Head of Brand & Marketing

Santo Taco is building a premium fast-casual restaurant brand rooted in culinary rigor, Mexican heritage, and New York energy. The Head of Brand & Marketing will partner closely with the founder to scale the brand thoughtfully, focusing on long-term brand equity through organic storytelling and culturally relevant moments in NYC.

• Ensure brand consistency across all touchpoints (social media, packaging, merch, in-restaurant signage, guest communications) and maintain brand guidelines with internal alignment.
• Partner with the founder on creative direction; evaluate and execute collaborations/partnerships for strong brand fit.
• Own organic social strategy (primarily Instagram and emerging platforms): build and manage a monthly content calendar and a three-tier content system (Always-On / Repeatable / Hero Moments).
• Translate restaurant life into compelling storytelling; identify and activate culturally relevant moments; manage community engagement and DMs.
• Track social performance metrics (engagement, reach, audience growth) and optimize content accordingly.
• Manage high-quality creative production: source and manage photographers/videographers/stylists/creative talent; create shot lists and creative briefs; coordinate with BOH/FOH; direct on-site; manage post-production timelines.
• Conceptualize and execute activations and partnerships (pop-ups, community events, collaboration launches, new location openings) and track ROI.
• Support PR & media strategy with the founder: liaise with external PR partners, pitch media opportunities, identify press moments, support press events/openings, and track coverage/performance.
• Own the marketing budget: allocate spend across content/PR/activations, negotiate vendor contracts, track monthly spend, and evaluate ROI versus investment.

• 5+ years of experience in brand, creative direction, or consumer marketing.
• NYC-based.
• Strong creative taste and point of view; ability to maintain a premium, curated brand feel.
• Experience with consumer brands (e.g., food, fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, beauty).
• Comfortable working in small, high-standard teams; organized and execution-oriented with ability to move between vision and detail.
• Understanding of hospitality culture and the difference between authentic and cliché.
• Ability to build brand equity without paid ads and create organic, culturally relevant moments.
• Strong NYC creative/cultural network; relationships with photographers, designers, stylists, and cultural operators.
• Cross-functional collaboration skills to work with operations to drive revenue while maintaining brand integrity.
• Interest in Mexican food and culture; Spanish is a bonus.

• Location: NYC-based role.
• Benefits: medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off (PTO).
• Perk: unlimited tacos.