Qureos Mentor

Food For Thought - Chicago

<div><div><b>Director of Marketing</b></div><div><b>
Location:</b> Lincolnwood, Il</div><div><b>
Salary: </b>$120k - 170k a year</div><div><b>
Reports To:</b> Chief Executive Officer<br>
<b>Division:</b> Event Group, Workspace Drop Off, Dining Services</div><div></div><div><b><br>
ABOUT FOOD FOR THOUGHT</b></div><div>
Food For Thought is a women- and minority-owned hospitality leader, delivering elevated catering, workplace dining, and immersive event experiences across Chicago, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. markets. We serve global corporations, cultural institutions, nonprofits, and discerning social clients&mdash;all drawn to our inspired cuisine, thoughtful service, and brand-aligned execution. Built on the belief that every detail matters, our commitment to excellence is woven into everything we do.</div><div></div><div><b><br>
ROLE SUMMARY</b></div><div>
The Director of Marketing is a senior leader responsible for defining and activating a unified brand voice across Food For Thought&rsquo;s three operating units: Events, Workspace Drop-Off Catering, and Dining Services. This role translates company strategy into high-impact, measurable marketing initiatives that build brand equity, generate leads, deepen customer engagement, and drive revenue growth. The Director will lead a skilled marketing team and work cross-functionally with Sales, Culinary, Operations, HR, and Executive Leadership to ensure brand promise is consistently and powerfully delivered at every touchpoint.</div><div></div><div><b><br>
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES</b></div><div><b>
</b><b> Brand Strategy &amp; Leadership</b></div><ul><li><b>
Own and evolve FFT&rsquo;s brand identity</b> to resonate powerfully across diverse B2B and B2C audiences&mdash;including corporate planners, HR leaders, real estate professionals, corporate decision-makers, facility managers, wedding planners, brides, and social clients. Ensure brand consistency across all platforms, materials, and customer touchpoints while allowing for nuance in tone and messaging tailored to each segment.</li><li><b>
Champion a content-forward, design-driven marketing culture</b> that balances creativity with commercial intent. Ensure every campaign, asset, and communication reflects FFT&rsquo;s core values - elevated service, inspired food, operational excellence, culture - and builds equity across business lines.</li><li><b>
Oversee all brand channels and touchpoints,</b> including:</li></ul><ul><li><b>
Internal Marketing &amp; Communications:</b> Align internal storytelling with external messaging to support culture-building and team engagement.</li><li><b>
Social Media:</b> Set tone, cadence, and storytelling focus for FFT&rsquo;s presence across LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, leveraging channel-specific strengths.</li><li><b>
Public Relations:</b> Build FFT&rsquo;s thought leadership and media presence by developing story angles, coordinating press releases, and managing agency support.</li><li><b>
Email Campaigns &amp; CRM:</b> Develop segmented journeys for prospects, clients, and past customers to increase conversion and retention.</li><li><b>
Print Campaigns &amp; Collateral:</b> Lead the creation of sales kits, lookbooks, seasonal inserts, and venue marketing tools that support sales and brand education.</li><li><b>
Vendor &amp; Partner Marketing:</b> Activate co-branded initiatives and cross-promotions with venues, DMCs, planners, and cultural institutions.</li><li><b>
Sponsorships, Partnerships &amp; Collaborations:</b> Identify and execute brand-aligned sponsorship opportunities that position FFT as a hospitality leader in key verticals.</li></ul><div></div><div><b><br>
</b><b> Campaign Development &amp; Execution</b></div><ul><li><b>
Lead full-funnel marketing campaigns</b> that support FFT&rsquo;s strategic priorities&mdash;ranging from seasonal rollouts and trend reports to venue spotlights and product launches (e.g., drop-off catering menus, caf&eacute; enhancements, or service innovations). Campaigns will span paid media, organic social, email, website, and sales collateral.</li><li><b>
Drive client acquisition and retention</b> with targeted, segmented campaigns across business lines&mdash;including B2B efforts for corporate dining/workplace clients and B2C initiatives for social/wedding clients. Success is measured through lead volume, conversion rates, repeat engagement, and lifetime value.</li><li><b>
Translate insights into activation</b> by turning industry trends, event performance metrics, client feedback, and guest behavior into timely content, product pivots, and campaign optimizations. Use marketing automation and analytics tools to test, track, and continuously refine performance.</li></ul><div></div><div><b><br>
