Marketing & Social Media Lead

Boka Restaurant Group is currently seeking a Marketing & Social Media Lead to join the team and support our diverse range of award-winning Chicago restaurants!

The Marketing & Social Media Lead serves as a strategic leader within the Boka Restaurant Group marketing team. This individual is responsible for shaping, executing, and optimizing comprehensive marketing and social media strategies across a portfolio of restaurant locations and being the liaison between the restaurant teams and the marketing department. With a strong grasp of brand identity, consumer behavior, and digital trends, the Lead will act as both a creative and analytical driver, partnering closely with restaurant teams and marketing leadership to elevate visibility, engagement, and business results.

This role is responsible for shaping and executing and optimizing comprehensive marketing and social media strategies that authentically capture each restaurant’s voice and connect with audiences across platforms. The Lead will act as both a creative and analytical driver, partnering closely with restaurant teams and marketing leadership to elevate visibility, engagement, and business results.

Benefits & Perks: Health, Dental, and Voluntary Benefits Package (available after 90 days), employer-sponsored mental health and resource program, free membership to Chicago Athletic Clubs, 401(k) program, life insurance, wellness benefits, paid parental leave, paid vacation, career mentorship and growth potential, and dining incentives across our 20+ establishments!

About Boka Restaurant Group: Boka Restaurant Group is a James Beard Award-winning group, anchored by partnerships with some of American’s greatest chefs. With a firm belief that genuine hospitality makes the world a more human place, we strive beyond convention to believe in and support each other, care for our communities, and work together to build the world we want to live in. View our restaurants here: https://www.bokagrp.com/

Key Responsibilities:

• Minimum 2-3 days onsite across the restaurants weekly for balance of strategy, planning, and content capture.

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of integrated social media and marketing strategies tailored to each assigned restaurant’s brand positioning and business objectives.
• Partner with the Sr. Marketing Manager to develop quarterly and annual strategic plans.
• Proactively identify opportunities to amplify brand awareness, support restaurant initiatives, and drive guest engagement across platforms.

Content Strategy & Management

• Own and manage the content calendar for each assigned concept, ensuring alignment with brand voice, aesthetic, and overall marketing goals.
• Direct and oversee content production (photography, videography, reels, storytelling), collaborating with in-house teams and external partners as needed.
• Review performance analytics to inform content and posting strategies, optimizing reach, engagement, and conversion.

Brand & Platform Oversight

• Serve as the brand steward for each assigned location across digital platforms ensuring consistency, tone, and professionalism across all touchpoints.
• Manage day-to-day posting, scheduling, and community engagement across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other relevant platforms, with an eye toward innovation and trend alignment.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the primary liaison between marketing, restaurant teams and hotel teams, guiding campaign execution, capturing in-the-moment content, and communicating marketing objectives clearly and effectively.
• Lead marketing support for restaurant openings, pop-ups, menu launches, events, and activations ensuring timelines and deliverables are met.
• Maintain a consistent presence in the restaurants, rotating through the locations each week ensuring constant communication with management and culinary teams.

Performance Analysis & Reporting

• Regularly review performance metrics and generate insights reports to assess ROI, campaign success, and content performance.
• Make data-informed recommendations for strategy refinement, audience growth, and platform experimentation.

Who we are looking for

• Demonstrates a keen understanding of social trends and updates.
• Possesses a knack for captivating crafting copy tailored for social media.
• Has a proven track record in managing daily postings across multiple social media accounts.
• Proficient in building and nurturing online communities.
• Skilled in analyzing social analytics and reporting on actionable insights.
• Displays genuine enthusiasm for hospitality and food.
• Brings expertise in independently shooting, editing, and producing social media content, delivering high-quality photography and videography.
• Has experience collaborating with local influencers.
• Experienced in effectively managing campaigns, projects, and platforms, coupled with event planning skills.
• Displays genuine enthusiasm and creativity for hospitality and food.
• Availability to travel.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years of experience in social media management.
• Proficient in Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
• Strong copywriting skills, particularly for engaging social media posts.
• Experience managing large-scale social accounts across multiple platforms.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in social media management tools.
• Self-motivated, capable of thriving in fast-paced collaborative environments.
• Organized and detail-oriented, adept at managing multiple accounts simultaneously.
• Availability to work outside standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, to manage and respond to guest messages and be onsite for events and to capture in-restaurant experiences.
• Availability to work outside standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, to manage and respond to guest messages, attend restaurant events, capture content, and support restaurant needs.
• Photography, videography skills – we need you to thrive in an environment where you ideate and create captivating content including digital photography, Reels & TikTok videos. Preferred hospitality industry experience.

If you feel you meet the above requirements, are a team player, experienced, passionate, and dedicated to your craft, we want to hear from you!

Physical Requirements:

• Lift and move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Safely and effectively use all necessary tools, equipment, & cleaning chemicals
• Stand and walk for an entire shift, including moving safely through all areas of the restaurant, which may include stairs, uneven and slick surfaces Ability to bear exposure to hot and cold environments

Please respond with a copy of your resume AND a cover letter detailing why you'd be a great addition to our team!

More detail about Boka Restaurant Group part of BOKA Restaurant Group