Brand Strategy & Communications Manager

Push Operations; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Wellness benefits

Dining discounts

Training programs

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Gusto 54 Restaurant Group is seeking a Brand Strategy & Communications Manager to lead overarching brand, marketing, and communications for our restaurant concepts. You will partner with executives and department leads to drive brand governance, multi-channel campaigns, and high ROI across venues.

You will mentor the Brand Creative & Social Media Lead, Sales & Events Manager, and Community & Partnership Manager, ensuring cohesive messaging and strategic execution in a fast-paced hospitality

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive marketing and communications experience in hospitality or multi-unit settings.
• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional teams and KPIs.
• Strong copywriting, brand governance, and budget management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead brand strategy, marketing, and communications for the restaurant group.
• Partner with executives and department leads to align campaigns and brand governance.
• Oversee multi-channel campaigns, events, PR, and digital performance.
• Mentor direct reports and drive ROI across concepts.

Skills

Brand strategy

Leadership

Campaign planning

Digital marketing

ROI optimization

Project management

Copywriting

Social media strategy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing/Communications/Business

Tools

Asana

Basecamp

SEO tools

Job description

Owned by Janet Zuccarini, Gusto 54 Restaurant Group is a tribute to food, family, innovation, and design that respects the past while rewriting the rules. Our mission is to build the most culturally relevant and celebrated collective of restaurants and culinary experiences in the world.

Each of our concepts are rooted in transporting experiences – complete with delicious food, inspiring design, and soulful hospitality. As a Deloitte Best Managed Company, Gusto 54 Restaurant Group ranks in the top percentile of best places to work in Canada.

We’re looking for entrepreneurial people who believe in exceptional service, community, and bring contagious passion to all they do.

The Role

The Brand Strategy & Communications Manager leads the overarching brand, marketing, and communications strategy and execution for our restaurant group. Reporting to executive leadership, this role serves as a primary strategic partner to all business leaders while directing the department’s day‑to‑day output. This individual directly manages and mentors the Brand Creative & Social Media Lead, Sales & Events Manager, and Community & Partnership Manager, ensuring cross‑functional alignment, brand governance, and high ROI across all concepts.

BRAND VOICE & STRATEGIC MARKETING

• Brand Architecture & Governance: Audit and evolve Brand Guidelines (voice, photography, messaging) annually to keep all concepts aligned with hospitality and dining trends; establish Quality Assurance standards for platforms like Later/Statusbrew to ensure quality control.
• Multi-Channel Growth & Campaigns: Design multi-channel campaign strategies that drive foot traffic, build brand awareness, and support new concept launches and market expansions.
• Experiential & Event Strategy: Provide high-level directional oversight to the Sales & Events Manager on lead generation and commercial sales strategies, while guiding the Community & Partnership Manager on internal events, sponsorships, experiential activations, and ticketed initiatives that drive brand reach and guest engagement.
• In-Venue Touchpoints: Set directional standards for in-venue guest touchpoints across all properties, including music programming and dress code practices.
• AI & Innovation: Explore and integrate AI tools and emerging platforms to drive efficiencies and unlock new revenue streams.

ONLINE MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

• Digital Platform Oversight: Establish standards and audit performance across all digital channels, including websites (SEO & backend management), local listings (Google Business, Yelp), and third-party partners (OpenTable, DoorDash, SKIP).
• Social & Influencer Strategy: Set high-level social media performance benchmarks and influencer collaboration strategies for execution by the Brand Creative & Social Media Lead.
• PR & Media Relations: Lead internal PR strategy and cultivate strong relationships with media contacts, journalists, publicists, and industry influencers to drive coverage for mature brands.

FINANCIALS & ANALYTICS

• Budget & Financial Oversight: Develop and manage annual marketing budgets, maximizing efficiency while expanding campaign reach.
• KPI Tracking & Reporting: Regularly present executive dashboards tracking KPIs, campaign ROI, guest engagement metrics, and sales conversion.
• Market Intelligence: Translate market research, engagement analytics, and industry trends into actionable growth strategies.

STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION & COMMUNICATIONS

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner with business leaders and departmental leads (Operations, People Ops, Gusto Gives Back) to align brand strategies and communications across all concepts.
• Subscriber Content: Guide overall content strategy and execution of the bi-weekly newsletter.

DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP

• Team Management: Lead, mentor, and evaluate direct reports (Brand Creative & Social Media Lead, Sales & Events Manager, and Community & Partnership Manager), setting clear priorities, scorecards, and department goals.
• Workflow & Governance: Utilize project management tools (Asana, Basecamp or similar) to enforce accountabilities and maintain clear cloud storage architecture for all brand files and photography.
• Central Strategic Contact: Serve as the primary strategic advisor for executive leadership, operational leaders, and external partners for all marketing, sales, and communication strategic plan and initiatives.

WHO YOU ARE

• Experience: 5+ years of progressive marketing and communications experience, with proven track record as a Marketing Manager, Communications Manager, or Senior Lead (hospitality or multi-unit experience strongly preferred).
• Leadership & Team Management: Demonstrated success managing direct reports, establishing KPIs/scorecards, and building an accountable, high-performing team culture.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with a track record of successfully collaborating with cross-functional business leaders and executive partners.
• Digital & Channel Strategy: Advanced strategic understanding of digital marketing ecosystems, social media strategy, SEO, email marketing, and modern PR/media dynamics.
• Data & ROI Optimization: Experience developing annual marketing budgets, managing campaign allocations, and utilizing analytics tools to measure ROI and optimize channel performance.
• Project & Campaign Management: Strong project management discipline with the ability to prioritize competing timelines across multiple brands in a fast-paced environment.
• Content & Brand Voice: Outstanding strategic copywriting and editing skills, with a keen eye for visual brand standards and storytelling.
• Adaptability & Trend Awareness: Up-to-date with emerging industry trends, digital innovations, and AI tools, with an agile mindset for adapting strategies in a dynamic market.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or equivalent practical experience.
• Creative Direction & Visual Assets: Familiarity with multimedia design, creative direction, photography, or food styling.

WHAT WE OFFER

As we view all of our team members as an extension of the Gusto 54 family, we are excited to offer a competitive compensation package including:

• A comprehensive health insurance and wellness benefits program, powered by League
• 24-7 access to a health concierge and discounted memberships to wellness-driven products
• Discounted dining privileges at all of our restaurants
• Consistent schedule and safe, positive work environment
• Access to regular training and development programming
• This is a hybrid role, with approximately three days per week required on-site

Gusto 54 is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages a diverse working environment. We prohibit discrimination based on legally protected classes in accordance with applicable federal, provincial, and local laws. If you are contacted for an interview and require accommodation during the interviewing process, please let us know.

Kindly note, candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.