</b><b> Team Leadership &amp; Partner Management</b></div><ul><li><b>
Oversee and develop internal marketing talent</b> including brand managers, content creators, designers, and coordinators - ensuring clear roles, creative alignment, and a high-performance culture. Foster a collaborative environment that balances innovation with accountability, encouraging experimentation while driving toward results.</li><li><b>
Manage external partners</b> - Including creative agencies, PR firms, photographers, videographers, writers, and freelance specialists&mdash;to ensure brand consistency, quality control, and timely delivery across all projects. Establish clear scopes of work, performance metrics, and communication protocols to optimize output and efficiency.</li><li><b>
Own the strategic partnership with Outside Media Partners,</b> FFT&rsquo;s digital agency of record, and serve as the lead point of contact. Provide briefs, define KPIs, and manage deliverables across digital content creation, social strategy, community management, paid media, and influencer collaborations. Ensure campaigns are aligned with FFT&rsquo;s brand voice, business objectives, and seasonal priorities.<br>
Conduct regular creative reviews, performance evaluations, and quarterly planning meetings to ensure ongoing alignment, identify opportunities, and hold partners accountable to goals and timelines.</li></ul><div></div><div><b><br>
</b><b> Digital &amp; Social Media Oversight</b></div><ul><li><b>
Lead and evolve FFT&rsquo;s digital content strategy</b> across key platforms - LinkedIn (B2B positioning and employer brand), Instagram (visual storytelling and community), TikTok (trend-forward, behind-the-scenes), YouTube (long-form content, sizzle reels), and the FFT website (conversion and credibility). Ensure each platform has a defined purpose, target audience, and content cadence aligned with business goals.</li><li><b>
Develop and execute lead-generation and engagement strategies</b> using SEO-optimized web content, targeted email marketing, paid and organic social media, and influencer or brand ambassador programs. Build funnels that nurture prospects from awareness to conversion with measurable CTAs and remarketing strategies.</li><li><b>
Monitor and optimize performance</b> across all digital channels using analytics dashboards, engagement tracking, campaign ROI, and conversion metrics. Leverage data to inform content planning, A/B testing, platform investment, and cross-channel synergy. Produce and report reports to guide strategic pivots and demonstrate marketing&rsquo;s business impact.</li></ul><div><b>
</b><b> Cross-Functional Collaboration</b></div><ul><li><b>
Partner closely with the Events and Sales teams</b> to develop and execute marketing support for showcase events, tastings, pop-ups, and partner activations. Deliver high-impact tools and collateral&mdash;from custom presentations and venue decks to gifting programs and branded touchpoints&mdash;that enhance client acquisition, elevate perception, and drive conversions.</li><li><b>
Collaborate with Operations and Culinary leadership</b> to ensure marketing efforts reflect FFT&rsquo;s service capabilities, culinary innovation, and seasonal menu rollouts. Align messaging and visual storytelling with actual guest experiences to preserve brand integrity and avoid disconnect between promise and delivery.</li><li><b>
Attend events, tastings, and activations in person</b> to capture content, assess the brand experience, and gather real-time feedback from clients and internal teams. Use observations to inform campaign refinements, improve storytelling, and ensure every detail&mdash;from signage to service uniforms&mdash;reinforces FFT&rsquo;s brand standards.</li></ul><div></div><div><b><br>
QUALIFICATIONS</b></div><ul><li><b>
7&ndash;10 years of progressive marketing leadership experience,</b> ideally within hospitality, catering, event production, luxury lifestyle, or foodservice sectors.</li><li><b>
Strong background in brand development and integrated campaign execution</b> demonstrates effective storytelling, measurable ROI, and successful engagement across both B2B (corporate, institutional) and B2C (social, wedding, consumer) audiences.</li><li><b>
Creative and visually driven</b>, with a sharp eye for design, brand aesthetics, and cultural trends&mdash;balanced by a data-informed, results-driven mindset that values testing, KPIs, and optimization.</li><li><b>
Skilled in team leadership and partner management,</b> with experience overseeing internal marketing departments and external collaborators including agencies, freelancers, and content creators.</li><li><b>
