Marketing Director

Marketing Manager — Perilla Korean American Fare, Perilla Steak, Noriko Handroll Bar & L7 Hotel ChicagoCompany: ESD Hospitality, Chicago, L7 Hotel ChicagoLocation: Chicago, hybrid Type: Full-timeCompensation: $80,000-$85,000/year + benefitsReports to: Director of Operations & Managing Partner, with a dotted line to the founderRequirements: Must have minimum of 3 years restaurant marketing experience, Must be located in ChicagoAbout UsESD Hospitality is a Chicago-based, chef-driven restaurant group. Our flagship, Perilla Korean American Fare, has earned multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand recognitions. Perilla Steak is Chicago's first Korean steakhouse. Noriko Handroll Bar brings a modern, fast-paced take on the handroll. We are a small, senior team where your work is seen by the founders and partners every week, and where a great idea can be live in days, not quarters.The RoleYou will own marketing across our three restaurants, plus social and digital marketing for L7 Hotel Chicago: the plan, the calendar, the budget, and the results. You will turn what happens in our kitchens and dining rooms into content, campaigns, and community relationships that fill tables, grow private dining and events, and build a guest list that keeps coming back. You'll partner daily with our general managers, executive chefs, and sales and events team.This is a hands-on role. You'll plan the strategy, and you'll also shoot the photo, write the caption, build the email, and read the report.What You'll DoPlan and own the numbersBuild annual and quarterly marketing plans, budgets, and brand calendars with ownership of results, aligned to revenue goals set with leadershipRun a weekly marketing meeting with each restaurant and track a shared task and content calendarReport monthly on KPIs (covers and reservations driven, email and SMS growth, social reach and engagement, website conversion, private dining and event leads, review ratings) with clear takeaways and next stepsSocial and contentSet platform goals and produce monthly content calendars for each brandCreate and publish photo, video, and short-form content for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YelpRespond promptly to guest comments, DMs, and reviews, and flag operational feedback to GMsPlan and manage paid social boosts and small paid campaigns, tied to specific business goalsIdentify and manage influencer, press, and creator partnerships and track what they deliverL7 Hotel Chicago: social and digitalOwn social media for L7 Hotel Chicago: strategy, monthly content calendar, content creation, community management, and guest engagementRun digital marketing for the hotel, including paid social and search campaigns, email, website and listings updates, and promotions for rooms, dining, events, and packagesCoordinate with hotel and Lotte leadership on brand standards, approvals, seasonal campaigns, and property newsReport monthly on hotel social and digital performance (reach, engagement, web traffic, bookings and leads driven) alongside the restaurant KPIsPhoto and videoBrief, schedule, and run shoots with photographers and videographers, including shot lists and run-of-showReview and approve edits against brand guidelines and keep a current asset libraryEmail, SMS, and CRMOwn strategy, content, and design briefs for email and SMS campaigns, including automations (birthdays, lapsed guests, private dining follow-up)Keep guest data clean across our reservation, POS, and email platforms, and segment audiences for targeted campaignsTest subject lines, offers, and send times, and report what workedWebsite and listingsKeep websites, menus, hours, events pages, and third-party listings (Google, Yelp, reservation and delivery platforms) accurate and optimizedSpot performance gaps and manage outside developers and designers when neededWrite briefs for graphic designers on digital and print materials, including holiday menus and event collateralCommunity and eventsBuild relationships with hotels, concierges, corporate groups, neighborhood businesses, and organizations such as CVBs and chambers of commerceChoose and execute the Chicago events where we should show up (for example, Chicago Gourmet and Restaurant Week), and promote private dining and holiday programsWhat You Bring3+ years of marketing experience, ideally in restaurants, hospitality, or consumer brands, with experience supporting more than one brand or locationA portfolio of work you've personally created: social content, campaigns, emails, or shootsHands-on experience with Instagram, TikTok, Meta Ads Manager, and Yelp/Google business toolsExperience with an email/SMS platform (Klaviyo, Mailchimp, or similar) and a website CMS (Squarespace, WordPress, BentoBox, or similar)Comfort with data: you can read a report, explain what it means, and change courseStrong writing, organization, and follow-through, and the ability to juggle several brands at onceBasic photo and video skills (a plus), and a real interest in food, Korean cuisine, and hospitalityFlexibility to work some evenings, weekends, and holidays around events and key service periodsSuccess in Your First 90 Days30 days: Learn all three restaurants and L7 Hotel Chicago, audit our social, email, website, and listings, and meet every GM and chef60 days: Launch a 2027 marketing plan and content calendar, and begin a consistent shoot and posting rhythm90 days: Deliver your first full monthly KPI report, run a measurable campaign for each restaurant, and have a community and events calendar in motionWhat We OfferCompetitive base salary of $80,000-$85,000, reviewed annuallyPaid time off, health/dental/vision, 401(k)Dining discounts across all ESD restaurantsReal ownership and visibility: a direct line to the founder and partnersRoom to grow as ESD expands, including new Perilla locations and new concepts in developmentA creative, food-obsessed team working alongside award-winning chefs