Innovation & Concept Manager

Besler; Üsküdar; On-site; TRY 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Besler seeks an experienced Brand/Innovation Manager to drive growth across frozen foods, canned goods, and margarine categories within the Yıldız Holding group. The role centers on identifying consumer needs, developing value propositions, and shaping end-to-end GTM plans for new initiatives.

You will lead cross-functional teams, build business cases, and manage MVPs, with a focus on scaling concepts and tracking post-launch performance in a dynamic FMCG environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Food Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related field.
• Solid experience in innovation frameworks (Stage-Gate, Agile, Lean Startup) and GTM planning.
• Proficiency in financial modeling, ROI analysis, and P&L management.
• Excellent English communication skills for global trend tracking and reporting.
• 8+ years of experience in Brand, Category or Innovation Management, preferably within FMCG.

Responsibilities

• Identify and analyze consumer needs and new category opportunities to drive strategic growth.
• Develop business models, value propositions, and brand/concept architectures for new initiatives.
• Build robust business cases, including pricing strategies, distribution channel selection, and GTM plans.
• Lead MVP/pilot development and execute consumer testing phases to validate concepts before full-scale launch.
• Define, track, and report post-launch KPIs and success metrics.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, Sales, Finance, Supply Chain) to ensure end-to-end alignment.

Skills

Innovation management

Brand management

GTM planning

Financial modeling

English proficiency

New product development

Design Thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing or related field

Master's degree is a plus

Job description

Our journey at Yıldız Holding began in 1944 with the production of petit beurre biscuits under the Ülker brand. With our unwavering commitment to quality and the right strategic steps, we now serve our consumers with a wide range of products under the Yıldız Holding umbrella—from biscuits and chocolate to frozen food, personal care products, and meat products. Today, we are the largest food manufacturer in CEEMEA (Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), with over 300 brands, 80,000 employees, and operations in more than 130 countries.

What started in 1944 in Istanbul has grown into a global food and snack powerhouse, reaching 4 billion people across 5 continents with more than 300 brands. Supported by 80,000 employees, most of whom are based in Turkey, we aim to continuously improve. We produce a wide range of products in 45 factories—20 of which are abroad—including biscuits, chocolate, frozen foods, and packaging. We constantly raise the bar in economic contribution, employment, exports, social solidarity, and sustainability. Guided by our motto “Make People Happy, Be Happy,” we have been spreading happiness for over 80 years through our products, services, and sustainable social responsibility efforts.

About Besler:

Besler, the second-largest publicly traded food company within Yıldız Holding, reaches 19.5 million households and appears on approximately 61 million plates every year with 1,500 products across 57 brands in 16 different categories.

Since our inception, together with our subsidiaries, we have been committed to providing high-quality, healthy, and reliable products in the frozen food, canned food, and margarine markets. Our journey, which began with seafood exports in 1977, has now positioned us as one of the leading companies in the food industry, delivering our products to consumers in over 60 countries across 6 continents through years of dedicated investment.

In the frozen food category, brand Superfresh; we produce bakery products, vegetables and fruits, potatoes and croquettes, meat products, desserts, and frozen bakery goods. In the canned food category, we offer tuna and vegetable preserves. Besler is the only company in Turkey to offer products across all frozen food categories, maintaining its leadership in the domestic fresh frozen food market.

In the oils category, we serve our customers with consumer margarines, out-of-home consumption (OOHC) products, cooking oils, and cheese spreads. Under our three main categories—consumer margarine, OOHC (pastry, catering, and industrial oils), and cooking oils—we produce and sell leading brands such as Bizim Yağ, Teremyağ, Luna, Ona, Ustam, and Evet. One of our subsidiaries, Marsa, maintains market leadership in OOHC with the brand “Ustam Pastry Oils.”

Besler’s sustainable growth and success are built on its commitment to consistent quality and customer satisfaction. Our sustainability-driven approach ensures we manage our environmental impact in line with international standards, working to secure the future of both our business and our planet. Through our “Investing in People” vision, we develop projects that foster fair, safe, and inclusive work environments—strengthening our reputation as one of the most desirable employers. With the support of the Yıldız Holding Women’s Platform, we take effective steps to promote gender equality and empower women in the workplace.

Does the idea of gaining a unique career experience at a leading and innovative brand that delivers practical, fresh, and delicious products through a healthy and secure value chain appeal to you?

To learn more about us: https://www.besler.com.tr/en

Follow our LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gidabesler/

What Are the Qualifications We Expect?

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Food Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related field; Master's degree is a plus.
• Solid experience in innovation frameworks (Stage-Gate, Agile, Lean Startup) and GTM planning.
• Proficiency in financial modeling, ROI analysis, and P&L management.
• Excellent English communication skills for global trend tracking and reporting.
• 8+ years of experience in Brand, Category or Innovation Management, preferably within FMCG.
• Experience in new product development and end‑to‑end innovation projects is an advantage.
• Creative problem‑solving with a focus on human‑centered design (Design Thinking).
• Exceptional storytelling and persuasion skills to present strategic concepts to executive leadership.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and lead cross‑functional projects in a fast‑paced environment.

What Awaits You, What Will Be Your Responsibilities?

• Identify and analyze consumer/need areas and new category opportunities to drive strategic growth.
• Develop comprehensive business models, value propositions, and brand/concept architectures for new initiatives.
• Build robust business cases, including pricing strategies, distribution channel selection, and Go-to-Market (GTM) plans.
• Lead MVP/pilot development and execute consumer testing phases to validate concepts before full‑scale launch.
• Define, track, and report post‑launch KPIs and success metrics to evaluate project performance.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (R&D, Sales, Finance, Supply Chain) to ensure end‑to‑end commercial and technical alignment.

Which Skills Will Highlight You?

• A consumer‑focused and innovation‑driven mindset with a passion for building meaningful brands.
• Ability to connect consumer insights, brand strategy and business performance.
• Curiosity about global food trends, consumer behaviors and new product opportunities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong collaboration skills, along with communication and influencing skills across cross‑functional teams.