Operations Manager

Operations Manager – Travel Sector
Are you an experienced travel operations professional with a passion for logistics, team leadership, and delivering exceptional customer experiences? We are recruiting an Operations Manager role within the educational travel sector, offering a fantastic opportunity to lead overseas delivery and transport logistics for school trips. This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Brighton, with occasional overseas travel required. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy working collaboratively to improve processes and service delivery, this could be the perfect next step in your career. Salary of up to £37k depending on experience.

Operations Manager – Role & Responsibilities:

• Lead the Transport Team to quote, book, and administer flights and ground transport at competitive rates
• Oversee forecasting of transport spend and future pricing for planning purposes
• Provide regular updates to internal teams and assist Customer Service with transport-related queries or claims
• Ensure all transport providers meet compliance standards, including health & safety audits and contracts.
•  Continuously improve team processes and deliver training on systems and workflows
• Manage logistics, recruitment, and training of overseas staff, including Guides and Tour Reps
• Ensure operational paperwork is prepared and distributed to overseas representatives. 
• Support the overseas operation and support the Duty Office with escalations, managing rotas effectively
• Identify and implement operational efficiencies to enhance delivery and team performance

Operations Manager – Skills & Experience Required:

• Proven experience in travel / transport operations, ideally within group travel
• Familiarity with Amadeus or other GDS preferred
• Strong supplier relationship management and contract negotiation skills
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Confident communicator, both written and verbal
• Comfortable leading a team and collaborating across departments
• Calm under pressure and adaptable to changing situations
• Practical, solutions-focused mindset
• Willingness to travel overseas during peak periods
• Clean driving licence and ability to drive abroad
• DBS clearance required (or willingness to obtain)

Operations Manager – Additional Information:

• Hybrid working – minimum 3 days/week in office after initial induction period
• £33,000 – £37,000 per annum (depending on experience)
• 20 days + bank holidays + birthday off

Please apply for the position of Operations Manager online or email your cv to lisa@candm.co.uk