Marketing Director

Marketing DirectorLocation: Chicago, ILWork Model: Hybrid; in-person presence in Chicago and at FARE restaurant locations requiredJob Type: Full-Time, ExemptReports to: PresidentCompensation: $100,000–$140,000 per year + bonusBenefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Paid Parental Leave, Employee Meal BenefitAbout FAREFARE is a fast-growing, scratch-made fast-casual restaurant brand expanding across Chicago, Charlotte, and new markets.We’re looking for a Marketing Director to build and lead the marketing strategy behind our next stage of growth — from brand and customer acquisition to loyalty, local store marketing, and new restaurant openings.This is a high-ownership, hands-on leadership role reporting directly to our President. You’ll set the marketing roadmap, lead the marketing team, manage the budget, and partner closely with Operations, Catering, and outside agencies as FARE grows into new markets.This role is ideal for a marketing leader who can think strategically, move quickly, use data to make decisions, and still jump into execution when the business needs it.What You’ll DoOwn FARE’s marketing strategy and growth roadmap, including brand positioning, customer acquisition, retention, CRM, loyalty, local store marketing, and multi-channel campaigns tied to traffic, sales, engagement, and new-store performance.Lead and develop the marketing team while managing agency and external partner relationships, setting priorities, creating accountability, and ensuring campaigns consistently reflect the FARE brand.Drive customer growth and retention across email, SMS, loyalty, paid media, social, influencer partnerships, promotions, and lifecycle marketing, with a focus on increasing frequency, engagement, and customer lifetime value.Own local store marketing and cross-functional campaigns, partnering with Operations and Catering to build awareness, strengthen community relationships, increase restaurant traffic, and grow catering and restaurant-level revenue.Lead new restaurant and new-market marketing, including pre-launch awareness, customer acquisition, PR, influencers, community partnerships, grand openings, and post-launch traffic strategies. Build a repeatable opening playbook that can scale across Chicago, Charlotte, and future markets.Own marketing performance and infrastructure, including the budget, KPIs, ROI analysis, campaign reporting, seasonal and menu launch strategy, marketing processes, and scalable systems that can support a growing restaurant portfolio.What Success Looks LikeNew restaurant openings generate strong local awareness, customer acquisition, and sustained traffic after launch.Marketing investment is connected to measurable improvements in traffic, sales, retention, and customer growth.FARE develops repeatable local-store and new-market marketing playbooks that can scale as the brand grows.The marketing team, systems, and agency relationships grow alongside the business without losing speed or brand consistency.What You’ll Need7+ years of progressive marketing experience, including leadership responsibility within a multi-unit restaurant, hospitality, retail, food, or consumer brand.Proven experience developing and executing marketing strategies that drive customer acquisition, traffic, retention, and revenue.Experience leading a marketing team and managing external agencies, vendors, and partners.Strong analytical and digital marketing capabilities, including experience with CRM, email/SMS, paid media, web analytics, loyalty, and campaign performance reporting. Experience with Google Analytics, Klaviyo, Tableau, or comparable platforms is a plus.Experience owning and allocating a meaningful marketing budget and evaluating ROI across channels.Strong cross-functional leadership skills and the ability to operate in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial environment where leaders move comfortably between strategy and execution.Strongly Preferred:Multi-unit restaurant, QSR, or fast-casual experience; hands-on experience with new restaurant or market launches; and familiarity with the Chicago and/or Charlotte markets.Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.Physical & Travel RequirementsThis role requires regular travel between Chicago-area FARE restaurants and occasional travel to new markets, restaurant openings, meetings, and events. The role also requires the ability to work for extended periods at a computer, move throughout restaurant environments, and occasionally lift or carry up to 15 pounds of marketing materials or equipment.Why FAREFARE is at a pivotal stage of growth. This is an opportunity to shape how the brand grows, build the marketing infrastructure behind new-market expansion, and create programs that can scale across a rapidly growing restaurant portfolio.You won’t be stepping into a narrowly defined corporate marketing role. You’ll have a direct hand in building what comes next — and a direct line between the work you lead and the performance of the business.FARE is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.