Creative Director

Pay: $90000 per year - $110000 per year

Location: Liverpool, NY

Summary: We are seeking a highly creative and strategic Creative Director to lead the visual expression of our hospitality, food service, and refreshment brands. This role will be responsible for shaping and maintaining a cohesive visual identity across all marketing channels — from on-site dining environments and vending programs to digital campaigns and sales materials.

The ideal candidate combines strong design leadership with a deep understanding of consumer behavior in hospitality and food environments. They will oversee creative execution that drives engagement, enhances guest experience, supports client acquisition, and strengthens brand equity. This role requires full-time, on-site presence at the corporate headquarters office. (Liverpool, NY 13088).

Responsibilities:

Brand Leadership & Visual Strategy

• Develop and maintain brand guidelines across multiple concepts, accounts, and service lines.
• Translate business objectives into compelling visual storytelling.
• Ensure consistent brand execution across physical and digital touchpoints.
• Elevate the visual presence of food, beverage, and refreshment offerings.

Creative Direction & Execution

• Concept and direct photo and video shoots (food styling, lifestyle, location shoots).
• Lead design for:
• Client proposals and RFP presentations
• Environmental graphics and on-site signage
• Digital menus and kiosk interfaces
• Social media and digital advertising
• Website and email marketing
• Print collateral and promotional materials
• Oversee packaging and private-label branding initiatives where applicable.

Hospitality & Experience Design

• Collaborate with culinary, operations, and business development teams to visually support new dining concepts and refreshment programs.
• Develop experiential marketing materials that enhance guest engagement.
• Ensure merchandising visuals align with consumer trends and seasonal promotions.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage and mentor graphic designers and creative team members.
• Partner cross-functionally with marketing, culinary, operations, and sales teams.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, photographers, printers, and agencies.
• Maintain project timelines, budgets, and quality standards.

Trend & Market Awareness

• Stay ahead of hospitality, food styling, and retail refreshment design trends.
• Monitor competitive brands and evolving consumer preferences.
• Integrate innovation into seasonal campaigns and brand refresh initiatives.

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, or related field.
• 5–8+ years of experience in art direction, preferably within hospitality, food service, retail food, or CPG.
• Strong portfolio showcasing branding, food photography direction, and multi-channel campaigns.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop).
• Experience directing food photography and lifestyle shoots.
• Strong understanding of print production and digital design standards.

Preferred

• Experience in multi-location or contract food service environments.
• Knowledge of environmental graphics and spatial branding.
• Motion graphics and video editing skills.
• Familiarity with digital menu systems and interactive displays.

About Us:

American Food & Vending began vending operations in Ithaca, NY, over eighty years ago and has become one of the largest privately held hospitality service partners in the United States.

As a family-owned boutique company, we have evolved into a dining and catering service provider. In 2012, the second and third family generations expanded the company nationally by adding our dining division, American Dining Creations. Today we provide service to guests in 24 states, over 50 cities, and employee more than 2,000 employees.

American Food & Vending and American Dining Creations strongly focus on service, technology, partnerships, and hospitality, which is evident in everything we do. Our national ranking as one of the Top 50 Contract Management Companies highlights our commitment to excellence.

We are a company of culinary enthusiasts. Our award-winning chefs are always exploring innovative, creative, and on-trend dining and refreshment solutions. As part of our combined services, we provide café dining, mobile ordering, catering, events, grab-and-go programs, vending and refreshment solutions, advanced micro markets, coffee services, pantry services, water filtration and purification.

We are committed to enhancing the guest experience and partnering with our communities to provide outstanding service, innovation, sustainability, and customization.

American Food & Vending Offers:

• Weekly pay
• 401K with company match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Eligible employees offered Medical, Prescription, Dental, and Vision Plans, FSA/HSA
• Ongoing training and development programs
• Bonus Programs for eligible positions

American Food & Vending is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Chat with Scout, our virtual hiring assistant to apply for this position right from your mobile device. Text JOB to (315) 803-6049 to get started!