Procurement Specialist – EF World JourneysProductAt 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!
Role summaryAs a Procurement Specialist, you are responsible for ensuring cost-effective, quality accommodation solutions (from hostels to farmhouses to 4-stars hotels) that are in line with each product’s identity. You’ll do this by negotiating contracts, managing relationships with suppliers, helping map strategy, contributing to itinerary development, and managing budgets.
Core responsibilities- Market expertise: Further foster your existing strongknowledge of the Spanish and Portuguese market and expertise through constant networking and research, competition awareness, and industry insights
- Source, contract, & allocate: Identify, acquire, and allocate all services and suppliers for our groups in the Spanish and Portuguesemarket.
- Supplier relationship management: Maintain a positive and constructive relationship with existing and potential suppliers in the Spanish and Portuguese market, in keeping with cross-product sourcing strategy
- 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
- Customer Experience: Work to balance cost and quality and achieve cross-product requirements
- Budget & Cost control: Devise, monitor, and adhere to budgets
- Strategy creation: Analysis of market & industry trends, competition analysis & awareness, build a robust, scalable supplier portfolio, maximize chain relationships, collaborate across tours departments
- Safety & Quality Control: Ensure suppliers fulfill all safety and quality criteria
- Administrative: Ensure all contracts, allocations and supplier updates are managed and that all safety and cost guidelines are adhered to up until 30 days before departure (DPD). Ensure smooth handover with Procurement Operations Specialist who is responsible for relationship from 30 DPD until post tour
Key attributes- Networked: You’re an influential communicator who cultivates relationships and builds upon your existing networks in the Spanish and Portuguese Market with both internal and external stakeholders. You’ve got a finger on the pulse of competition, industry trends, and changes in the market.
- Strategic: You’re forward-thinking, analytical, and responsible. You’re cost-conscious, efficient, and capable of executing the vision of multiple products.
- 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.
- Negotiation skills: You’re able to leverage your network and use the tools at your disposal to strike a deal and execute on your overall strategy.
- Willingness to travel: You’re prepared to spend time on the road learning your market and cultivating relationships.
- Language skills: Full fluency In Spanish and fluent in English
Qualifications- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- 1-3 years’ experience in travel, tourism, educational travel, or online travel agency industry is preferred
- 2-3 years’ procurement experience is strongly preferred
- Strong interest in the tourism industry
- Passion for travel
- 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 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 products.
- 15% off in-house childcare service
EF World Journeys is a subsidiary of EF Education FirstAbout EF Education FirstAt 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#LI-AN1