What are the responsibilities and job description for the Talent Acquisition Partner and Early Talent Programs position at Whataburger?
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 Talent Acquisition Partner and Early Talent Programs, you’ll shape the future of Whataburger by connecting great talent with meaningful careers across our Corporate and Field teams. You’ll serve as a trusted advisor to leaders, delivering innovative recruiting strategies while building pipelines that fuel both today’s needs and tomorrow’s growth. Make a Difference by attracting and hiring high‑quality, diverse talent for critical and specialized roles, including early career pathways that strengthen our long‑term workforce. Serve with Heart by creating an exceptional, relationship‑driven candidate and hiring leader experience grounded in care, respect, and transparency. Win as One by partnering cross‑functionally with HR, Operations, and business leaders to align talent strategies with business priorities. Move Forward Boldly by elevating our recruiting approach through data, technology, and forward‑thinking Early Talent programs that keep Whataburger competitive and future‑ready.
Day-to-Day Ingredients — Responsibilities
As a Talent Acquisition Partner and Early Talent Programs, you will receive:
As a Talent Acquisition Partner and Early Talent Programs, we prefer you to have:
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 fastpaced and requires sound judgment, strategic thinking, and strong collaboration skills. Fulltime 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.
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 Talent Acquisition Partner and Early Talent Programs, you’ll shape the future of Whataburger by connecting great talent with meaningful careers across our Corporate and Field teams. You’ll serve as a trusted advisor to leaders, delivering innovative recruiting strategies while building pipelines that fuel both today’s needs and tomorrow’s growth. Make a Difference by attracting and hiring high‑quality, diverse talent for critical and specialized roles, including early career pathways that strengthen our long‑term workforce. Serve with Heart by creating an exceptional, relationship‑driven candidate and hiring leader experience grounded in care, respect, and transparency. Win as One by partnering cross‑functionally with HR, Operations, and business leaders to align talent strategies with business priorities. Move Forward Boldly by elevating our recruiting approach through data, technology, and forward‑thinking Early Talent programs that keep Whataburger competitive and future‑ready.
Day-to-Day Ingredients — Responsibilities
- As a Talent Acquisition Partner and Early Talent Programs, you will:
- Lead full‑cycle recruiting for professional, managerial, and niche roles across Corporate and Field teams
- Serve as a strategic talent advisor to leaders on workforce planning, hiring strategies, and succession needs
- Design, deliver, and continuously enhance Early Talent programs (internships, campus recruiting, early career pipelines)
- Source, assess, and engage active and passive candidates using ATS, CRM, social, and market insights
- Conduct behavioral interviews and guide hiring teams through best‑practice selection decisions
- Build and maintain strong talent pipelines for current and future hiring needs
- Partner with universities, community partners, and professional organizations to expand talent reach
- Manage offers, compensation discussions, and pre‑hire processes with accuracy and care
- Ensure timely candidate communication and a best‑in‑class recruiting experience
- Track recruiting activity, outcomes, and trends; prepare reports and insights for leaders
- Promote and protect the Whataburger brand, culture, and values in every interaction
As a Talent Acquisition Partner and Early Talent Programs, you will receive:
- Competitive Weekly Pay
- Bonus Program that scales up to 2.5X payout potential based on company results
- 5 weeks PTO
- 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 eligible) and Hardship Grant Assistance
- Discounted Meals for You and a Guest
- Wireless Service Discounts
- Computer & Software Discounts
- Fitness / Gym Discounts
- Awards and recognition for all you do
- Retirement Celebration Program
- As a Talent Acquisition Partner and Early Talent Programs, you must have:
- 3 years of full‑cycle talent acquisition experience in a corporate or professional environment
- Proven success recruiting for specialized, professional, or hard‑to‑fill roles
- Experience partnering with leaders and influencing hiring decisions as a trusted advisor
- Strong behavioral interviewing and competency‑based assessment skills
- Proficiency with Applicant Tracking Systems; experience with Workday and CRM tools preferred
- Knowledge of employment laws and compliant hiring practices
- Exceptional communication, relationship‑building, and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or equivalent experience
As a Talent Acquisition Partner and Early Talent Programs, we prefer you to have:
- Experience designing or leading Early Talent or campus recruiting programs
- Background recruiting across both corporate and field‑based roles
- Talent Acquisition or HR certification (PHR, SHRM‑CP, or similar)
- Strong data literacy with ability to translate recruiting metrics into insights
- Experience leveraging technology, social media, and market trends to attract talent
- Passion for talent development, inclusion, and building pipelines for the future
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 fastpaced and requires sound judgment, strategic thinking, and strong collaboration skills. Fulltime 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