Organizational Design and Effectiveness Senior Director

Whataburger; San Antonio (TX); Hybrid; USD 146,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

Bonus Program

5 weeks PTO

Starting on Day One

Flex Weeks

Paid Corporate Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

401(k) match $1/$1 up to 4%

Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits

Short-term and Long-term Disability

Career Development

Scholarship Program & Hardship Grant

Phone Discounts

Software Discounts

Gym Discounts

Awards and Recognition

Retirement Celebration Program

Job summary

Whataburger is seeking an Organizational Design & Effectiveness Senior Director to shape growth by aligning design, workforce strategy, and leadership capability with business priorities. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, helping build an organization that can scale, adapt, and perform at its best.

You will design workforce strategies, develop career pathways, and partner across HR, Finance, Operations to drive enterprise-wide change.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Organizational Development, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in organizational design, talent management, workforce planning, or consulting.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide organizational transformation initiatives.
• Experience developing and executing workforce planning and talent strategies.
• Experience facilitating succession planning and talent reviews.
• Strong executive consulting and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise organizational design initiatives to improve effectiveness, accountability, and business performance.
• Evaluate organizational structures, reporting relationships, decision rights, and workforce models.
• Identify organizational gaps and opportunities to improve collaboration, efficiency, and execution.
• Design workforce strategies that align talent capacity with business priorities and growth plans.
• Partner with leaders to assess staffing needs and recommend scalable talent solutions.
• Lead succession planning and talent review processes for critical leadership roles.
• Consult with senior leaders to strengthen organizational capability and leadership readiness.
• Guide leaders through organizational change, from assessment through implementation.
• Establish governance and standards for organizational design, workforce planning, and talent management.
• Develop executive recommendations and insights that drive data-informed business decisions.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team.

Skills

Executive consulting

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Leadership development

Strategic decision-making

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

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 an Organizational Design & Effectiveness Senior Director, you will shape the way Whataburger grows by aligning organizational design, workforce strategy, leadership capability, and talent planning with business priorities. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, helping build an organization that can scale, adapt, and perform at its best. In this role, you will Make a Difference by designing organizations and talent strategies that strengthen performance and support sustainable growth. You will Serve with Heart by creating meaningful career pathways, developing leaders, and ensuring teams have the capabilities they need to succeed. You will Win as One by partnering across HR, Finance, Operations, and business leadership to drive alignment and enterprise-wide solutions. And you will Move Forward Boldly by challenging conventional thinking, guiding large-scale organizational change, and building innovative strategies that prepare Whataburger for the future.

Day-to-Day Ingredients — Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise organizational design initiatives that improve effectiveness, accountability, and business performance.
• Evaluate organizational structures, reporting relationships, decision rights, and workforce models.
• Identify organizational gaps and opportunities to improve collaboration, efficiency, and execution.
• Design workforce strategies that align talent capacity with business priorities and growth plans.
• Partner with leaders to assess staffing needs and recommend scalable talent solutions.
• Lead succession planning and talent review processes for critical leadership roles.
• Consult with senior leaders to strengthen organizational capability and leadership readiness.
• Guide leaders through organizational change, from assessment through implementation.
• Establish governance and standards for organizational design, workforce planning, and talent management.
• Develop executive recommendations and insights that drive data-informed business decisions.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team.

The Sauce — Pay & Perks

• 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
• 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

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in organizational design, talent management, workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, or consulting.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide organizational transformation initiatives.
• Experience developing and executing workforce planning and talent strategies.
• Experience facilitating succession planning and talent review processes.
• Strong executive consulting and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and executive-level communication skills.
• Experience leading and developing teams.

Desired Experience

• Master's degree in Business, Human Resources, Organizational Development, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, or a related field.
• Experience supporting multi-unit, high-growth, or consumer-facing organizations.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership teams on enterprise talent strategies.
• Experience implementing job architecture, workforce governance, or organizational effectiveness frameworks.
• Experience leading large-scale organizational change and transformation efforts.
• Background in organizational effectiveness, talent consulting, or human capital strategy.
• Professional certifications related to organizational development, change management, talent management, or human resources.
• Experience leveraging workforce analytics and organizational insights to drive business decisions.

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

People make the difference at Whataburger. We take pride in our work, take care of each other and love serving our customers. Join our family and we’ll work hard to instill values and skills that will serve you well no matter where your journey leads.