Job Description
Job Description
Tour Director
Location: Claremont, CA during training; remote work when stateside after training
Employment Type: Full-time, salaried
Salary: $130,000-$160,000, depending on experience and qualifications
Travel: Approximately eight months per year, primarily international
About the Opportunity
A growing Southern California-based travel and event organization is seeking a Tour Director to lead high-end international cycling tours and group travel experiences.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership role responsible for overseeing assigned events from initial planning and destination scouting through final execution and post-event review. The Tour Director will lead the event operations team, oversee the participant experience, coordinate vendors and travel logistics, and serve as the primary on-site leader during each trip.
This opportunity is ideal for an experienced travel, tour, hospitality, cruise, event, or destination-management professional who enjoys international travel, leading teams, solving problems, and creating exceptional guest experiences.
Key Responsibilities
* Own assigned events from initial planning through completion and post-event evaluation.
* Establish event priorities, itinerary direction, timelines, and participant experience standards.
* Lead and provide direction to Travel Operations & Experience Managers, Travel Operations Specialists, and other assigned event team members.
* Oversee itinerary development, cycling routes, destination scouting, transportation, vendors, reservations, staffing, and contingency planning.
* Participate in international destination and route scouting.
* Coordinate with hotels, restaurants, local guides, transportation providers, ship personnel, vendors, and other partners.
* Lead daily event operations and make real-time decisions when weather, transportation, vendors, schedules, or participant needs change.
* Deliver route talks, participant briefings, orientations, announcements, and presentations to groups that may range from approximately 60 to 300 participants.
* Serve as the primary public-facing operational leader during assigned events.
* Resolve complex participant and operational issues while remaining calm, decisive, and professional.
* Lead post-event reviews and identify opportunities for improvement.
* Assist with practical event needs, including luggage, bicycles, supplies, signage, transportation, check-in, and event equipment when necessary.
Ideal Background
The ideal candidate may come from:
* Luxury or experiential travel
* Group travel and tour operations
* Cruise operations
* Destination management
* High-end hotels or hospitality
* International event operations
* Corporate or incentive travel
* Adventure travel
* Cycling tourism
* Transportation or international logistics
* Guest experience or hospitality operations
Cycling experience is helpful but not required. Candidates with strong leadership, travel, hospitality, event, logistics, and guest-service experience may also be considered.
Desired Qualifications
* Approximately 8-15 years of relevant experience preferred.
* Experience leading international group travel, tours, cruises, events, or destination experiences.
* Strong public-speaking and presentation skills.
* Experience managing itineraries, routes, vendors, transportation, hotels, restaurants, guides, and local partners.
* Demonstrated ability to lead teams, delegate responsibilities, and remain accountable for results.
* Strong judgment, decision-making, organization, and attention to detail.
* Ability to remain calm and resourceful when plans change unexpectedly.
* Comfortable working with active, mature, well-traveled, and high-expectation participants.
* Comfortable making decisions with incomplete information.
* Ability to work effectively in a small, hands-on organization where employees assist wherever needed.
* No specific degree requirement.
Travel and Schedule Requirements
* Willingness to travel internationally for approximately eight months per year.
* Comfortable being away from home for extended periods.
* Ability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, long days, changing schedules, and variable weather.
* This is working travel, not vacation travel.
* Some trips may occur consecutively, and scouting assignments may involve extended days of driving, site visits, and destination research.
* Occasional domestic travel may also be required.
Additional Requirements
* Valid U.S. driver's license.
* Valid U.S. passport or ability to obtain one.
* Willingness to drive rental vehicles or vans as needed.
* Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
* Ability to lift or move luggage, supplies, bicycles, or equipment weighing up to approximately 50 pounds.
* Ability to complete initial training in Claremont, California.
* Ability to work onsite during the initial training and probationary period when required.
Compensation and Travel Support
* Salary of $130,000-$160,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
* Compensation may be reviewed after the probationary period based on performance, initiative, and increased responsibility.
* Strong long-term growth potential for high-performing employees.
* Potential end-of-season bonus for eligible operations employees.
* Company-paid lodging, cruise accommodations, transportation, and meals during company travel.
* Approved work-related travel expenses are reimbursed.
* Per diem may be provided for incidental expenses during travel.
* Company-issued MacBook Pro and iPhone with an international business plan.
* Five paid sick days are provided separately from PTO.
* PTO begins after completion of the initial six-month period, with additional PTO potentially earned during extended travel assignments.
* Major holidays are generally observed, with another PTO day credited when employees are required to work on an observed holiday.
* The company currently does not offer employer-sponsored medical, dental, or vision insurance or a 401(k) match.
Hiring Process
The hiring process may include:
* Initial interview with company leadership.
* Wonderlic assessment to better understand aptitude, strengths, and potential fit.
* In-person interview in Claremont, California.
* Background check.
* Credit check if the position involves significant financial responsibility.
Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply through ZipRecruiter. Company Description
Savage Search Associates is a full service, family-owned recruitment firm supporting Executive Search, Management, Human Resources, Accounting & Finance, Sales & Marketing, Operations, Construction Management, and Administrative search projects.
Company Description
Savage Search Associates is a full service, family-owned recruitment firm supporting Executive Search, Management, Human Resources, Accounting & Finance, Sales & Marketing, Operations, Construction Management, and Administrative search projects.