Excellent written and verbal communicator</b> with the executive presence to engage senior stakeholders and the collaborative spirit to work cross-functionally with Culinary, Operations, Sales, and HR teams.</li><li><b>
Technically proficient</b> with CRM platforms, CMS tools email marketing systems (e.g., Mailchimp, Klaviyo), and social media management suites (e.g., Sprout Social, Later, Meta Business Suite).</li></ul><div></div><div><b><br>
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE</b></div><ul><li><b>
FFT&rsquo;s three business units&mdash;Events, Workspace Drop-Off Catering, and Dining Services&mdash;are unified</b> under a consistent brand voice, visual identity, and strategic messaging. Customers experience a seamless brand journey across digital channels, sales touchpoints, and in-person activations.</li><li><b>
The Sales team is armed with high-quality, timely, and tailored collateral</b> - including proposals, lookbooks, case studies, seasonal inserts, venue materials, and email templates&mdash;that reflect current trends, resonate with target audiences, and accelerate deal flow. Marketing delivers the lead generation tools and campaign support needed to fill the funnel and shorten the sales cycle.</li><li><b>
FFT-hosted and partner events are strategically promoted, visually documented, and leveraged</b> across channels to generate awareness, engage prospects, and create evergreen marketing content. These serve as both business drivers and content engines&mdash;fueling campaigns, storytelling, and PR efforts.</li><li><b>
FFT earns recognition as a hospitality innovator and thought leader</b>&mdash;featured in industry media, invited to speak at national conferences, and sought after for its insights on workplace dining, catering trends, culinary creativity, and experiential events. The brand is not just known&mdash;but respected and referenced.</li></ul><p></p><div><b><br>
Why We&rsquo;re the Leaders</b></div><ul><li>
Excellent training</li><li>
Employee Referral bonuses</li><li>
Flexible scheduling</li><li>
Career advancement opportunities</li><li>
Competitive Pay</li><li>
Anniversary Milestone Incentives</li></ul><div></div><div><b><br>
Company Benefits &amp; Perks</b></div><ul><li>
Paid Time Off</li><li>
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance &ndash; Includes Spouse and Domestic Partner Coverage (Blue Cross Blue Shield Provider)</li><li>
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)</li><li>
Health Savings Account (HSA)</li><li>
Paid Life Insurance</li><li>
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&amp;D) &amp; Critical Illness Insurance</li><li>
Short Term Disability</li><li>
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)</li><li>
Mental Health, Relationship Conflicts, Child and Eldercare, Substance Abuse, Grief and Loss<ul><li>
Assistance for you and household members</li><li>
In Person Sessions</li><li>
Unlimited phone access</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>
Parental Leave &ndash; Equal benefits to Mothers and Fathers</li><li>
401K Retirement Plan</li><li>
FFT University - Over 70 courses designed to enhance your skills in life and on the job to help your career growth.</li><li>
Employee Meal Plan</li><li>
Employee Discounts (Pet Insurance, Entertainment, Travel, Company Discounts, and much more).</li></ul><div></div><div><b><br>
Company Values &amp; Culture</b></div><ul><li>Collaboration &amp; Open Communication</li><li>Diverse, Inclusive, Safe, and Motivating</li><li>Our Triple Bottom Line &ndash; People, Product and Planet</li><li>A Net Positive Organization</li></ul><div></div><div><b><br>
Grow with us! - at Food For Thought, instruction, advice, and assistance are always readily available, which is why our average tenure is 5 years. The U.S. average is 4.3 years, while the Hospitality industry average is only 2 years!</b></div><div></div><div><b><br>
Physical Demands</b></div><p>
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.<br>
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.</p><div></div><div><b><i><br>
EEO Statement</i></b></div><div><i>
Food For Thought provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.</i></div><div></div><div><b><i><br>
E-Verify Participation</i></b></div><div><i>
Food For Thought participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.</i></div><div><i>
If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.</i></div></div><br /> <div id='job-id'>Job Id: lucHC5vC3EDTUO7BsZxpzSjuz6Ki/NsRBIjPcpU+HldCQPr+OWfsXp2c7Ul5ZnikBURSY1zxvH9n71I31Nm48bfcmfr27ZKu+HLU3j7Aaa1veorn59+v5soqAEUYaKFkDJ6G01zQCCVUerU69Y/Bmxp1H+yQP1wF9Q4QM8GBXnu9q6bqMTQEVi2QiGNycJssq9YYEOdfIbrvQFga/3HteoI8+FwuYoUfGiwuVeUdqyi+KLiezrQewWcPJcYa5ZVwzSJgdzpt6Ss=</div>

Director of Marketing

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