoever you are and wherever you’re from, KFC is a place where you can bring the real you to work. Our promise is this: every person who applies to a role at KFC, regardless of age, background, ethnicity, gender, ability, religion or sexual orientation, will have an equal opportunity to work here. We don’t just welcome, we encourage applications from underrepresented groups from all industries. If you’d like any additional support with your application, have a disability or condition that may affect your performance during the recruitment process, or have any other requirements — just let us know. We’ll be there to help you be the real you. 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.

Please note: we are looking for someone to start ASAP.