Creative Brand Director, Multi-Concept Restaurant Brand

Happy Camper; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Dining Discounts

Job summary

Happy Hospitality in Chicago is seeking a Creative Brand Director to own the visual identity, storytelling, and brand voice across our multi-concept restaurant group. This role sits at the intersection of design, marketing, and hospitality, shaping how each concept looks, sounds, and feels at every guest touchpoint, from menus to social media.

The position is hands-on, DIY: you’ll personally execute in-restaurant design work, mentor a small in-house team, and oversee freelancers.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of creative leadership experience in hospitality, restaurants, retail, or related consumer-facing industry.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating brand identity work, art direction, and multi-channel campaign execution.
• Hands-on proficiency in design tools (Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent); comfort directing photo/video shoots.
• Experience managing multiple brands or concepts simultaneously, with judgment on consistency vs differentiation.
• Strong project management skills—able to juggle locations, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Budget management experience and familiarity with vendor relationships.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the brand identity (visual, verbal, and experiential) for each concept in the portfolio, ensuring consistency while preserving what makes each one distinct.
• Lead creative direction for menus, signage, packaging, merchandise, print collateral, and in-restaurant environmental design.
• Take a hands-on approach at the restaurant level—personally executing in-restaurant design work rather than delegating entirely to outside vendors.
• Direct social media and digital content strategy—photography, video, and copy—in partnership with the marketing team.
• Manage and mentor a small in-house creative team and oversee freelance photographers, videographers, and agencies as needed.
• Partner with operations and culinary leadership on creative for new location launches, seasonal menu rollouts, and events.
• Maintain brand guidelines and train location-level teams on applying them consistently.
• Manage the creative budget and vendor relationships (printers, sign shops, photographers, agencies).
• Track engagement and adjust direction based on performance data and guest feedback.
• Stay current on design, hospitality, and social trends to keep brands fresh.

Skills

Creative leadership

Brand identity

Adobe Creative Suite

Photo/Video direction

Project management

Budget management

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Photography direction

Job description

Happy Hospitality in Chicago is seeking a Creative Brand Director to own the visual identity, storytelling, and brand voice across our multi-concept restaurant group. This role sits at the intersection of design, marketing, and hospitality, shaping how each concept looks, sounds, and feels at every guest touchpoint, from menus to social media.

The position is hands-on, DIY: you’ll personally execute in-restaurant design work, mentor a small in-house team, and oversee freelancers.