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Sustainability Coordinator

KFC UK & Ireland United Kingdom Added on Jun 15, 2026
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This role centers on keeping a giant of the hospitality world aligned with ever-evolving environmental and ethical regulations across the UK and Ireland. You will act as the internal expert, scanning the horizon for new laws and translating these into practical steps that keep more than a thousand restaurants operating responsibly. From managing packaging data to overseeing energy efficiency reporting, you will be the anchor for the brand’s technical ESG integrity.

Working at this scale means your oversight has a massive real-world impact on everything from food waste management to ethical labor practices. You are not just checking boxes; you are ensuring that a household name successfully navigates the complex transition toward a transparent, low-carbon, and socially accountable business model. Your work directly protects the brand’s reputation while driving meaningful operational change across a vast franchise network.

This suits someone who possesses a sharp legal or environmental background and enjoys the challenge of making sense of complex legislation. You should be a structured thinker who can bridge the gap between high-level governance and the day-to-day reality of a fast-paced retail environment.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The Sustainability Coordinator is tasked with ensuring full compliance with UK and Ireland ESG regulatory frameworks. This involves a rigorous process of horizon scanning to identify upcoming legislative changes in environmental, operational, and ethical domains. You will take these complex legal developments and translate them into actionable business guidance for various departments. Beyond just monitoring laws, you will hold responsibility for maintaining key reporting frameworks such as SECR, TCFD, and ESOS. This includes overseeing animal by-product compliance and restaurant-level waste standards, ensuring that high-level corporate strategy is reflected in ground-level operational excellence. Strategic reporting is a significant pillar of the role. You will coordinate the delivery of accurate compliance submissions and produce governance dashboards for the Leadership Team. By supporting internal and external audits, you ensure the brand remains transparent and adheres to the highest corporate disclosure standards.

Key learning opportunities for this job

You will gain deep expertise in UK environmental legislation and the practical application of ESG disclosure standards like TCFD and CSRD. Operating within a global franchise model provides a unique perspective on how to scale sustainability initiatives across both company-owned and independent business units. This role also offers significant exposure to the technicalities of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and packaging data management. As the regulatory landscape for waste and carbon reporting tightens, you will develop a highly sought-after skill set in translating legal requirements into commercial strategy, mentored within one of the world's largest restaurant groups.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate holds a degree in Law, Environmental Management, or Compliance and has a proven track record in a regulatory-focused role. You should possess a solid understanding of UK-specific frameworks such as ESOS and SECR, alongside a general familiarity with global ESG reporting trends. Technical knowledge must be paired with strong communication skills. You need the ability to influence cross-functional teams and collaborate with franchise partners who may have varying levels of sustainability maturity. A self-starter attitude and a passion for high standards are essential for thriving in this fast-moving restaurant support environment.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, move beyond just listing your knowledge of laws and focus on practical application. In your application, provide specific examples of how you translated a complex piece of legislation into an operational process that was successfully adopted by a non-technical team. Since KFC operates through a high-volume franchise model, emphasizing your stakeholder management and influencing skills will be vital. Showing you understand the commercial pressures of the hospitality industry while maintaining a commitment to ESG integrity will demonstrate that you are a pragmatic problem-solver aligned with their 'grit and pride' culture.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses heavily on the environmental and ethical governance pillars of ESG. You will be at the forefront of the brand's efforts in decarbonization through SECR and ESOS reporting, as well as circular economy initiatives related to packaging and Extended Producer Responsibility. Social governance is also a key focus area, particularly regarding Modern Slavery Act compliance and ethical sourcing. Your work ensures that the brand's expansive supply chain and labor practices meet high ethical standards, protecting both vulnerable workers and the company's reputation.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges is managing the complexity of a franchise network. Implementing uniform compliance across hundreds of independently operated locations requires more than just policy; it requires constant engagement and the ability to demonstrate the value of compliance to diverse stakeholders. Additionally, the rapidity of legislative change in the UK sustainability space means you must stay extremely agile. Keeping pace with evolving reporting requirements while ensuring that the business doesn't fall behind on submission deadlines or new environmental thresholds will be a constant balancing act.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with monitoring legislative updates and summarizing their impact for a briefing note to the senior operations team. You might then shift to reviewing packaging waste data for an upcoming EPR submission or coordinating with an external auditor to verify energy usage figures. Your afternoon could involve meetings with cross-functional leads from procurement or supply chain to discuss Modern Slavery risk assessments. The day likely concludes with populating a dashboard for the Leadership Team, ensuring that all compliance KPIs are visible and on track for the current quarter.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

There is significant potential to move into senior ESG leadership or specialized compliance management roles. Given that KFC is part of Yum! Brands, success in this UK&I role could open doors to international opportunities or regional leadership positions across multiple restaurant concepts. As the company moves closer to its long-term climate goals, you could lead high-visibility projects related to net-zero strategy or circular business models. The technical nature of the compliance work here builds a foundation for transitioning into lead roles in sustainability strategy or corporate governance.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact frequently with the Restaurant Support Centre teams, including Operations, Supply Chain, and Legal. These interactions are focused on advisory support and ensuring that department-specific actions align with broader corporate ESG goals. External stakeholders include regulatory bodies and auditors, where you will act as the company's representative for compliance submissions. You will also engage with franchise partners, providing them with the guidance and oversight necessary to maintain the brand’s global standards at the local level.

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