Welcome to Whataburger Careers!
Our Flavor — Why Whataburger
Whataburger isn’t just a fast-food burger chain it is where bold leadership starts — and where potential doesn’t just grow, it heats up. Whether you're leading the line or working behind the scenes, this is the place where opportunities stack up, and every day gives you a chance to Make a Difference.
Since 1950, we’ve invested in people who lead with integrity, Serve with Heart, and bring their best flavor to the team. We believe in working together, speaking up, having a little fun, and Winning as One — because great burgers (and great teams) start with the right ingredients. If you're ready — to learn, grow, impact, and Move Forward Boldly — we’ve got your back and your path cooked to perfection.
Your Recipe for Impact — What You’ll Do
As a Procurement Senior Manager, you will lead strategic sourcing and supplier management initiatives that drive value across Whataburger's business. You'll oversee a portfolio of categories, build strong supplier partnerships, and collaborate with leaders across the organization to optimize costs, strengthen operational performance, and support long-term growth.
In this role, you will Make a Difference by delivering sourcing strategies that improve business results while ensuring our restaurants have the products and services they need to succeed. You will Serve with Heart by fostering trusted supplier relationships and creating solutions that support our teams and Guests. You will Win as One by partnering across Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and other business functions to align purchasing decisions with enterprise priorities. And you will Move Forward Boldly by identifying innovative sourcing opportunities, leading complex negotiations, and driving transformational improvements that position Whataburger for future success.
Day-to-Day Ingredients — Responsibilities
As a Procurement Senior Manager, you will:
- Develop and execute multi-category sourcing strategies.
- Lead complex supplier negotiations and contract discussions.
- Manage strategic supplier partnerships and performance.
- Drive category cost optimization and value creation initiatives.
- Partner with Finance on spend analysis and cost modeling.
- Establish and monitor category performance metrics and KPIs.
- Identify and mitigate supplier, market, and continuity risks.
- Lead cross-functional sourcing and procurement initiatives.
- Evaluate market trends and industry opportunities.
- Develop, coach, and lead high-performing purchasing teams.
- Support enterprise procurement and business transformation efforts.
The Sauce — Pay & Perks
As a Procurement Senior Manager, you will receive:
- Competitive Weekly Pay
- Bonus Program
- 5 weeks of PTO Starting on Day One
- Flex Weeks
- Paid Corporate Holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- 401(k) match $1/$1 up to 4%
- Competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
- Short-term and Long-term Disability Benefits
- Opportunities for Career Development and Growth
- Whataburger Family Foundation - Scholarship Program (dependents also eligible) and Hardship Grant Assistance
- Discounted Meals for You and a Guest
- Cell Phone Service Discounts
- Computer & Software Discounts
- Fitness / Gym Discounts
- Awards and recognition for all you do
- Retirement Celebration Program
What You Bring to the Table — Required Experience
As a Procurement Senior Manager, you must have:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
- 6+ years of procurement, sourcing, or purchasing experience.
- 3+ years of leadership experience managing teams and business strategy.
- Experience developing and executing category management strategies.
- Experience leading supplier negotiations and contract management.
- Experience managing supplier performance and strategic partnerships.
- Strong financial analysis and cost optimization skills.
- Experience working with procurement systems and ERP platforms.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Extra Toppings — Desired Experience
As a Procurement Senior Manager, we prefer you to have:
- Experience supporting multi-unit restaurant, retail, hospitality, or consumer-facing businesses.
- Experience managing complex, high-spend category portfolios.
- Experience leading enterprise-wide sourcing or procurement initiatives.
- Experience with supplier risk management and business continuity planning.
- Experience building performance dashboards and procurement analytics.
- Advanced knowledge of strategic sourcing methodologies.
- MBA or advanced degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field.
- Professional certification such as CPSM, CPSD, CPPB, or CPM.
Where & How You’ll Work
This role is based at the San Antonio Home Office, working on‑site Monday through Thursday with remote flexibility on Fridays. In this role, you’ll have strong collaboration with leadership, across cross-functional teams, and with external partners to align capabilities with restaurant realities. The work environment is fast‑paced and requires sound judgment, strategic thinking, and strong collaboration skills. Full‑time availability is required, with occasional extended hours based on business needs, along with occasional travel to properties, project sites, and external meetings. Candidates must reside within commuting distance of the San Antonio Home Office.
Whataburger is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, veteran status, age, or other condition or status protected by law. Whataburger participates in the federal E-Verify Program. For more information go to www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
*Eligibility rules may apply to specific benefits
300 Concord Plaza Dr San Antonio TX 78216-6903
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
- 6+ years of procurement, sourcing, or purchasing experience
- 3+ years of leadership experience managing teams and business strategy
- Experience developing and executing category management strategies
- Experience leading supplier negotiations and contract management
- Experience managing supplier performance and strategic partnerships
- Strong financial analysis and cost optimization skills
- Experience working with procurement systems and ERP platforms
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Experience supporting multi-unit restaurant, retail, hospitality, or consumer-facing businesses
- Experience managing complex, high-spend category portfolios
- Experience leading enterprise-wide sourcing or procurement initiatives
- Experience with supplier risk management and business continuity planning
- Experience building performance dashboards and procurement analytics
- Advanced knowledge of strategic sourcing methodologies
- MBA or advanced degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field
- Professional certification such as CPSM, CPSD, CPPB, or CPM
Whataburger Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Whataburger and has not been reviewed or approved by Whataburger.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is positioned as robust, with multiple medical options, dental and vision, telehealth access, and added mental-health and chronic-condition programs. The package also includes disability options and an Employee Assistance Program with counseling support.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support includes access to a 401(k) with an employer match and potential profit-sharing, with eligibility tied to service requirements. This creates a tangible long-term savings component beyond hourly wages.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Career upside is emphasized through performance incentives and a management track that can reach materially higher total compensation, including six-figure potential at the Operating Partner level. Scholarships, education assistance, and prize-based programs add non-wage recognition tied to participation and development.
Whataburger Insights
What We Do
On Aug. 8, 1950, an adventurous and determined entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson opened up the world’s first Whataburger on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas. He had a simple goal: to serve a burger so big it took two hands to hold and so good that after one bite customers would say, “What a burger!” He succeeded on both counts and turned that one little burger stand into a legend loved throughout Texas and the South. Today, each and every Whataburger is made to order, right when it’s ordered. And they’re still made with 100 percent pure, never-frozen beef and served on a big toasted five-inch bun with all “the extras” to suit your taste. Grilled jalapeños, extra bacon, three slices of cheese, no tomatoes, extra pickles? No problem. Your Whataburger will be made just like you like it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whataburger’s following has grown exponentially in its more than 75-year history, thanks to a number of features, including its famous burgers and growing list of menu items, its iconic orange-and-white-striped restaurants and its famous Fancy Ketchup. Whataburger is more than a burger chain. It’s a place that feels like home to more than 51,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. It’s a brand built on pride, care and love. It’s a place people count on in their communities. It’s a place where goodness lives. So now with more than 1,100 Whataburger restaurants across 16 states stretching from Las Vegas to the Carolinas, road-trippers and hometown folks alike continue gathering under the big orange-and-white roofs for fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly service.
