Job Description
Director of Marketing — Luna Grill Mediterranean Restaurants
Carlsbad, CA (Hybrid – 3 days in-office/week) | San Diego County Preferred
Salary: $175k – $200k + Bonus
Travel: Up to 5%
What started as a promise from two parents to their children has evolved into one of the fastest-growing Mediterranean restaurant brands in the country — fueled by the world’s undisputed #1 diet for 9 consecutive years.
With 60+ restaurants across CA, TX, and AZ — and opening nearly one new restaurant every month in 2027 — Luna Grill is entering one of the most exciting growth chapters in our history.
Our momentum is real:
✔ Positive restaurant sales for 5+ years
✔ Positive transaction growth for 11 consecutive quarters
✔ Industry-leading guest scores and retention metrics
✔ A people-first culture built on recognition, growth, coaching, and connection
Luna Grill is seeking a Director of Marketing to lead brand strategy as we expand into new markets. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, this role owns how Luna Grill builds relevance, ease, and distinction with fitness-minded, better-for-you guests — driving loyalty, visits, and revenue growth across all channels.
At Luna Grill, our purpose has been clear for the last 20+ years:
to inspire good food and lifestyle choices and we need someone who can make it impossible to ignore.
What you'll actually be doing:
• Build and lead the strategic marketing roadmap to support business growth and market expansion
• Lead cross-functional partners across operations, culinary, and finance to bring the marketing calendar to life.
• Recruit, coach, and lead a team of marketing professionals
• Drive digital and social media strategy, testing new platforms and formats to reach target audiences
• Partner with the Director of Digital Marketing to grow loyalty (Luna Rewards), SMS, and delivery platform performance
• Collaborate with culinary teams on menu innovation and limited-time offer (LTO) strategy, including naming, pricing, and packaging
• Direct creative development and manage the agency of record for consistent brand messaging across digital, social, print, and in-restaurant channels
• Lead public relations, influencer marketing, and partnerships with gyms, studios, and athletic organizations
• Serve as a key contact for brand reputation and crisis communications
• Analyze market research and guest data to identify trends and inform strategy
• Develop local marketing plans for new restaurant openings and underperforming locations
• Track marketing performance against KPIs and translate data into actionable recommendations
• Manage the marketing budget, including channel allocation and agency/vendor contracts
• Monitor competitive activity within the health, wellness, and sports nutrition categories
What you bring:
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or related field
• 7-10 years of experience in brand, digital, or growth marketing
• 5+ years of experience in a marketing leadership role
• Experience in multi-unit restaurant marketing or adjacent health, fitness, or sports nutrition industries preferred
• Strong background in digital and social media marketing, including current platforms and trends
• Experience managing multi-million-dollar marketing budgets and agency relationships
• Strong analytical, strategic, and communication skills
• Experience in e-commerce and conversion optimization
• Passion for food, fitness, or retail food preparation is a plus
Why Luna Grill:
You'll work out of our brand-new Restaurant Support Center in Carlsbad, CA. A short walk from the beach, with a hybrid schedule (3 days in-office) and a people-first culture that means what it says. Bring your dog. Bring your ambition. Leave your ego at the door.
Whether your background is in QSR, fast casual, food & beverage, or health and wellness, if you know how to build a brand people are genuinely loyal to, we want to talk.
Luna Grill participates in E-Verify for all positions.
E-Verify is an internet-based system operated by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the eligibility of new employees to work in the United States. E-Verify checks information provided on an employee’s Form I-9 electronically against records contained in DHS and SSA databases.
Luna Grill is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment to our team members, job applicants, the guests we serve, and the communities we call home. Luna Grill also has a longstanding policy of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of discrimination, including harassment, because of race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
