Creative Director

Nova Hospitality is an Austin-based, multi-concept hospitality company that builds places people come back to: The Well, TenTen, Devil May Care, Mayfair, Townhome, LZR, and Coffee & Chill. Each venue has its own distinct voice and visual identity, and all of them are unmistakably Austin. As we expand across new concepts, locations, and outside marketing partnerships, maintaining the distinctness of every brand across every channel is why this role exists.

We are seeking a player-coach Creative Director who owns the look, feel, and creative quality of everything Nova puts into the world, builds and mentors the team behind it, and manages creative operations with project-manager precision.

Our Mission & How You Will Live Our Core Values

Our Mission:

Nova's guiding purpose is to create concepts where intentional ingredients, genuine hospitality, exceptional craft, and lighthearted play can converge. We innovate unique, layered experiences that nourish people, nurture talent, and serve the communities we call home.

Here is how you bring that mission to life as Creative Director:

• Authentic Hospitality: The way you treat your team matters as much as the work you put in front of guests. You give feedback that is direct, kind, and generous, ensuring people leave your critiques energized rather than flattened.

• Action With Intention: Every creative decision has a clear "why". From setting visual systems and translating marketing goals into clear briefs to organizing production timelines, vendor directories, and spend, your actions are always driven by purpose.

• A Commitment to Growth: You are a teacher at heart who measures success by how much your team grows. You mentor our brand identity designer, build real development paths, and continuously elevate your own craft through Nova's Leadership Academy and career lattice.

• For This Community: You champion Austin's creative ecosystem. You actively collaborate with and invest in local photographers, printers, sign shops, fabricators, makers, and studios, ensuring our work stays deeply rooted in the community.

What You'll Do & Key Responsibilities

Lead Creative Vision & Design Quality

• Set creative direction for each Nova concept, ensuring every brand feels related to the portfolio while remaining unmistakably distinct.

• Own creative quality across print, digital, social, menus, signage, email, web, and in-venue touchpoints.

• Steward Nova’s brand guidelines and visual systems, evolving them with intention as concepts grow.

• Translate marketing goals into clear creative briefs, campaigns, and launch playbooks for new venue openings and consulting partners.

• Present and defend creative to owners, chefs, operators, and partners with persuasive clarity.

Team Management & Production Execution

• Directly manage, mentor, and run critiques for our Brand Identity Designer; partner closely with the Director of Marketing and Social/Content team.

• Stay hands-on: design key campaigns, launch assets, and templates while art directing photo and video shoots on set.

• Build and manage Nova's production framework, tracking print, signage, merch, and packaging orders from quote to delivery.

• Maintain a comprehensive vendor directory across printers, sign shops, fabricators, photographers, videographers, and agencies.

• Standardize specs, file prep, turnaround times, and production budgets across all venues.

Who You Are & What You Bring

Qualifications

• Experience: 6+ years in design/creative, with at least 2 years directly managing or mentoring designers.

• Industry Background: Hospitality experience required (restaurant groups, bars, hotels, or nightlife in-house/agency).

• Portfolio: Demonstrates both hands-on design work and work directed through others across print and digital.

• Technical Skills: Expert in Adobe Creative Suite; comfortable in Figma and Canva.

• Technical Knowledge: Deep typography/layout skills, photo/video shoot art direction, and production workflow management.

• Location: Austin, TX (in office and on-site at venues).

Preferred Experience

• Taking a concept from identity through opening day.

• Illustration, motion design, or short-form video editing skills.

• Menu, signage, and in-venue environmental design (murals, wall graphics).

• Strong ties to Austin’s creative community (photographers, makers, studios).

Our Investment in You

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental & Vision (for you, partner, dependents,spouse, family)

• Financial Wellness: Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.

• Holistic Wellness Program: Dedicated program supporting physical and mental well-being.

• Austin Commuter Perks: Dedicated on-site parking spaces and discounted transit passes.

• Growth & Leadership: A supportive, growth-focused culture.