DIRECTOR OF DESIGN & STYLE

Position Title: DIRECTOR OF DESIGN & STYLE - NEW YORK, NY

Salary: $120000 - $140000 / yr

Other Forms of Compensation: 20% annual bonus

Become part of Restaurant Associates, the industry’s leading provider of dining and event catering for some of the nation’s most prestigious museums, performing arts centers and corporations! Voted Glassdoor’s Employee Choice Awards- Best Places to Work,This is R/A !

This position is eligible for an Employee Referral Bonus! If you know someone that is qualified for this role, please use the ‘job search’ in PeopleHub to refer your referral and email them a link to apply. Your referral will be able to apply by clicking the link in the email. You can check the status through your profile, accessible via Careers in PeopleHub, by clicking on ‘referral tracking.’ For Employee Referral guidelines, FAQs and the Compass Employee Referral Policy, email [email protected].

Job Summary

The Director of Design & Style is responsible for shaping and elevating the visual expression of our food, hospitality and retail experiences. With a strong point of view and an exceptional eye for detail, this role translates culinary and hospitality concepts into cohesive, compelling environments that feel thoughtful, relevant and distinctive. The position reports to the Senior Vice President of Creative and Strategy.

From initial concept development and mood boarding through space planning, tabletop, service wares, uniforms, merchandising and final styling, the Director of Design & Style ensures every visual touchpoint contributes to the guest experience and brings the concept to life. Highly collaborative, this position works closely with Culinary, Marketing, Operations, and Design & Construction to develop concepts that are creatively compelling and operationally sound.

The ideal candidate is a tastemaker and highly collaborative creative thinker who understands that memorable hospitality is created through hundreds of intentional details — the shape of the plate, the height of the display, the texture of a uniform, the placement of a product, and how those choices work together. They have a keen sense of style and an instinct for what feels current without being overly trend-driven, creating environments that feel considered rather than decorated.

Key Responsibilities

Lead visual development of new and evolving food, beverage and hospitality concepts, from mood boards and material palettes through final styling.
Translate brand, culinary and hospitality strategies into a clear, cohesive visual language, with hands-on responsibility for set-ups of new units, refreshes and renovations.
Identify emerging trends in hospitality, restaurants, retail, fashion and interiors, translating relevant ideas into fresh approaches for the business.
Help shape servery, café, restaurant, marketplace and amenity environments from planning through opening, participating in reviews, mock-ups, installations and openings to carry design intent through execution.
Lead selection of tabletop, china, glassware, flatware, serving pieces, display vessels and smallwares, and develop uniform programs, balancing aesthetics with durability, functionality, inclusivity, cost and operational needs.
Develop merchandising strategies and visual standards for cafés, markets and grab-and-go environments, and style food displays, buffets, counters and catering presentations to support navigation, storytelling and sales.
Partner with Culinary on food presentation, Marketing and Creative on brand storytelling, and Operations to keep concepts practical and executable.
Coordinate with vendor partners on sourcing, logistics and deliveries, and present concepts to leadership and clients with clarity and confidence.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience

Strong background in interior design, hospitality design, retail design, visual merchandising, experiential design, styling or a related discipline, with experience developing concepts from inspiration through execution.
Exceptional visual sensibility — a sophisticated understanding of color, material, proportion, composition, texture and presentation, and how design influences the guest experience.
Experience with tabletop, service wares, merchandising, uniforms and/or food presentation strongly preferred.
Ability to read and respond thoughtfully to architectural plans, elevations and design documentation….