Job Description

Group Tour Operations Manager

The role:

As Group Tour Operations Manager, you will be at the heart of delivering our Small Group Tours across Japan, South Korea and future destinations. Acting as the operational engine of the programme, you’ll ensure operational readiness, take the lead on resolving operational challenges, and ensure our departures run smoothly while protecting both customer experience and margins.

You’ll work cross-functionally with Sales, Product, Booking Delivery, and Field Operations, acting as the key operational contact point and escalation lead. Alongside this, you’ll take ownership of major annual projects such as service allocation and play a central role in shaping processes, systems, and continuous improvements across the programme.

If you’re motivated by complex problem-solving, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and want to play a defining role in delivering exceptional travel experiences, we’d love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities:

• Oversee the day-to-day operational management of our Small Group Tours, ensuring departures are fully prepared to run smoothly

• Act as the first point of escalation for operational issues, coordinating cross-team responses and making time-critical decisions

• Lead the annual group tour allocation project, including sourcing, contracting and ensuring services align with budgets and availability

• Monitor upcoming departures, proactively identifying risks and implementing mitigations

• Coordinate closely with internal teams (Sales, Product, Booking Delivery, Field Operations, Customer Experience) to ensure alignment and clear communication

• Manage operational relationships with suppliers and key external partners

• Oversee and maintain customer-facing documentation (tour dossiers, website content, Info Packs)

• Drive continuous improvement of operational processes, systems and workflows

• Analyse feedback and performance data to identify opportunities to enhance customer experience and efficiency

• Deliver training and guidance to internal teams to support operational excellence

What we are looking for from you:

• Strong operational or sales experience within the travel industry, ideally in group tours or a similar environment

• In-depth knowledge of Japan and/or South Korea as travel destinations

• Highly organised with the ability to manage complex workloads and prioritise effectively under pressure

• A calm, solutions-oriented mindset and confidence in decision-making

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and with external partners

• Strong attention to detail and high levels of accuracy

• Comfortable using systems and data (including Excel) to support operational delivery

• We’re looking for someone who brings energy, enthusiasm, and a genuine passion for travel — someone who enjoys making complex logistics run seamlessly and delivering outstanding customer experiences.

You don’t need to meet every requirement. If you’re motivated, passionate, and think you’d be a great fit, we would love to hear from you. As an equal opportunities' employer, we're committed to making our recruitment process inclusive, accessible, and welcoming for everyone. If you require any adjustments or accommodations to support you during the recruitment process, please let us know.

What you get in return:

• 23 days annual leave

• Day off on your birthday

• Volunteering leave

• Employee Assistance Program

• Designated learning and development time

• Annual discretionary performance bonus

• Japanese Health insurance, employee pension scheme, employment insurance and labour accident compensation insurance

• Annual Health Check

• Regular staff socials

• Opportunity for hybrid/remote working

Why work with us:

At Inside Travel Group, we value Knowledge, Friendliness, Passion, Determination, Quality, and Integrity. We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, supported, and inspired to do their best work. We celebrate the different cultures, perspectives, lifestyles, and experiences that shape our team, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities.

We will be reviewing and interviewing candidates on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. Due to the high volume of applications, we may close the application process before the stated deadline if we receive enough qualified candidates OR We receive a high number of applications, so please do submit your application as soon as possible. We may close applications before the date mentioned above if we receive enough suitable applicants.

How to apply:

We will be reviewing and interviewing candidates on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. Due to the high volume of applications, we may close the application process before the stated deadline if we receive enough qualified candidates. Please note that all applicants must have the legal right to work in Japan.

Closing Date: 2nd June, 2026