Marketing / Public Relations Coordinator

Marketing / Public Relations Coordinator
Shota Omakase — Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Shota Omakase is a Michelin-starred Edomae sushi restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, founded by Chef Owner Cheng Lin. Since opening in August 2023, Shota has received significant recognition for its commitment to traditional Edomae sushi, exceptional Japanese ingredients, and Chef Cheng’s personal approach to sushi. Shota was recognized as a 2026 James Beard Awards semifinalist for Best Chef: New York State, in addition to its Michelin recognition and other national and New York City press.

We are looking for a passionate, creative, and highly motivated Marketing / Public Relations Coordinator to work closely with Chef Owner Cheng Lin and the Shota team. This is an in-house position, five days per week, approximately 8 hours per day, with a salary of $70,000 per year, depending on experience. This is not simply a social media position. We are looking for someone who wants to deeply understand Shota—our history, philosophy, food, culture, people, and the story behind what we do—and help communicate that story to the world.

The ideal candidate should have a genuine love for food, Japanese cuisine, sushi, and restaurant culture, with knowledge of or experience with Edomae-style sushi. You will work directly with Chef Owner Cheng Lin, learning about Shota’s history, philosophy, sourcing, ingredients, techniques, and the journey behind the restaurant. As Shota continues to grow, there may also be opportunities to travel with Chef Cheng for collaborations, guest chef events, pop-ups, and other projects. We are looking for someone who doesn’t simply want a marketing job.

We want someone who wants to become part of Shota’s story and help tell it authentically.

Who We Are Looking For
The ideal candidate:
Has a genuine love and passion for food, restaurants, Japanese cuisine, and sushi
Has a strong understanding of Japanese food culture
Has knowledge of or experience with Edomae-style sushi
Understands the importance of sushi beyond the fish—including rice, vinegar, wasabi, nikiri, technique, seasonality, and tradition
Is genuinely interested in learning about Shota’s history, philosophy, culture, and journey
Has strong photography and videography skills
Knows how to take beautiful, high-quality food and restaurant photographs
Can shoot, edit, and produce engaging short-form videos and Reels
Has excellent written and verbal communication skills
Is comfortable communicating with media, influencers, photographers, and industry professionals
Is organized, responsible, detail-oriented, and proactive
Can work independently while working closely with Chef Owner Cheng Lin
Has a strong sense of aesthetics, storytelling, and brand identity
Is willing to learn and grow with Shota for the long term
Is flexible and open to future travel with Chef Cheng for events, collaborations, pop-ups, and other Shota-related opportunities
Most importantly, we are looking for someone who loves food and wants to understand the story behind the food.

ResponsibilitiesSocial Media & Content
Manage and grow Shota’s Instagram and other social media platforms
Plan and maintain a consistent content calendar
Create, shoot, edit, and publish engaging content
Photograph sushi, ingredients, restaurant experiences, events, and behind-the-scenes moments
Shoot and edit short-form videos and Reels
Develop creative concepts for photography and video
Help tell Chef Cheng’s story and Shota’s philosophy through visual content
Maintain a consistent, sophisticated, and authentic Shota visual identity
Marketing & Brand Development
Develop and execute marketing initiatives in collaboration with Chef Cheng
Help strengthen Shota’s brand, reputation, and visibility
Promote seasonal menus, special events, collaborations, and other Shota experiences
Develop creative campaigns that communicate Shota’s identity and philosophy
Coordinate website updates and marketing materials
Help manage email marketing and guest communications
Identify opportunities to increase awareness, engagement, and reservations
Public Relations & Media
Build and maintain relationships with food writers, journalists, editors, influencers, photographers, and industry professionals
Coordinate media visits and press opportunities
Assist with PR campaigns and media outreach
Track Shota’s press coverage, awards, rankings, and mentions
Prepare information, photography, and other materials for media requests
Identify opportunities for Shota to be featured in relevant publications and platforms
Help communicate Shota’s story accurately and authentically to the media
Guest & Database Marketing
Develop marketing opportunities through our Resy and guest database
Create appropriate guest communications and email campaigns
Monitor guest engagement and marketing performance
Develop ideas to strengthen relationships with returning and new guests
Events & Collaborations
Help promote and coordinate Shota collaborations, sake events, guest chef dinners, and special events
Work closely with Chef Cheng before, during, and after events
Create photo and video content around collaborations and special experiences
Coordinate photography, video, media, and promotional needs for events
Assist with future pop-ups, travel, and special projects with Chef Cheng
Analytics & Results
Track social media and marketing performance
Monitor engagement, reach, audience growth, media coverage, and other relevant results
Provide regular updates and reports to Chef Cheng
Use data and results to improve future marketing efforts
Working Directly With Chef Owner Cheng Lin
This position will work closely and directly with Chef Owner Cheng Lin.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to learn firsthand about Chef Cheng’s career, Shota’s history, Edomae sushi, Japanese ingredients and traditions, and the philosophy behind the restaurant. You will be expected to spend time learning why Shota does things the way we do, not simply promoting the restaurant from the outside. Understanding Shota’s story is an important part of this position.

You should be curious about the ingredients we use, where they come from, how they are prepared, the importance of seasonality, and the philosophy behind each dish and each part of the guest experience. As the position develops, there may be opportunities to travel with Chef Cheng for collaborations, guest chef events, pop-ups, and other Shota projects. What We Value
At Shota, we value:
Passion. Humility. Curiosity. Responsibility. Attention to detail. Respect for tradition. Creativity. Continuous learning.

We are looking for someone who is not afraid to learn, ask questions, get involved, and take responsibility. You should be someone who sees a beautiful piece of fish, a bowl of sushi rice, a traditional technique, or a moment at the counter—and wants to understand the story behind it. You should also understand that marketing Shota means understanding Shota first.

Schedule & Compensation
Position: Marketing / Public Relations Coordinator
Location: Shota Omakase — Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Schedule: 5 days per week, approximately 8 hours per day
Salary: $70,000 per year, depending on experience
This is an in-house position and requires regular presence at Shota.

How to Apply
Please send:
Resume
Portfolio
Examples of photography and video work
Social media accounts or examples of social media work
Examples of marketing or PR work, if available
A brief introduction explaining why you would like to work with Shota
We are especially interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong food photography, videography, short-form video editing, storytelling, and an understanding of Japanese food and restaurant culture. We are looking for someone who wants to grow with Shota—not simply someone looking for a job.

If you love food, storytelling, Japanese culture, and hospitality, and you want to be part of the next chapter of Shota, we would love to hear from you.