Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Creative

Location: Hybrid in New York, NY (preferred)
Reports to: Chief Commercial Officer
Works closely with: Chief Brand Officer & Founder

Role type: Exempt

About PopUp Bagels

PopUp Bagels is not just a bagel company—we’re a cultural movement. Our stores are small, our vibes are loud, and our energy is contagious. From signature neon and iconic bullhorns to our “Not Famous but Known” mirror, we’ve reimagined not just how a bagel is created, but how it’s enjoyed: Grip, Rip and Dip! With a cult-like following, massive social presence, and unparalleled collaborations with top companies, partners and Brand Ambassadors PopUp Bagels is defining a new food lifestyle brand.

We keep things simple, but we do them really, really well. And our customers agree.

The Role

We are seeking a Director of Creative to be the steward and accelerator of the PopUp Bagels brand. This person will lead the look, feel, and storytelling across every touchpoint—store design, photography, packaging, digital, social, and beyond—and partner closely with the marketing team and Chief Brand Officer/Founder to bring all areas to life. In this hands-on role that is equal parts visionary and executor, this leader will ensure that PopUp Bagels continues to stand apart as a brand that defines culture, not just follows trends.

This role is currently an individual contributor who will roll up their sleeves to execute on strategy and brand vision. This role has the ability to scale into team leadership as the brand grows.

What You’ll Do

• Brand Stewardship
  • Evolve and protect the PopUp Bagels identity across all creative touchpoints.
  • Build and maintain brand guidelines, toolkits, and creative playbooks (tone, look/feel, brand books).
  • Balance consistency with local differentiation for new store builds.
• Creative Development
  • Lead concepting and execution for all creative assets: packaging, in-store design elements, window clings, out-of-home, photography (lifestyle + product), in-store and web merchandise, and menu imagery.
  • Partner with Social/Marketing to create and review compelling assets for organic and paid campaigns across Meta, TikTok, Google, and OOH.
• Store Builds & Experience
  • Work with Operations, ELT, and Franchisees to bring the brand to life in physical environments.
  • Oversee placement of brand elements (neon, wall features, art, photography) in new stores.
  • Travel as needed to ensure execution aligns with brand vision.
  • Partner with Event teams to design and brand on site activations
• Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Partner closely with the Chief Brand Officer & Founder to translate vision into tangible creative output.
  • Collaborate with Franchisees, the ELT, and our PE partners to ensure creative strategies align with growth objectives.
  • Provide direction to agencies, photographers, and vendors to deliver best-in-class creative.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience: 6–10+ years in creative leadership roles (agency or in-house), ideally with experience in consumer brands, food, or lifestyle. Demonstrated previous experience in Retail/Franchising industries preferred.
• Brand-Building Expertise: Deep understanding of how to craft and evolve brand systems that are distinctive, scalable, and culturally relevant.
• Creative Range: Proven ability to work across visual identity, digital, packaging, photography, OOH, and in-store environments.
• Cultural Fluency: Ability to distinguish between fads and lasting cultural relevance—keeping the brand always “on the beat.”
• Detail-Driven: Obsessive about craft, polish, and execution—no detail is too small.
• Hands-On: Equally comfortable rolling up sleeves to design/direct assets as you are presenting to executives and investors.
• Collaborative: Strong interpersonal skills; able to partner with diverse stakeholders from founders to franchisees.
• Flexibility: Willing to travel to oversee store builds, installations, and activations.
• Location: Based in New York (preferred), with ability to work hybrid/remote as needed.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong portfolio showcasing brand storytelling across multiple mediums.
• Highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects) and/or Figma.
• Experience directing photography, video, and production shoots.
• Knowledge of social media creative best practices (Meta, TikTok, etc.).
• Familiarity with retail/OOH creative and vendor management.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to conceptualize and execute in equal measure to further brand strategy and vision.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally.

• Must be able to travel 10-25% to oversee store builds, installations, and activations.

Why Join PopUp Bagels?

• Be part of one of the fastest-growing, most buzzworthy food brands in the country.
• Shape a brand that’s more fashion and lifestyle than QSR.
• Collaborate with a visionary founder, a passionate leadership team, and culture-defining partners.
• Build a role and a team from the ground up as the company scales nationally.

Additional Role Note:

The duties of this position may change from time to time. PopUp Bagels reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of PopUp Bagels or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general work level. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

PopUp Bagels is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, age, ancestry, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related condition, unemployment status, gender identity or expression, transgender status or gender dysphoria, marital status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, national origin, citizenship, disability, covered veteran and/or military status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, familial status as that term is described under other protected statuses or any other characteristic as protected under applicable federal, state and local law.

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