Senior Manager, Marketing - New Venue Opening New York

Tao Group Hospitality offers competitive benefits for all full-time team members such as:

- Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
- 401(k) Retirement Program with Employer Match
- Life and Disability Insurance Plans
- Ancillary Insurance Plans
- Employee Assistance Program
- Fertility & Family Forming Support and Resources
- Pet Insurance
- TAO Marketplace
- Employee Discounts
- Time off and much more!

The role of Senior Marketing Manager is responsible for executing the annual marketing plans, strategies, and programs for the company’s New York fine dining and cocktail portfolio, including flagship restaurants and cocktail lounges. This role leads with public relations and brand reputation: managing retained PR agencies, cultivating relationships with food, beverage and lifestyle press, building the public profiles of chefs, sommeliers and bar talent, and driving awards, accolades and critical recognition for each concept. Day-to-day responsibilities also include social media content strategy and paid social, Website and third party listing management, e-newsletters, menu and seasonal launch campaigns, spirits and wine brand partnerships, and the creative process with the design team. The Senior Marketing Manager will develop new and innovative marketing concepts, form partnerships with like-minded luxury and culinary brands, and contribute creatively, strategically, and analytically to the overall marketing planning and execution process, while managing all marketing budgets and delivering measurable ROI and venue revenue growth.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

- Fully manages all social media strategies, planning and tactics including original content creation, content calendar development, copywriting, and managing all paid social ad placement for several assigned venues
- Ensure all Websites for assigned venue(s) are continually maintained with up-to-date information and relevant content
- Ensure third party sites such as OpenTable, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google My Business are maintained
- Develop monthly e-newsletter content for assigned venue(s)
- Develop original content for social media, Websites, 3rd party Websites, and in-venue activations
- Assist with the creation and full implementation/execution of marketing campaigns
- Hold/attend weekly and monthly meetings with venue-level management and marketing teams to discuss current marketing plans, activations, and upcoming events
- Facilitate photography and videography shoots with or without a professional photographer/videographer to generate original content for all forms of marketing
- Collaborate with hotel, landlord, and neighborhood partners where applicable on co-marketing, packages and cross-promotion that benefit assigned venue(s) and leverage partner channels
- Assist in the development and execution of annual business and strategic marketing plans to increase traffic and revenue at assigned venue(s)
- Create monthly KPI reports for all social and digital activities for assigned venue(s) and provide recommendations on how to better the marketing programs based on analytical results found within the reports
- Develop and manage spirits, wine, and luxury lifestyle brand partnerships that drive revenue, elevate the guest experience and generate press-worthy programming
- Closely monitor competitors’ programming and venue activities
- Stay abreast of marketing trends and develop strategies to maintain a competitive advantage
- Conduct marketing research when needed, share finding presentations with the management, and provide recommendations to increase revenue
- Aid in the development of brand strategies and manage tactical execution
- Manage re-branding / re-positioning efforts when needed and enforces brand standards
- Keep key hotel departments/partners abreast of special events, promotions, menu changes, etc. at assigned venue(s)
- To manage and be onsite for all marketing initiatives including but not limited to; marketing and sponsorship activations, on property signage and communication, press initiatives, capturing social media content on brand channels, establish relationships with staff, and represent marketing in event pre-shifts
- Manage the marketing design process via project management programs in conjunction with the design department
- Mange invoices and declining budgets to ensure departments stays within approved budgets
- Work in conjunction with sponsorship team to leverage and maximize the Company’s sponsorship capabilities
- Work in conjunction with media partners to leverage and maximize event activation opportunities and value adds
- Serve as day-to-day lead for retained PR agencies for assigned venue(s), including agency onboarding, weekly status calls, approving pitch angles and media lists, and holding agencies accountable to agreed KPIs, timelines and budgets
- Partner with PR agencies to develop and execute press strategies around venue openings, menu launches, seasonal programming, talent and special events, and secure earned media across local, regional and national outlets
- Manage press requests, media visits, influencer and tastemaker dinners, and on-site press activations in coordination with venue leadership, and route all messaging and spokesperson approvals through the SVP Marketing
- Track, report and analyze earned media results monthly, including placements, reach, share of voice and sentiment, and translate press coverage into owned and paid content across social, Web and email
- Lead media relations for assigned fine dining and cocktail concepts in partnership with PR agencies, including proactive pitching to food, beverage, travel and lifestyle press, critics and guidebooks
- Own the awards and accolades calendar for assigned venue(s), including Michelin, James Beard, New York Times and local critic reviews, World’s 50 Best Bars, Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards and similar programs, and coordinate submissions, critic visits and follow-up
- Build and promote the public profiles of chefs, beverage directors and bar talent through press features, guest appearances, industry events, collaborations and social content
- Plan and execute menu launches, seasonal cocktail programs, chef and bartender collaborations, guest shifts and tasting events with integrated PR, social and email support
- Develop crisis and issues communications protocols with PR agencies and venue leadership, and act as first point of contact for review, media and reputation issues for assigned venue(s)
- Create and maintain a work environment that promotes teamwork, performance, feedback, recognition, mutual respect, and employee satisfaction
- Maintain relationships with current vendors
- Assist and/ or completes additional tasks as assigned

EDUCATION/WORKING KNOWLEDGE:

- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, or similar discipline
- Proof of eligibility to work in the United States
- Maintain a professional, neat, and well-groomed appearance adhering to Company standards
- Proficient in Windows Microsoft Office, POS systems, Oracle knowledge preferred
- 21+ years of age
- Minimum of five to seven (5-7) years of marketing and/or public relations experience in fine dining restaurants, chef-driven concepts or cocktail bars, with a proven track record of financial and creative marketing programming success
- Prior PR agency experience, or in-house PR experience at a hospitality or restaurant group, strongly preferred
- Proficient in Windows MS Office, WordPress, Facebook Business Manager, Google and all social media platforms including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google My Business, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest
- Facebook Blueprint certification and various Google certifications a plus
- Strong working knowledge with budget creation and implementation
- Working Knowledge of social media, Public Relations, Graphic Arts, Sponsorship and Sales departments
- Experience managing external PR agencies and working directly with editors, journalists and media outlets, with a proven record of securing earned coverage
- Established relationships with New York food, beverage and lifestyle media, critics and editors
- Deep knowledge of the fine dining and cocktail landscape, including the awards ecosystem, spirits and wine brands, and current culinary and beverage trends
- Strong writing skills with experience drafting press releases, pitches, talent bios and brand narratives

SKILLS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT / SCHEDULE

The work environment characteristics and/or physical demands described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions

- Must have strong problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills required
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Must have good positive energy throughout the day
- Must be able to read the computer monitors and print legibly
- Must be able to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time
- Must be able to move quickly through work and set the pace in the office
- Must be able to push and lift up to 25 lbs.
- Small to Medium office environment
- Office, Restaurant, Bar, Lounge, and/or Nightclub working environment
- 5-25% Local Travel (United States)
- Work in an environment that is subject to varying levels of noise, crowds, and smoke, the severity of which depends upon the guest volume
- May work extended hours irregular shifts, evening and/or weekend shifts, and holiday work may be required
- Maintain a professional, neat, and well-groomed appearance adhering to Company standards
- Must be effective as part of a team; ability to interact with internal and external customers, managers, and co-workers in a professional, courteous manner
- Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
- Ability to handle a fast-paced, busy, and somewhat stressful environment