Operation Manager

At Avolta, our people are at the driving force behind our success. With a team of over 76,000 individuals representing more than 150 nationalities, we are a truly global company driven by passion, innovation, and excellence.

Born from the combination of Dufry and Autogrill, Avolta is redefining the travel experience through the dedication and expertise of our diverse workforce. Across 73 countries and 1,000 locations, our teams bring energy, creativity, and commitment to delivering world-class travel retail and food & beverage experiences.

We operate across multiple channels - including airports, motorways, cruise ships, ports, railways, and more - offering endless opportunities for collaboration and growth. Our people are empowered to make an impact, supported by a culture that values teamwork, development, and innovation.

Sustainability and social responsibility are embedded in our strategy, ensuring we grow in a way that benefits both our employees and the communities we serve.

Are you looking for a dynamic, international career where your contributions truly matter? Join Avolta and be part of a team that’s shaping the future of travel - together.

In Türkiye, Avolta operates Duty Free and F&B stores at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, along with Duty Free stores at Kayseri and Çukurova Airports.

The position we are recruiting for will report directly to the Country General Manager and will provide corporate-level support across all retail operations.

We are looking for an experienced candidate to join our team as a Operation Manager, based at İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

This role oversees the overall commercial and operational performance of Duty Free shops, ensuring strong retail standards, profitable sales growth, and seamless collaboration with cross‑functional teams. It leads store teams, manages financial outcomes, and strengthens local relationships—particularly with airport authorities—to deliver a superior customer experience and sustainable business results.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the day‑to‑day management of all shops, ensuring smooth, compliant, and customer‑centric operations.
• Review daily, weekly, and monthly KPIs, identify performance gaps, and take corrective actions to support sales targets.
• Collaborate with the Country General Manager and Regional Manager to set and achieve revenue, cost, profit, and inventory goals.
• Conduct weekly operational meetings, share updates on sales trends, promotions, HR matters, and brand/category performance, and issue weekly action plans.
• Ensure accuracy in POS operations, cash controls, accounting records, and financial reporting.
• Monitor stock movement, replenishment, transfers, and inventory accuracy, ensuring all activities meet internal compliance requirements.
• Support execution of the SIP (Standard Implementation Process) and ensure alignment with global retail standards.
• Maintain strong, solution‑oriented relationships with airport authorities and external business partners.
• Lead, mentor, and coach Terminal/Store Managers to achieve commercial and operational excellence.
• Promote a positive work culture, effective communication, and strong employee engagement across all stores.
• Ensure staffing plans, shift schedules, and FTE utilization match operational needs.
• Use reporting tools and data insights for decision‑making, operational planning, and commercial strategy.
• Control store expenses, personnel cost ratios, inventory levels, and financial risks, contributing to P&L optimization.
• Support investment planning, store development initiatives, and growth projects in coordination with leadership.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree in a relevant field.
• Excellent command of English (spoken & written)
• Minimum 5 years of management experience in Retail, Travel Retail, or the broader retail/FMCG industry.
• Strong leadership capabilities with proven experience developing and motivating store teams.
• Solid understanding of retail business operations, commercial planning, and customer service excellence.
• Experience in P&L management, KPI analysis, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of retail concepts and airport retail dynamics.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to take fast and effective action.
• Experience in visual merchandising, assortment planning, and POS marketing.
• Ability to design, optimize, and execute operational workflows and retail processes.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders.
• Proficiency in MS Office tools
• High customer orientation, commercial acumen, and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.

Due to certain email system settings, some of our messages may occasionally land in your junk or spam folder. To ensure you don’t miss any important updates regarding your application, please check these folders regularly and mark our emails as ‘Not Spam’ if needed.

We look forward to connecting with you soon!