Head of Brand & Marketing

Santo Taco is building a premium fast-casual restaurant brand rooted in culinary rigor, Mexican heritage, and New York energy. We are looking for a Brand & Marketing leader to help us scale this identity thoughtfully and sustainably.

Working closely with the founder, the ideal candidate has a desire and ability to further develop the existing strategy and tactically execute the nitty‑gritty to bring our brand and marketing initiatives to life. We strongly believe in “attraction instead of promotion” and are looking for someone who can proactively share the story of Santo Taco while also preserving the premium and curated feel of our brand.

We prioritize long‑term brand equity over short‑term tactics.

To grow awareness, traffic, and brand equity in NYC by:

• Maintaining consistency across all brand touchpoints
• Building an organic, culturally relevant content engine
• Supporting new location openings and major brand moments
• Translating Santo’s culinary credibility and hospitality into compelling storytelling

• Culinary Credibility & Excellence
• Mexican Heritage x New York Sensibility
• A Place for Gathering / Warm Hospitality

You are responsible for ensuring Santo feels coherent and elevated everywhere. You will:

• Ensure consistency across:
• Partner with the founder on creative direction
• Maintain brand guidelines and ensure internal alignment
• Evaluate collaborations and partnership opportunities for brand fit + execute flawlessly

You will own Santo’s organic Instagram and emerging platforms.

Responsibilities include:

• Build and manage a monthly content calendar
• Execute a three-tier content system (Always‑On / Repeatable / Hero Moments)
• Translate real restaurant life into compelling storytelling
• Identify culturally relevant moments and activate appropriately
• Manage community engagement and DMs
• Track performance metrics and optimize accordingly

Core KPIs include strong engagement, increased reach + audience growth, clear storytelling around quality and hospitality, and measurable impact during key moments.

You will manage high‑quality creative production. This includes:

• Sourcing and managing photographers, videographers, stylists, and creative talent
• Building shot lists and creative briefs

• Coordinating with BOH + FOH teams for shoots
• Being on‑site to direct and ensure quality
• Managing post‑production timelines

You will conceptualize and execute:

• Pop‑ups and community events
• New location openings

You should bring:

• A strong NYC creative + cultural network
• Relationships with photographers, designers, stylists, and cultural operators
• The ability to identify and evaluate inbound opportunities for brand alignment, and track ROI from all activations
• Scrappy, ready to roll up your sleeves mentality
• Ability to work cross‑functionally with operations to drive revenue while maintaining brand integrity

You will work with the founder on PR strategy and help manage relationships with the goal of positioning Santo within NYC’s broader cultural conversation.

This includes:

• Act as liaison for external PR partners
• Help with pitching media opportunities
• Identifying relevant press moments tied to brand pillars
• Support press events and openings
• Track coverage and performance

You will manage the approved marketing budget and:

• Allocate spend strategically across content, PR, and activations
• Track monthly spend versus allocated budget
• Evaluate ROI from all campaigns and events against investment

• 5+ years of experience in brand, creative direction, or consumer marketing
• NYC‑based;
  Interested in Mexican food and culture– bonus if you speak Spanish!
• Strong creative taste and point of view
• Experience in consumer brands (food, fashion, lifestyle, hospitality, beauty, etc.)
• Comfortable working in small, high‑standard teams
• Have a passion for building community through food and hospitality
• Organized and execution‑oriented;
  Able to move between vision and detail
• Hospitality culture
• The difference between authentic and cliché
• How to build brand equity without paid ads
• How to create moments that travel organically

• Increased brand awareness in NYC
• Strong engagement and reach across social platforms
• Successful execution of store openings and key brand moments
• Consistent brand storytelling across touchpoints
• Positive press and cultural relevance

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Unlimited tacos!

To apply, please send your resume and a short paragraph about why you're interested in this role to  We look forward to meeting you!

We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.