Creative Manager

Reports to: Associate Director, Brand Marketing

Classification: Full-time, permanent

FLSA Status: Exempt

Pay Type: Salaried

Job Summary: The Creative Manager serves as the visionary and creative executor for Saxbys' brand identity across all platforms, ensuring our brand resonates authentically with college students. This role combines strategic creative direction with hands-on execution to elevate Saxbys as a relevant and approachable brand while also strengthening our competitive position on college campuses. The Creative Manager will shape how Saxbys shows up visually and culturally in an increasingly competitive campus landscape.

What You Will Own

• Brand Vision & Identity: Develop and maintain Saxbys' brand guidelines, ensuring our aesthetic, voice, and presence authentically connects with college students. Create a cohesive brand experience that differentiates Saxbys in the competitive campus landscape.
• Creative Direction & Execution: Lead the creative vision for campaigns, grand openings, merchandise, and promotional materials while personally executing key deliverables, via vendor relations, including cafe signage, packaging, menu boards, email newsletters, promotional assets and more.
• Social Media Strategy & Content: Own the social media content calendar and execution across platforms with particular focus on TikTok activation. Create, produce, and manage engaging content that resonates with our target demographic.
• Visual Storytelling: Direct and produce brand graphics and photography for campaigns, new cafe announcements, grand openings, and other key initiatives that capture the Saxbys experience.

Who You Will Support

• Associate Director, Brand Marketing: Collaborate on strategic initiatives, campaign development, and brand evolution to ensure alignment with overall marketing objectives.
• Marketing Team: Provide creative direction and assets to support events, promotions, and marketing initiatives across all cafes.
• Operations Team: Support menu rollouts and cafe openings with compelling visual assets that enhance the customer experience and drive engagement.
• Roastery Team: As they distribute campaign materials and reorder inventory of uniforms, merchandise, and evergreen assets.

Who You Will Supervise

None

What Success Looks Like

• Brand recognition and positive sentiment increases among college students
• Social media engagement metrics exceed industry benchmarks, particularly on platforms most relevant to college students
• Campaign creative consistently drives measurable increases in cafe traffic and sales
• Visual brand consistency is maintained across all touchpoints
• Creative assets are delivered on time and within budget

Where You Excel

• Graphic Design (Required)
• Photography (Required)
• Creative Vision
• Visual Storytelling
• Cultural Relevance
• Execution Excellence
• Videography (Preferred)

What You Have Done

• 4-6 years of professional experience in creative roles with progressive responsibility 
• Developed and executed creative campaigns that demonstrably connected with young adult audiences 
• Built a strong portfolio showcasing photography, graphic design, and creative direction skills 
• Demonstrated success in social media content creation and management, particularly on platforms popular with college students 
• Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite and other relevant design and content creation tools

What is Required

• A Portfolio of proven Graphic Design & Photography experience
• Support, exhibit, and promote Saxbys Mission and Core Values in all daily activities. 
• Travel Requirement up to 30%
• Valid driver's license if required to drive
• Physical requirements:
• Able to stand, walk, and smile for extended periods of time 
• Able to stoop and kneel
• Push, pull, lift or carry up to 35 lbs
• Ascend or descend ladders, stairs, ramps