Head of Brand & Marketing

Santo Taco is 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 Santo’s identity through organic storytelling, consistent brand execution, and culturally relevant moments. The role focuses on long-term brand equity—growing awareness and traffic in NYC while maintaining a curated, elevated brand feel.

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

• 5+ years of experience in brand, creative direction, or consumer marketing.
• NYC-based.
• Strong creative taste and point of view; able to balance vision with detail and execution.
• Experience with consumer brands (e.g., food, fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, beauty).
• Comfortable working in small, high-standard teams; scrappy and hands-on.
• Strong understanding of hospitality culture and authentic vs. cliché storytelling.
• 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 (especially with operations) to drive revenue while protecting brand integrity.
• Interest in Mexican food and culture; Spanish is a bonus.

• Location: NYC-based (in-person/on-site work implied for shoots, events, and openings).
• Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; pre-tax transit benefits; paid time off (PTO).
• Perks: Unlimited tacos.
• Work style: Close collaboration with the founder; responsible for maintaining a premium, curated brand standard.