Ground Operations Manager

Our Company:

We are The Tour Guy, the leading provider of incredible tours and authentic experiences for all types of English-speaking travelers visiting destinations across Europe and the U.S.A.

Our mission is to help others make more out of life through experiencing destinations, culture, and learning. With a dedication to immersing ourselves in international culture, we have recruited an experienced team of guides with the ability to create the wow factor for fellow adventure seekers.

With loyalty to the customer, we follow the Golden Rule of travel: treat vacations like you want yours treated.

Our highly educated team is dedicated to creating an exclusivity factor, providing unique, once-in-a-lifetime tours, activities and experiences to travelers – from tours of the Vatican to authentic Parisian cooking classes, and everything in-between.

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Venice, Italy.

The Candidate:

The ideal candidate is a hyper-organized, sharp, and proactive operations professional who knows Venice inside and out. They are the connective tissue between our guides, suppliers, and travelers—making sure every tour runs smoothly, every partner relationship is strong, and every booking is consolidated efficiently.

They bring a problem-solver's mindset, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to juggle dozens of moving pieces without losing the details. They are comfortable negotiating with suppliers, coordinating guides, and owning the day-to-day on the ground—while also thinking one step ahead to prevent issues before they happen.

With fluency in Italian and English and a natural ability to build relationships, this candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes ownership of their work, and is excited to manage one direct report while reporting into the Director of Operations Europe.

Desired Experience

• 2+ years in tour operations, ground ops, or travel logistics
• 2+ years managing relationships with guides, freelancers, or independent contractors
• 2+ years managing supplier and vendor relationships (venues, transport, ticketing)
• 1+ years consolidating bookings, schedules, or operational workflows
• 1+ years negotiating rates, terms, and availability with suppliers

Key Skills & Technical Proficiencies

• Fluent in Italian and English (written and spoken)
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail:
• Excel ( Pivots, v lookups)
• Meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow relationships with our network of Venice guides, including scheduling, onboarding, and day-to-day communication
• Own supplier and vendor relationships—negotiating rates, terms, and availability with venues, transport, and ticketing partners
• Consolidate bookings across tours and suppliers to maximize efficiency and margins
• Coordinate daily tour logistics, ticketing, and timed entries across multiple tours per day
• Troubleshoot operational issues in real time and maintain backup options for every partner
• Manage one direct report, setting clear priorities and supporting their growth

What to Expect

As part of the interview process, shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a brief practical assignment. This is designed to give us a sense of your operational instincts, organizational approach, and how you handle real-world scenarios. We value your time and will keep the task focused, relevant, and respectful of your schedule.

Why Join Us?

You'll be working with a passionate team dedicated to making travel meaningful. If you're solution-oriented, reliable, and love being behind the scenes of a great experience, we'd love to hear from you.

At The Tour Guy we offer equal opportunities. We are committed to treat all candidates equally based on their skills, achievements and experience regardless of their race, nationality, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other classification protected by law.