Istanbul Lead Food Tour Guide

Istanbul Lead and Senior Tour Guide – Food Tours

Istanbul Metropolitan Area

Contract Type: Part-time, On-site (with some flexibility)

About Eating Europe

Eating Europe has been a leading culinary tour operator since 2011, delivering immersive food and drink experiences across 20 of Europe’s most sought-after destinations. Our experiences range from small-group food tours and cooking classes to wine tastings, craft beer tours, truffle hunts, and bespoke culinary events.

We proudly partner with global travel brands such as Seabourn, Disney, and Uniworld, and deliver private and corporate events for companies including Google and Microsoft. With over 650,000 guests hosted and 20,000+ five-star Tripadvisor reviews, Eating Europe has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times and BBC.

Role Overview

The Istanbul Operations Lead and Senior Tour Guide is a hands-on leadership role responsible for both delivering exceptional culinary tours and overseeing the day-to-day operations of Eating Europe in Istanbul.

This role combines guiding, operational ownership, and local market development. You will act as the local ambassador for the Eating Europe brand, ensuring high standards of guest experience, strong relationships with local partners, and the smooth running and growth of the Istanbul operation.

Key Responsibilities

Tour Delivery & Guest Experience

• Lead the majority of food tours once the city is operational, delivering engaging, informative, and memorable guest experiences.
• Share compelling stories around Turkey's history, culture, and food scene.
• Ensure consistently high levels of customer satisfaction and service excellence.
  
  
• Handle guest feedback, complaints, and service recovery professionally and effectively.
  
  

City Operations & Leadership

• Oversee all operational aspects of the city operation.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and manage a freelance team of food tour guides.
• Ensure compliance with all Eating Europe operating procedures, service standards, and brand values.
• Act as the primary local point of contact for operational matters.
  
  

Vendor & Partner Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local food vendors, venues, and suppliers.
• Identify and onboard new vendors aligned with Eating Europe quality and brand standards.
• Actively seek partnerships with local stakeholders and third parties to support brand growth and sales.
  
  

Product Development & Growth

• Identify opportunities for new tours or product enhancements within Istanbul
• Collaborate with the Product Innovation team to develop and refine new experiences.
• Contribute to the ongoing growth, profitability, and performance of the Istanbul market.
  
  

Commercial & Performance Management

• Manage city-level profitability, ensuring revenue, cost, and guest satisfaction targets are met.
• Support upselling and promotion of tour-related products where appropriate.
• Prepare and deliver presentations related to products, services, or local initiatives as required.
  
  

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate:

• Has a genuine passion for food, drink, and storytelling.
• Takes pride in delivering outstanding experiences and striving for excellence.
• Is confident working autonomously and making decisions.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, seven-day-a-week operational environment.
• Is organised, solution-focused, and comfortable juggling multiple priorities.
• Enjoys leading and managing freelance teams.
• Is creative, flexible, and calm under pressure.
• Has strong time-management and project-management skills.
• Is goal-oriented and commercially aware.
  
  

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience guiding tours or delivering guest-facing experiences (culinary, cultural, or similar).
• Strong interest in history, culture, and food.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Sales confidence and ability to enhance guest experiences through thoughtful upselling.
• In-depth local knowledge of Istanbul and its culinary scene.
• Fluency in English and Turkish (additional languages are a plus).
• An existing network of local or international partners is advantageous.
  
  

What We Offer

• A unique growth opportunity within a fast-growing international company.
• High levels of autonomy and trust to shape the Istanbul operation.
• A collaborative, creative, and food-loving international team.
• Flexible working hours (flexibility works both ways).
• Competitive compensation based on experience and skills.
• Opportunity for remote work where applicable.
  
  

Interested?

Please send your CV and cover letter to [email protected], telling us:

• Why you are a great fit for this role
• What your favourite food in Istanbul is

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