At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead food quality and safety for KFC in the UK & Ireland while innovating new products.
- Company: Join KFC, a brand that values quality and innovation in the food industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, early finishes, private healthcare, and 25% off chicken!
- Other info: Inclusive workplace encouraging applications from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food safety and quality for millions of customers.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in food tech, degree in Food Science, and strong quality management skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
As Quality Manager for UK & Ireland, you’ll lead the end‑to‑end quality, food safety and compliance agenda across one of our most important markets. You’ll also run our Innovation Kitchen, playing a critical role in bringing new products to life and ensuring they land brilliantly in restaurant. You’ll be the subject‑matter expert across food safety, legislation and product quality—but also deeply connected to how our food is made, from supplier through to the customer experience in restaurant. Working closely with the Food & Quality Director and cross‑functional teams, you’ll help protect the brand while enabling innovation and growth. You’ll also collaborate with our Pan‑Europe Quality function, who lead supplier audits and ingredient compliance, ensuring alignment across markets.
WHAT YOU WILL SPEND YOUR TIME DOING
- Owning food safety, quality and legal compliance across all KFC products in UK & Ireland
- Leading and developing a small, high‑performing team (Quality Technologist and Kitchen Manager)
- Delivering product and process projects from concept through to successful restaurant launch
- Acting as the guardian of product quality—ensuring consistency across every restaurant
- Leading the response to new regulations and legislation, keeping the business compliant and future‑ready
- Acting as the key contact for trading standards, customer incidents and technical PR matters
- Driving continuous improvement and cost‑efficiency initiatives with supply chain, suppliers and operations
- Leading product, equipment and recipe validation, including reformulation where needed
- Supporting key brand priorities such as nutrition and Halal standards
- Using data, audits and insights to identify risks and continuously raise standards
- Partnering cross‑functionally to embed quality into all business decisions
- Building and championing a strong food safety culture across the organisation
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
Because great food doesn’t happen by accident. You’ll ensure every product we serve is safe, compliant and high quality—while helping us innovate and evolve to meet changing customer expectations. It’s a unique opportunity to combine technical expertise with real commercial impact.
ABOUT YOU
- A collaborative team player who builds strong relationships across functions
- Self‑motivated, curious and adaptable in a fast‑paced environment
- Comfortable working in a lean team with broad responsibility
- A pragmatic problem‑solver with strong commercial awareness
- Passionate about high standards, continuous improvement and delivery
- Energised by working on food that reaches millions of customers
EXPERIENCE
- At least 5 years’ experience in a food technical role (manufacturing, retail or food service)
- Degree in Food Science or a related discipline
- Strong expertise in food safety, quality management systems and food legislation
- Experience working across the full food supply chain, from supplier to end consumer
- Proven track record of delivering projects and influencing multiple stakeholders
- Confident managing risk, incidents and complex challenges
- Commercially aware, with a solutions‑focused approach
- Able to balance strategic thinking with attention to detail
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 remote based but occasional visits to our RSC will be required.
- Up to 11% company pension contributions
- Fri‑Yay finishes at 1pm every Friday
- 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.
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.
Please note this is a 12 month maternity contract.
Food Quality Lead (12 month contract) in Woking employer: KFC UK & Ireland
At KFC, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture where individuality is celebrated and personal growth is encouraged. As a General Manager, you'll lead a passionate team in delivering outstanding guest experiences while enjoying competitive benefits such as performance-based bonuses, extra holiday, and comprehensive wellbeing support. Join us in a community that values your unique contributions and supports your career ambitions, all while serving the world’s best chicken.
