At a Glance
- Tasks: Plan and deliver unforgettable group travel events across the UK and Europe.
- Company: A people-focused educational travel business in Surrey with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, 25 days leave, health support, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Why this job: Lead exciting events and make a real impact in a supportive team environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in travel operations, strong customer service, and leadership skills required.
- Other info: Office-based role with potential for flexibility and regular travel to events.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are recruiting on behalf of a growing, people-focused educational travel business based in Surrey that specialises in delivering exceptional group events and educational travel experiences across the UK and Europe. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced travel operations professional who enjoys taking ownership, supporting a team, and being hands-on in delivering memorable events. You’ll be joining a collaborative, energetic environment where customer experience and teamwork are genuinely valued.
What will I be doing?
- Taking responsibility for the smooth planning and delivery of group travel events from start to finish.
- Supporting and developing junior team members, working closely with the Operations Manager.
- Coordinating key elements such as venues, accommodation, transport and event logistics.
- Liaising with clients to gather requirements, confirm details and ensure a seamless journey.
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and partners.
- Managing budgets, monitoring costs and protecting margins.
- Overseeing multiple groups travelling at the same time, ensuring all details are accurate and delivered on schedule.
- Travelling to events and leading operations on the ground, managing timings, logistics and resolving issues in real time.
- Contributing ideas to improve processes, efficiency and the overall customer experience.
- Participating in an occasional out-of-hours duty rota following a qualifying period.
What experience do I need?
- Solid experience within travel operations, ideally involving group tours or events.
- Previous experience leading or mentoring team members.
- A strong customer service background with confident written and verbal communication skills.
- Commercial awareness and experience working to budgets and deadlines.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to juggle multiple priorities.
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
- Good working knowledge of Excel.
- Desirable experience includes knowledge of the school travel market, group tour operations, sporting events or French language skills.
What else do I need to know?
- Office-based role in Surrey with potentially some flexibility on this in the future.
- Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week with flexible start and finish times available.
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service.
- Pension scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support.
- Ongoing training and development opportunities.
- Regular travel to events in the UK and Europe.
- A genuinely supportive, team-driven culture where ideas and initiative are welcomed.
If you are an experienced travel operations professional who enjoys ownership, leadership and delivering outstanding events, we would love to hear from you.
Senior Operations Coordinator in Surrey employer: Rockpool Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Rockpool Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Operations Coordinator in Surrey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the travel industry and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have a lead or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Get social! Follow companies you're interested in on LinkedIn and engage with their posts. This shows your enthusiasm and keeps you on their radar when they’re looking for someone like you.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to operations coordination. Think about how you can showcase your experience in managing events and leading teams effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed, and we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Operations Coordinator in Surrey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Operations Coordinator role. Highlight your travel operations experience, especially with group events, and don’t forget to mention any leadership roles you've had!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about educational travel and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our team. Be sure to mention specific examples of your past successes in similar roles.
Show Off Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves liaising with clients and suppliers, make sure your written application showcases your communication prowess. Keep it clear, concise, and professional while still letting your personality shine through!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team. Plus, we love seeing applications come in through our own platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rockpool Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of travel operations, especially group events. Brush up on your knowledge about logistics, budgeting, and customer service, as these are key areas they'll be focusing on during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since the role involves supporting and developing junior team members, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully led or mentored others in the past. Highlight any specific situations where your leadership made a difference.
✨Be Ready to Problem-Solve
Prepare for situational questions that test your ability to handle challenges on the ground. Think of examples where you’ve had to think on your feet and resolve issues quickly, especially in a travel context.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Customer Experience
This company values customer experience highly, so come armed with stories that illustrate your commitment to delivering exceptional service. Discuss how you’ve gone above and beyond to ensure clients have a memorable experience.