Team Leader in Sunderland

Welcome to KFC. Home of the real ones. We sell the world’s best chicken. We’ve done it for a long old time — since 1939, when the idea of finger lickin’ good chicken popped into our Colonel’s head. Now, we proudly serve 1000+ communities across the UK and Ireland, bringing the grit, pride and iconic reputation that started in Kentucky all those years ago.

People who are original. Individual. Fresh. We come to work to be ourselves, and to make something of ourselves. We bring the graft and the laughs every day — building our own community, as we serve our original recipe chicken to the ones we’re in.

In our place, ambition grows. Careers build. Potential goes further. Our doors are open, and they can take you anywhere.

If you join our team, we only ask one thing. That you be you. Because that makes us, us.

About the role

You’ll be right there on the floor, leading the team, keeping things running smooth, and making sure every guest leaves happy. It’s about setting the pace, lifting the vibe, and getting stuck in to make every shift count.

What will you spend your time doing?

• Lead from the front. You’ll get stuck in with the team, setting the pace and driving the restaurant to hit targets and smash expectations.
• Build your crew up. You’ll coach, support, and celebrate your team—making sure everyone grows, learns, and brings their best to every shift.
• Keep it running smooth. From stock checks to shift plans, you’ll help keep things ticking behind the scenes so the front runs like clockwork.

What we'd love from you:

• A natural leader. You’ve got experience managing teams—and you know how to bring out the best in people when it counts.
• People person, through and through. You create a buzz, lift others up, and know how to keep the crew happy and focused.
• Cool under pressure. Things can move fast—you stay calm, think sharp, and make smart calls when it matters.

Keeping it real

We don’t hire staff — we hire people. People with real lives and aspirations, building real careers. Each of us has something special to add to the mix we call work, and we’ll always encourage you to add your perspective. See, at KFC, everyone’s welcome — whatever your background, and whatever future you’re creating. We’ll look out for you because you’re one of us, not because you work for us. We’ll invest in your potential, because it’s what we’ve always done. But most of all, we’ll give you the freedom to be you, wherever (and whoever) you happen to be.

What’s in it for you:

• Free food and drink on shift
• 25% staff discount

KFC for everyone: Whoever you are and wherever you’re from, KFC is a place where you can bring the real you to work. We’re here to support you in being yourself, whether you work with us, or are trying to.

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 in 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.