Kitchen Operations Manager

Whataburger; Sevierville (TN); On-site; USD 46,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Life insurance

PTO after 90 days

Job summary

Whataburger is seeking a Kitchen Operations Manager in Sevierville, TN. You will own kitchen execution across both Drive Thru and Dine-In lines, building and leading a team to ensure speed, cost control, and quality.

You will be responsible for scheduling, developing crew, and driving results tied to performance metrics. The role offers bonus potential and strong benefits, with weekly pay and a clear path to leadership within MWB’s operating framework.

Qualifications

• Have run a kitchen or back-of-house team before
• Think in numbers — food cost, speed of service, waste — and know how to move them
• Can keep two lines (Drive Thru and Dine-In) running at full speed without dropping accuracy
• Know how to build a schedule and motivate a team, not just cover a shift
• Want real ownership over the numbers, not just the flat-top

Responsibilities

• Own kitchen execution across both lines, not just a station
• Hire, schedule, and develop current and future kitchen crew
• Manage consistency of speed, cost, and quality across Drive Thru and Dine-In lines
• Build and motivate a team to maintain two-line operations at full speed

Job description

Kitchen Operations Manager

Own the Line. Own the Numbers. Own the Speed.

We don't hire people to just work the line. We find leaders who can own kitchen execution — speed, cost, and quality — across both our Drive Thru and Dine-In lines, and give them a team and the rewards to match. Are you the kind of leader who runs a kitchen like a business?

What Makes This Role Different

• Real ownership — you own kitchen execution across both lines, not just a station
• Build your own team — hire, schedule, and develop current and future kitchen crew
• Compensation tied to YOUR numbers — bonus tied directly to speed of service, food cost, and quality scores
• A proven system — vendor ordering, receiving, and prep standards built on decades of MWB execution
• Join dynamic leadership team — hospitality manager, kitchen ops manager, operating partner, & market leader

We're Looking for Leaders Who

• Have run a kitchen or back-of-house team before
• Think in numbers — food cost, speed of service, waste — and know how to move them
• Can keep two lines (Drive Thru and Dine-In) running at full speed without dropping accuracy
• Know how to build a schedule and motivate a team, not just cover a shift
• Want real ownership over the numbers, not just the flat‑top

What You'll Get

• Support — training and partnership from leadership team that will help your success
• $22–$26 per hour, plus bonus potential
• Quarterly Ops Scorecard bonus, plus extra bonus opportunity for beating SOS, food cost, and quality targets
• Full benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401(k) match, 100% company-paid life insurance
• 10 days PTO after 90 days, weekly pay, and FinFit access
• Whataburger Family Foundation and Scholarship Program

Where You Can Go

Kitchen Operations Manager > Operating Partner > Market Leader

Whata you waiting for? Come run a kitchen guests never have to wait on.

At MWB, we're not your typical fast food place. Our team of burger experts serve fresh, made-to-order breakfast, lunch, and dinner — 24/7. Not only are our burgers tasty, they're so big you'll need both hands to hold them!
(Here, have a napkin)