Operations Specialist - EF World Journeys - EF Adventures

 Operations Specialist – EF World Journeys – EF Adventures   Product    At EF World Journeys, we believe that the best way to learn about the world is to experience it, and we strive to help as many people as possible share that experience. EF Go Ahead Tours and EF Ultimate Break are divisions of EF World Journeys and we make world travel easy. We want to empower travelers of all ages to get out there and experience something new on our guided tours. If you share this passion for opening the world, come work with us!   EF is set to launch a new tour product named EF Adventures, tailored for adventurous travelers who crave active exploration of the world. This innovative product will offer active tours centered around biking, hiking, walking, and multi-adventure experiences.  Role summary  As an Operations Specialist, you will be responsible for ensuring smooth operations of tours traveling to EMEA, managing both their planning and execution. You are responsible for ensuring cost-effective, quality accommodation solutions that are in line with the product’s identity and for planning the finer tour details to provide a smooth and enjoyable tour experience. To do this, you will acquire all components as specified below and manage their timing, flow, budget, and quality. You will also be responsible for communication with these suppliers and working with our Tour Directors to execute your vision. In your role you will also liaise with our Sales and Product Innovation teams situated in North America, to help develop itineraries and shape the product.   
Core responsibilities  

• Production Management: Build and execute a booking strategy for each experience (hotels, activity, meal, guides) and source ad-hoc suppliers, which meet cost and capacity limitations in line with set quality standards. 
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• Supplier relationship management: Maintain a positive and constructive relationship with existing and potential suppliers to provide an exceptional and authentic customer experience 
  
• Tour Director relationship management: Tour preparation and support, Tour Director community engagement and consultation, and ongoing incorporation of Tour Director feedback 
  
• Overall Customer Experience: Production planning, ensure seamless tour flow and consistency, execute custom itineraries, and liaise interdepartmentally to manage expectations and fulfil customer requests 
  
• Quality analysis: Rigorous and constant analysis of, and response to, quality results 
  
• Administrative: Ensure all contracts, bookings, invoices, and supplier communications are well-managed and that all safety and budget guidelines are adhered to EMEA, weather budget, starting time, growth change, etc. 
  

• Inventory management: Work closely with Inventory and relevant operations teams to tie operational needs to all products overall volume, itinerary strategy, and product development priorities 
  
• Processes and documentation: create and keep updated all relevant documentation 
  
• Product Development: Actively partner with our Product Development Team by identifying market opportunities, contributing to overarching product strategy, and maintaining & improving current portfolio 
  
• Risk and Safety Management: proactively manage and monitor potential risk exposure and safety concerns, as well as manage all on tour operational emergencies within portfolio. 
  
• Cross-team Collaboration: you will work closely with many of our departments in Operations, such as Procurement, Production, Tour Directors, Finance, Itinerary and Budget Management, Invoicing and Flights. You will also collaborate with other departments oversees, such as Sales, Customer Experience and Product Development. 
  
• Innovation and Tour Maintenance: you will be the expert for the region of your portfolio. In collaboration with our market development team, you will provide new ideas for activities, new tours, enhancing and developing current tours. 
  
• Technology: contribute to the development of technology solutions and the continuous improvement of current tools and processes 

 Component responsibilities 

• Accommodation

   Transportation

•  Meals

•  Entrance fees

•  Excursions & experiential activities including guides

•  Special events

Key attributes  

• Relationship management: You’re supportive, empathic, connected, and well-networked. You’ve got a finger on the pulse of competition, industry trends, and changes in the market. 
• Reactive: You can balance workload, manage urgency, and you can easily pivot between tasks. With strong communication and problem-solving skills, you face new challenges productively and collaboratively 
• Strategic: You’re forward-thinking, analytical, and responsible. You’re cost-conscious, efficient, and capable of executing the vision of the product. 

• Effective: You have a sense of responsibility and manage your time well. You’re comfortable working in the details, particularly with numbers and legal jargon. 
• Customer Experience: Your creativity promotes the development of itineraries and your eye for details helps you manage tour flow and consistency 
• Negotiation skills: You’re able to leverage your network and use the tools at your disposal to strike a deal and execute your overall strategy. 
• Willingness to travel: You’re prepared to spend time on the road learning your market and cultivating relationships 

 Requirements:  

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, preferably in business, economics, or tourism

   Experience in travel, tourism, adventure travel or online travel agency industry is preferred

•  Strong interest and network in the European tourism industry

•  Passion for travel

•  Strategic mindset whilst actively engaged to run day-to-day sourcing priorities

•  Solution oriented, open-minded and driven

•  Comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

•  Strong communication, social skills and cultural awareness

•  Fluency in English required. Fluency in French, Italian, or Spanish is advantageous

•  To be considered for this role, applicants must either be Swiss citizens, EU-nationals or have the legal right to live and work in Switzerland.

  Why you will love working with us    People at EF make things happen. We encourage you to take full ownership of your work, regardless of your level or experience. EF team members often say we operate like the world’s largest startup because this boundless entrepreneurial spirit is built into our organization’s DNA.  EF offers a wide range of benefits ready for our team members to enjoy themselves during weekends, after work and with friends & family, including   

• Discounted passes to local destinations and tourist hot-spots such as mt. Rigi or Kunsthaus Zurich.

• Full reimbursement of the SBB ‘halb-tax’ travel card, covering country-wide public transportation.
• Free membership for our newly built gym or get involved with our variety of sports teams.  
• Seasonal and monthly office events including holiday parties, ski trips and pay-day happy hours.
• Discounts on a wide range of local restaurants, shops, hotel stays and EF product
• 15% off in-house childcare service

  EF World Journeys is a subsidiary of EF Education First    About EF Education First    At EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we have helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and about themselves. Our culturally immersive education programs—focused on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics—turn dreams into international opportunities.  When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across 600 schools and offices in 50 countries, all with one shared mission of opening the world through education. Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about—we welcome you and want you to bring that to work every day. EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, ability, parental status, experience, and everything else that makes you unique.  Founded in Sweden in 1965, EF has schools and offices around the world, including hubs in Boston, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, Shanghai, Stockholm, Zürich, and more. Learn more at https://ef.com