Burger King (BK) has begun a large-scale recruitment drive across the US as it looks to hire as many as 60,000 new team members.

According to a company statement, the fast-food chain is recruiting roles spanning from entry-level crew to management positions, to support operations across its roughly 6,500 restaurants in the country.

Commenting on the new hiring plan, Burger King franchisee Nicole Dreier said: “When we bring on new Team Members, we're not just filling roles, we're potentially changing the course of someone's life.

“Most of my above-restaurant leadership team started as Team Members themselves, and we wouldn't have it any other way.”

Burger King noted that most of its restaurants in the US are run by independent franchisees rather than the company directly.

It said the hiring effort follows a series of moves intended to make its restaurants appealing both as workplaces and as destinations for customers.

Earlier this year, the chain introduced the first major change to its flame-grilled Whopper in nearly ten years, a move it said was shaped by customer feedback.

More recently, Burger King introduced the "There's A New King And It's You" campaign, which centres its messaging on guests.

Burger King US and Canada president Tom Curtis said: “We've done the important work of strengthening our operations, modernising our restaurants, and listening to our Guests, and it's paying off.

“Now we need great people to help us keep that momentum going – people who are passionate, hardworking, and genuinely friendly.

“A warm welcome goes a long way, and the Team Members who bring that energy every day are at the heart of what makes the Burger King experience special.”

The fast-food chain operates more than 19,000 locations in more than 120 countries and US territories.

In February this year, it was reported that BK is piloting an AI chatbot in employee headsets to monitor and assess their interactions with customers.