Creative Director Jobs in Texas

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, keeping every brand distinct across every channel is why this role exists.

We are seeking a Creative Director who is a designer first. You’ll be in the files every day, building identities, campaigns, and visual systems yourself. You’ll also mentor the team behind the work and run creative operations with project-manager precision.

This is a hands-on graphic design leadership role. Candidates should bring a strong graphic design and brand identity background, not photography, content creation, or art direction alone.

Our mission and how you’ll 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. Your feedback is direct, kind, and generous, so people leave your critiques energized rather than flattened.

Action with Intention: Every design decision has a clear why. From the type and layout choices you make yourself to the briefs, timelines, vendors, and spend you organize, your work is always driven by purpose.

A Commitment to Growth: You’re a working designer and a teacher at heart. You mentor our brand identity designer, build real development paths, and keep sharpening your own craft through Nova’s Leadership Academy and career lattice.

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

What You’ll do:

Design, Daily

• Personally design brand identities, campaigns, launch assets, menus, signage, and templates across the portfolio.
• Own typography, layout, and visual systems for each concept, and build the files your team works from.
• Design for print, digital, social, email, web, and in-venue environments.
• Art direct photo and video shoots on set as part of a larger design vision. The core of this role is making the work, not only directing it.

Lead creative vision and design quality

• Set creative direction for each Nova concept, so every brand feels related to the portfolio while staying unmistakably distinct.
• 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 and Production

• Directly manage, mentor, and run critiques for our Brand Identity Designer, and partner closely with the Director of Marketing and the social and content team.
• Build and manage Nova’s production framework, tracking print, signage, merch, and packaging orders from quote to delivery.
• Maintain a 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 and what you bring

Qualifications

• Experience: 6+ years as a graphic or brand designer (in-house or agency), with at least 2 years directly managing or mentoring designers.
• Industry background: Hospitality experience required (restaurant groups, bars, hotels, or nightlife, in-house or agency).
• Portfolio: Graphic design work you made yourself (identity, typography, layout, print, and digital), plus work you’ve directed through others.
• Technical skills: Expert in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop); comfortable in Figma and Canva.
• Technical knowledge: Deep typography and layout skills, print production and file prep, photo and video shoot art direction, and production workflow management.
• Location: Austin, TX (in office and on-site at venues).

Preferred Experience

• Designing a concept from identity through opening day.
• Menu, signage, and in-venue environmental design (murals, wall graphics).
• Illustration, motion design, or short-form video editing skills.
• 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.