Job Description
Tour Director
Location: Claremont, CA during training; remote work when stateside after training
Employment Type: Full-time, salaried
Salary: $130,000-$160,000, depending on experience and qualifications
Travel: Approximately eight months per year, primarily international
About the Opportunity
A growing Southern California-based travel and event organization is seeking a Tour Director to lead high-end international cycling tours and group travel experiences.
This is a senior, hands-on leadership role responsible for overseeing assigned events from initial planning and destination scouting through final execution and post-event review. The Tour Director will lead the event operations team, oversee the participant experience, coordinate vendors and travel logistics, and serve as the primary on-site leader during each trip.
This opportunity is ideal for an experienced travel, tour, hospitality, cruise, event, or destination-management professional who enjoys international travel, leading teams, solving problems, and creating exceptional guest experiences.
Key Responsibilities
* Own assigned events from initial planning through completion and post-event evaluation.
* Establish event priorities, itinerary direction, timelines, and participant experience standards.
* Lead and provide direction to Travel Operations & Experience Managers, Travel Operations Specialists, and other assigned event team members.
* Oversee itinerary development, cycling routes, destination scouting, transportation, vendors, reservations, staffing, and contingency planning.
* Participate in international destination and route scouting.
* Coordinate with hotels, restaurants, local guides, transportation providers, ship personnel, vendors, and other partners.
* Lead daily event operations and make real-time decisions when weather, transportation, vendors, schedules, or participant needs change.
* Deliver route talks, participant briefings, orientations, announcements, and presentations to groups that may range from approximately 60 to 300 participants.
* Serve as the primary public-facing operational leader during assigned events.
* Resolve complex participant and operational issues while remaining calm, decisive, and professional.
* Lead post-event reviews and identify opportunities for improvement.
* Assist with practical event needs, including luggage, bicycles, supplies, signage, transportation, check-in, and event equipment when necessary.
Ideal Background
The ideal candidate may come from:
* Luxury or experiential travel
* Group travel and tour operations
* Cruise operations
* Destination management
* High-end hotels or hospitality
* International event operations
* Corporate or incentive travel
* Adventure travel
* Cycling tourism
* Transportation or international logistics
* Guest experience or hospitality operations
Cycling experience is helpful but not required. Candidates with strong leadership, travel, hospitality, event, logistics, and guest-service experience may also be considered.
Desired Qualifications
* Approximately 8-15 years of relevant experience preferred.
* Experience leading international group travel, tours, cruises, events, or destination experiences.
* Strong public-speaking and presentation skills.
* Experience managing itineraries, routes, vendors, transportation, hotels, restaurants, guides, and local partners.
* Demonstrated ability to lead teams, delegate responsibilities, and remain accountable for results.
* Strong judgment, decision-making, organization, and attention to detail.
* Ability to remain calm and resourceful when plans change unexpectedly.
* Comfortable working with active, mature, well-traveled, and high-expectation participants.
* Comfortable making decisions with incomplete information.
* Ability to work effectively in a small, hands-on organization where employees assist wherever needed.
* No specific degree requirement.
Travel and Schedule Requirements
* Willingness to travel internationally for approximately eight months per year.
* Comfortable being away from home for extended periods.
* Ability to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, long days, changing schedules, and variable weather.
* This is working travel, not vacation travel.
* Some trips may occur consecutively, and scouting assignments may involve extended days of driving, site visits, and destination research.
* Occasional domestic travel may also be required.
Additional Requirements
* Valid U.S. driver's license.
* Valid U.S. passport or ability to obtain one.
* Willingness to drive rental vehicles or vans as needed.
* Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
* Ability to lift or move luggage, supplies, bicycles, or equipment weighing up to approximately 50 pounds.
* Ability to complete initial training in Claremont, California.
* Ability to work onsite during the initial training and probationary period when required.
Compensation and Travel Support
* Salary of $130,000-$160,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
* Compensation may be reviewed after the probationary period based on performance, initiative, and increased responsibility.
* Strong long-term growth potential for high-performing employees.
* Potential end-of-season bonus for eligible operations employees.
* Company-paid lodging, cruise accommodations, transportation, and meals during company travel.
* Approved work-related travel expenses are reimbursed.
* Per diem may be provided for incidental expenses during travel.
* Company-issued MacBook Pro and iPhone with an international business plan.
* Five paid sick days are provided separately from PTO.
* PTO begins after completion of the initial six-month period, with additional PTO potentially earned during extended travel assignments.
* Major holidays are generally observed, with another PTO day credited when employees are required to work on an observed holiday.
* The company currently does not offer employer-sponsored medical, dental, or vision insurance or a 401(k) match.
Hiring Process
The hiring process may include:
* Initial interview with company leadership.
* Wonderlic assessment to better understand aptitude, strengths, and potential fit.
* In-person interview in Claremont, California.
* Background check.
* Credit check if the position involves significant financial responsibility.
Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply through ZipRecruiter. Company Description
Savage Search Associates is a full service, family-owned recruitment firm supporting Executive Search, Management, Human Resources, Accounting & Finance, Sales & Marketing, Operations, Construction Management, and Administrative search projects.
Company Description
Savage Search Associates is a full service, family-owned recruitment firm supporting Executive Search, Management, Human Resources, Accounting & Finance, Sales & Marketing, Operations, Construction Management, and Administrative search projects.
Tour Director in claremont at Unknown Company
This position is listed as full time and able to be worked remotely.