Tour Director Manager

We are seeking a Tour Director Manager for a full time and direct hire role for one of our amazing partners in the travel & tour industry. This role can either be remote or in-person.

They are a leading provider of domestic and international group travel tours for U.S. based travelers. Their Tour Directors are essential to bringing these journeys to life, and they are looking for a leader to manage and elevate this team. This Manager will be responsible for overseeing the scheduling, recruiting, training, and performance of their network of freelance Tour Directors. You will ensure that every group departure is staffed with the right person for the right trip while maintaining consistent service quality across all tours. In addition to coordinating day-to-day logistics, you will also be responsible for training initiatives and organizing the annual Tour Director Symposium.

Responsibilities:

• You will coordinate and manage Tour Director assignments for over 300 annual group departures. This includes aligning skills, availability, preferences, and trip requirements.
• Handle any last-minute changes to ensure smooth coverage and minimal disruption to the guest experience.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date scheduling records and availability databases.
• Develop and deliver onboarding and ongoing training programs focused on their unique group travel products, standards, and guest expectations.
• Ensure Tour Directors are fully briefed on itinerary-specific nuances, operational protocols, and traveler profiles.
• Work with internal teams to create and distribute updated training materials, manuals, and briefing tools.
• Review all post-tour guest evaluations and internal Tour Director reports to monitor performance and service levels.
• Address any performance concerns with coaching, additional training, or reassignment, when needed.
• Maintain a minimum performance standard across all tours, using data-driven insights to support decisions.
• Serve as the primary liaison for Tour Directors to offer support, feedback, and information throughout the season.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships to foster retention, morale, and alignment with company values.
• Lead regular communications to keep Tour Directors informed and engaged.
• Plan and execute the annual Tour Director Symposium which includes agenda development, training sessions, speaker coordination, and logistics.
• Use the symposium as a key opportunity to align Tour Directors with the companys goals, share updates, and reinforce standards and culture.
• Analyze trends in scheduling, feedback, and tour execution to identify opportunities for process and service improvements.
• Prepare regular reports and insights for internal stakeholders related to the Tour Directors performance, training impact, and staffing efficiency.

Requirements:

• Must have worked in the travel industry for 2+ years, but experience in tour or cruise operations is preferred.
• Experience managing and scheduling Tour Directors is preferred.
• Comfortable analyzing guest feedback and using data to drive people decisions.
• Proficient with scheduling, CRM, or tour operations platforms.
• Passion for the travel industry and a good understanding of what creates memorable, well-executed guest experiences.
• Strong organizational and logistical skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Confident communicator with excellent interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. You must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.