Job Description

GENERAL MANAGER \xe2\x80\x93 Tour Operator
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
Reporting to the President and ownership, the General Manager is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organization, managing day-to-day operations, and for providing advice and support to Department Heads as well as the President to carry out their responsibilities. The General Manager oversees the planning and development of marketing strategies, tour products and programs, building and maintaining tourism marketing partnerships particularly with Provincial and Destination Tourism Promotion Boards, distribution partnerships with Travel Consortias, all with the goal of taking the Tour Operator travel experiences to market with effective marketing campaigns, and ensuring strategies are in place to maximize the economic benefits for the company. The General Manager ensures that the Tour Operator meets all banking, tax, and licensing requirements and is accountable to the management, to its staff members, its clients, and to supplier partners for maintaining financial stability and continued growth of the organization. The General Manager leads networking on behalf of the Tour Operator, liaising with banks, payment processors, commercial partners, Provincial and Destination Marketing Organizations, Travel Consortia\xe2\x80\x99s, key suppliers, and key clients to best represent the company and advance its interests. The General Manager provides leadership for and represents the company at key presentations and meetings with Financial, Trade, and Marketing partners to enhance company image and strengthen important commercial relationships.
REPORTING
The General Manager is based in the office in Calgary, and reports directly to the Group President and the Group Vice President.
RESPONSIBILITIES The General Manager helps assists in setting the strategic directionfor Tour operator, ensuring the mix of Independent Custom Designed Tours, Small Group Escorted Tour packages, Custom Group tours, and the Bell Tours division of the company, all perform to deliver the Gross Margin, Cost of Sales, Fixed and Variable Overhead figures in line with budgets and targets agreed upon with the Group President and Vice President.

• Setting Directions: The General Manager studies and observes tourism trends and competitive practices and ensures that the Tour Operator is poised to seize new opportunities, address challenges, and/or navigate uncertainties.
• Building and maintaining company profile: Meets regularly with Provincial, Territorial and Regional Destination Marketing Organizations to plan and implement marketing strategy with the aim of bringing Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific travel packages in front of target B2B and B2C audiences. The General Manager builds trust and confidence in the Tour Operator with key stakeholders and partners and maintains positive relationships with all external partners.
• Cooperative Marketing Partnerships: Helps the Marketing lead prepares co-op marketing proposals and related funding applications for Provincial and Destination Marketing partnerships and provides direction to the Marketing team regarding management and delivery of approved projects, including tracking requirements and reporting.
• Product Development: Leads the development and implementation of new Group and Independent tour packages, guides the Product team to research suppliers, contract services, and ensures smooth delivery of travel programs.
• Accounts and Finance: Works with the Accountant daily to ensure Accounts Receivables, Payables, Staff Salaries, Bank balances, Payment approvals, Credit Card payments, and Management Reports are addressed in a timely manner, and corrective actions taken where necessary. Includes timely submission of reports, claims, and performance figures to federal, provincial, and regional government organizations including marketing organizations as required.
• Human Resources: Works with department heads for staff recruitment, manages staff incentives, staff complaint resolution, manages department head vacation schedules, and team building exercises. The General Manager directs, motivates, and evaluates all staff, ensuring a performance program is in place. Also ensures employment policies and practices are aligned with legislation and best practices, that all staff are oriented to the organization\xe2\x80\x99s policies and that staff records are appropriately maintained.
• Groups Team Lead: The General Manager leads the Escorted Tours and Customs Group team and manages day-to-day operations to ensure annual Sales and Profit targets are achieved. Also actively assists with group tour operations in matters related to assigning Tour Leaders, Hotel contracting, coach pricing and adequate coach insurance coverage, and manages Tour Leader and staff travel and flight ticketing.
• Software Development and Maintenance: The General Manager works with the software developer and department heads to ensure continued improvements, maintenance, and upgrading of the in-house developed integrated Accounting and CRM software.

Work and Travel Demands: Some national travel to regional cities to participate in important Trade Shows, Partnership meetings, Product and Program Development, and to engage with external Staff. Seasonal heavy workloads and peak periods where work volume is significantly higher requiring longer workdays and weekend working. There are occasionally strict deadlines set by external parties, requires responding to requests immediately with little or no prior notice, competing priorities require task balancing, and occasional management of crisis situations which involve staff and external suppliers. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: From $80,000.00 per year Benefits:

• Extended health care

Flexible Language Requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• On call

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Calgary, AB: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: One location