Operations Co-ordinator

Company brief

Untamed Borders is a small travel company that leads the way in cutting edge adventure travel. We have been pioneering tourism across Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa since 2008. We were the first company to run ski trips to Afghanistan and Iraq, the first company to arrange commercial travel to Somalia, the first British company to run trips to Chechnya and Dagestan. We also work with professional people on research, journalism or documentary projects. We are a dynamic, hard working, growing company.

Job Brief – Operations Co-ordinator

The role will be wide ranging and varied.

The core of the role will be liaising with the local staff and suppliers of Untamed Borders, ensuring that the information and requests of our guests/clients is passed on in an accurate and timely manner and that the local suppliers deliver the services.

You will also be responsible for ensuring good systems are in place to enable the UTB Sales team to provide the accurate and timely information from the suppliers to the guests.

Another key part of the role is developing, maintaining and managing the “product” of Untamed Borders. You will be responsible for ensuring the ground operations run smoothly and we get value for money from those operations. The nature of the business means that these relationships with the ground operators is dynamic.

We want someone who is passionate about finding their own amazing travel experiences and who will work hard to give others the same kind of buzz they get when they travel.

We are looking for someone flexible, independent and resourceful to join our small team and help our company grow.

You will have a variety of responsibilities including but not limited to:

• Liaising with local Operators about costs and services.
• Arranging payments to and managing floats held by local operators and guides.
• Managing the 24-hour emergency number
• Creating new products
• Managing reporting from local operators
• Assessing and finding new local operators
• Liaising between the Sales team and the local operators on any changes on the ground.
• Keeping up to date with logistical changes (e.g. security, visa, entry etc….) and requirements for all countries we operate in.
• Recruiting and maintaining relationships with our freelance international guides
• Be the lead contact on specialist bespoke trips or projects, working with the sales team, clients and local staff.
• Stay up to date with travel trends
• Maintain and improve internal Systems
• Dealing with changes
• Attend travel seminars and/or talks on the regions we guide. Keep up to date with tourism trends in the regions we guide.
• Assisting the MD – James Willcox, with his workload and schedule.
• Any other ad hoc tasks as necessary

Necessary skills/experience

• Fluency in spoken and written English; multilingualism is a plus
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Experience working for a travel agent, tour operator or other relevant customer service role. Ideally in travel operations.
• A personal travel history that includes some of Africa, East Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Russia or Middle East. Ideally in areas where we work and with a history of off-the-beaten-path travel.
• Competence in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint
• Flexibility and the ability to interact, communicate and negotiate effectively.
• Must be able to work unpredictable hours

Some of the below are also desirable but not essential:

• Experience of managing social media accounts
• Experience of managing accounts and financial data
• Experience as a guide or leading a group.
• Web management skills
• Design package skills (e.g. Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)

Basic hours: 40 hours per week. This can include Saturdays

Location: Candidates would be expected to be in the UTB office space in Newington Green, N16 London 3 days per week. 

Salary: £22,000 - £26,500 per annum dependent on experience

Holiday: 20 days per annum

Bonuses: Dependent on success of company

Additional: Opportunity to take part in one trip with Untamed Borders annually