Art Director

Position Summary 

Local Kitchens is a fast-casual restaurant brand transforming the industry by pioneering a new category of dining. Through collaborations with award-winning chefs and culinary influencers, we offer a menu of exclusive, globally inspired dishes featuring bold flavors and high-quality ingredients—all in a dining experience that’s both convenient and affordable. Founded in 2020 by former DoorDash co-founders Jon Goldsmith and Andrew Munday, Local Kitchens was built on a mission to bring communities together through food. Since then, the brand has grown to 13 locations across the Bay Area, with plans to expand into Southern California this spring. 

Local Kitchens is seeking a talented and motivated Art Director to lead the creative function of the marketing team. This team member will own all aspects of design and creative direction for the company—from concept ideation to execution. This role requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on design work, ensuring that every creative asset aligns with our brand vision and engages our audience. You will be the driving force behind our visual storytelling, creating compelling designs across digital, print, social, in-store signage, and beyond. We’re looking for a creative leader who not only sets the direction but is also willing to roll up their sleeves and bring ideas to life. If you thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and have a passion for food, design, and brand storytelling, we’d love to meet you. 

Responsibilities: 

• Lead the creative direction for all marketing and brand design initiatives. 

• Conceptualize and execute compelling visual assets across digital, print, social, email, packaging, and in-store signage. 

• Shape brand standards and create procedures to ensure all creative assets align with brand identity, tone and voice. 

• Collaborate closely with the marketing team, internal stakeholders, and external vendors/agencies to create engaging campaigns that drive brand awareness and customer engagement. 

• Translate strategic objectives into impactful, on-brand visuals that connect with our audience. 

• Own the end-to-end creative strategy for all photoshoots and brand storytelling production. 

• Work cross-functionally with internal stakeholders and external vendors/agencies to bring creative projects to life. 

• Lead pre-production planning, including shot lists, creative direction, and styling, and on-site creative direction for shoots—collaborating with brand, photographers, videographers, and food stylists to execute high-quality visuals. 

• Oversee and art direct on-site photoshoots, ensuring a cohesive brand aesthetic. 

• Develop compelling, narrative-driven content that captures the essence of our food, chefs, and brand. 

• Direct brainstorming meetings and creative sessions with the marketing team and cross-functionally. 

• Ensure all assets are optimized for multiple platforms and marketing channels  

•  Stay ahead of design trends, emerging technologies, and industry best practices to keep our brand fresh and innovative. 

Requirements: 

• 8+ years of design experience, ideally in design, branding, or an in-house creative role. 

• Experience working in the restaurant industry with general knowledge of design for food & beverage. 

• A strong portfolio showcasing a diverse range of work across digital, print, and brand design. 

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) Figma, and other relevant design tools. 

• Experience with motion graphics, video editing, or UI/UX design is a plus. 

• A strategic thinker with a strong creative vision and the ability to translate business goals into compelling visuals. 

• Highly detail-oriented with a deep understanding of typography, color, and layout. 

• Ability to own projects from concept to execution and manage multiple priorities with tight deadlines. 

• Expert knowledge of the business side of design. 

• Stellar communication, presentation, problem-solving and project-management skills.  

Why Join Us? 

At Local Kitchens, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the creative direction of a brand redefining the restaurant industry. You’ll work with an innovative team, collaborate with some of the most exciting chefs in the industry, and make an impact in a company that’s growing fast. 

Ready to create something amazing? Apply today!