Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead our tour operations in Edinburgh, managing guides and ensuring top-quality experiences.
- Company: Join Walks and Devour, global leaders in unforgettable travel experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy a laid-back culture, growth opportunities, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting team shaping the future of tours in a vibrant city.
- Qualifications: Experience in tourism and strong communication skills are essential; flexibility is key.
- Other info: This role requires a hands-on approach with a flexible schedule for tours and events.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 45000 £ per year.
Salary: £40,000-£45,000
About us:
Calling all travel and food lovers! We\’re Walks and Devour, global leaders in the tours and activities industry, part of the City Experiences family. We\’re a passionate, innovative team of travel enthusiasts dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences.
Join us in shaping the future of tours and activities. We\’re seeking smart and ambitious individuals who want to be part of something fast-paced and exciting. With us, you\’ll have room to grow and develop. Our culture is laid-back yet professional, fostering a collaborative and approachable environment. We celebrate diversity, creativity, and dynamism.
If you\’re ready to embark on an exciting journey, where you can make a difference and leave your mark, we\’d love to receive your application.
About You:
We are looking for a Ground Operations Manager who is a strong communicator, passionate about the tourism industry and eager to grow our operations in an emerging market. Our ideal candidate will be flexible, collaborative, self-starting and highly organized. This role will require a keen eye for detail and strong problem-solving ability. This person must have high energy, a \”can do attitude,\” and must also embody City Experiences’ RESPECT Service System.
About the Opportunity:
As Ground Operations Manager you will be responsible for our tour operations in Edinburgh, the newest city in the Walks and Devour portfolio. One of Europe\’s most exciting destinations, we are looking to develop our presence in the city, establishing ourselves in an increasingly competitive market. Your primary focus will be developing your guide team, hiring and training guides to deliver the top-quality experiences our brand is known for.
You will be our point of reference on the ground, managing relationships with any external partners or suppliers. You will also work closely with our central operations team to manage the day-to-day operations in Edinburgh, reporting to leadership on successes and challenges in the market. You will also collaborate with our product team on an as needs basis in the development of new walking tours, food tours, and day trips in the region.
Reporting to our Regional Director of Operations, you will be the chief gatherer of on-the-ground feedback – from guides, partners, and personal experience, safeguarding the quality of our experiences in the city. You’ll also report on the financial performance of each of our tours, helping to trouble-shoot discrepancies in tour costs and brainstorming ways to improve.
The ideal candidate will have prior experience in tourism, preferably in tours & activities specifically, with bonus points for working with and managing a team of Tour Guides. You should be excited to champion a team of hard workers that support our ever-expanding client base.
This role will be based in Edinburgh and will be responsible for supporting our continued growth through developing and nourishing a network of Guides and Suppliers. This is not a typical desk job; we expect you to be out and about, trialling new products and maintaining the quality of existing products, meeting with suppliers and tour guides, networking and creating opportunities for growth. You would need to be available to work on a flexible schedule with the occasional need to be present for tours departing from Edinburgh early in the morning and for off-schedule events and travel.
Your responsibilities:
- Procedures & Documentation: develop and upkeep all relevant Guide & Product documentation
- Be responsible operation in Edinburgh: managing the day-to-day operations and post-tour reconciliation
- Manage the working relationship with a wide range of partners such as sites, restaurants and other food tour vendors, transport suppliers, any other external partner/operator; including setting up agreements, negotiating rates and maintaining relationships
- Recruitment, onboarding, and training of guides
- Guide scheduling & optimal staffing: ensuring we have enough high-quality guides to meet demand
- Guide engagement: Interpret and apply global engagement strategy including the planning and execution of regular guide events
- Guide communications & support
- Ground Operations Quality: ensuring consistent quality of our Guide pool, through regular training, feedback and monitoring.
- Accounting: Guide and Vendor Invoicing and Cash & Ticket distribution and tracking, as well as any other expenses needed to run daily operations
- Assisting with product development and redevelopment, where product revisions are required or requested
- Carefully monitor and report on market performance and proactively strive to improve our margins, procedures, efficiencies and quality
- Material and Branding: procurement and distribution
- Workflow support for Operations team where volume requires
- Provide Ground support in case of emergency/need/high flux
Your Skills:
- Previous experience in tourism is a big plus, especially if it’s guiding or in an operations role
- Excellent organizational skills
- Professionally efficient in all forms of communication
- Dependability, candor, strong work ethic, time management are all pre-requisites
- High attention to detail required
- Strong technical skills, and the ability to learn multiple systems in a fast-paced environment
- Fluency in English
- Familiarity with Microsoft suite, Asana, Slack desired
Walks | Ground Operations Manager employer: Walks
Contact Detail:
Walks Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Walks | Ground Operations Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the tourism landscape in Edinburgh. Research local attractions, popular tours, and emerging trends in the market. This knowledge will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the tourism industry, especially those who have experience in managing tour operations or guiding. Attend local tourism events or join online forums to connect with potential colleagues and gain insights into the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully handled challenges in previous roles. Be ready to discuss specific situations where you improved operations or enhanced customer experiences.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your passion for travel and food by sharing personal experiences or stories that highlight your enthusiasm. This can help you connect with the company's culture and values, making you a more appealing candidate.
We think you need these skills to ace Walks | Ground Operations Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in tourism and operations management. Emphasize any previous roles where you managed teams or developed operational procedures, as these are key aspects of the Ground Operations Manager position.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the tourism industry and your enthusiasm for the role. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to work collaboratively, as these traits are highly valued by Walks.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong communication is essential for this role, provide examples in your application that showcase your ability to effectively manage relationships with partners and guide teams. Highlight any relevant experiences where you successfully navigated challenges through clear communication.
Highlight Flexibility and Organization: Discuss your ability to adapt to changing situations and manage multiple tasks efficiently. Provide examples of how you've successfully handled flexible schedules or high-pressure environments in previous roles, as this aligns with the dynamic nature of the job.
How to prepare for a job interview at Walks
✨Show Your Passion for Tourism
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for the tourism industry during the interview. Share specific experiences that highlight your love for travel and how it has shaped your career choices.
✨Demonstrate Strong Communication Skills
As a Ground Operations Manager, effective communication is key. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed relationships with partners or guided teams in the past, showcasing your ability to convey information clearly and effectively.
✨Highlight Your Organizational Abilities
Discuss your experience with managing operations and logistics. Provide concrete examples of how you've organized teams, scheduled guides, or handled multiple tasks simultaneously to ensure smooth operations.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think of challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you overcame them, particularly in high-pressure situations within the tourism sector.
