Smallwares, Category Manager

Supply Chain

Coppell, TX
April 6, 2026

Category Manager, Procurement

Coppell, TX

What does it mean to be a BrinkerHead? It means creating moments that make everyone feel special - whether you're supporting our restaurants, celebrating wins with your team, or sparking ideas that keep Guests coming back. We play like a team, take pride in our culture, and know that life's too short not to work happy.

At Brinker's Restaurant Support Center (RSC), every role fuels the success of our brands - Chili's® Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy® - and directly impacts Team Members and Guests. From bold ideas to everyday support, we help create a fun atmosphere, great food and drinks, and the kind of hospitality that keeps everyone coming back. Here, you'll discover opportunities for career growth, belonging, wellbeing, and plenty of chances to work hard and have fun.

Brinker International is an equal opportunity employer. We're proud to provide a welcoming, respectful environment where everyone can thrive.

Job Summary

The Smallwares Category Manager owns Brinker's strategy, sourcing, and end-to-end category management of all Smallwares for Chili's and Maggiano's. This role is accountable for product quality, continuity of supply, and total cost optimization while driving standardization, innovation and operational efficiency across both brands,

This position will lead strategic supplier partnerships and collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Culinary, Operations, Distribution, QA, Finance and Franchise partners to deliver cost-effective, strategic solutions that support restaurant operations and elevate our guests' experience.

What You'll Do

Own and execute the Smallwares category strategy for Chili's and Maggiano's, balancing product quality, continuity of supply, cost, standardization and innovation
Serve as a thought partner to internal stakeholders (e.g., Marketing, Culinary, Ops), delivering innovative, operationally sound solutions to address complex product and business challenges
Lead end?to?end strategic sourcing initiatives, including supplier identification, vetting, and execution of RFIs/RFPs, while leveraging Brinker's scale and purchasing power
Drive product standardization to reduce operational complexity and optimize cost and inventory
Evaluate, onboard, and continuously assess supplier performance based on quality assurance, production capacity and scalability, financial stability and geographic coverage
Partner with Distribution to align production planning and inventory positioning at supplier facilities, ensuring continuity of supply while minimizing obsolescence risk
Manage day?to?day category execution, including product sourcing, testing, rollouts, replenishment activities, and resolving smallware?related operational issues
Provide recurring updates to Supply Chain and cross-functional leadership on sourcing initiatives, supplier innovation and category risks
Analyze and leverage complex data to support negotiations and contract development, delivering sourcing recommendations grounded in sound financial and business judgment
Ensure all supplier agreements meet Brinker's legal, risk, and compliance standards
Stay informed on industry and macroeconomic trends, raw material dynamics, category innovation, best?in?class suppliers and competitor activity
Maintain full compliance with Brinker's Code of Business Conduct in all supplier and distributor interactions

What You Bring to the Team

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business or related field (or equivalent in experience, skills and training)
5+ years of supply chain experience in the restaurant or hospitality industry required
Experience sourcing Smallwares or similar non-food categories strongly preferred
Strong understanding of product raw materials (e.g., stainless steel, copper, plastics, etc.) and global supply markets
Proven success in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and contract management
Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word and ERP systems (Oracle preferred)
Strong analytical skills with ability to translate data into clear business decisions and recommendations
Excellent communication and influencing skills across cross-functional and leadership audiences
Highly organized with strong project management skills; ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize accordingly
Self-starter with a proactive, ownership mindset that thrives in a fast paced and dynamic environment

Why Brinker

At Brinker, we believe life is short, so work happy! That means creating an environment where you can grow your career, feel a sense of belonging and wellbeing, and have fun along the way.

Here's how we make that real for our BrinkerHeads at the RSC:

Flexibility that fits your life: Hybrid schedules with weekly flex days to work from home.
Benefits that support you: Competitive package with medical, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; 401(k) with company match; Employee Assistance Program with counseling, financial, legal, and life resources; and Best You EDU, offering education programs and tuition reimbursement.
Enjoy our brands: Generous dining discounts at Chili's® Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy®.
Rewards for your impact: Annual bonus eligibility for every RSC Team Member.
Wellbeing at work: On-site gym and fitness classes like yoga and boot camp.
A culture worth celebrating: From company-wide events to a casual, collaborative atmosphere, you'll find plenty of ways to connect, work hard, and play hard.

Check our Careers page and LinkedIn for more exciting opportunities!