Director of Operations-LivTours

Director of Operations – LivToursAbout LivToursLivTours is an innovative tour operator specializing in immersive, high-quality travel experiences across 23 European destinations. With over 16 years in the industry, our small but highly productive team thrives in a flexible, fast-paced environment, dedicated to exceptional service, operational excellence, and seamless guest experiences.Role Overview We’re looking for a strategic and experienced leader to join LivTours as Director of Operations. This senior leadership role is responsible for overseeing and optimizing all European tour operations, from booking through service delivery, ensuring exceptional client experiences, operational efficiency, and business growth.Reporting directly to the COO, the Director of Operations will lead four cross-functional teams, including two Fulfilment teams, European Guide Community Manager, and Venue & Supplier Management, and will serve as the primary escalation point for operational challenges. This role combines high-level strategic planning with hands-on operational oversight, focusing on scalability, efficiency, and excellence across all markets.Key ResponsibilitiesLead all European tour operations, ensuring seamless service delivery, exceptional client experiences, and operational consistency.Own operational strategy and execution, aligning day-to-day operations with company growth, service quality, and financial objectives.Be primarily responsible for post-sales fulfillment, on-tour service, and client support performance.Oversee 2 fulfillment teams ensuring consistent coverage, responsiveness, and coordination across regions.Direct and support the European Guide Community Manager in managing regional Guide and Coordinator Managers to guarantee service availability, engagement, and quality.Oversee and develop the Venue & Supplier and Inventory functions, ensuring ticket and inventory management is efficient, cost-effective, and guided by clear policies for purchasing, allocation, and availability.Oversee the quality and performance of venue and supplier relationships through the Venue & Supplier Manager, ensuring access, compliance, and commercially sound terms.Serve as the primary escalation point for operational, ticketing, and service challenges and disruptions across all markets.Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of operational processes, SOPs, and systems for scalability and efficiency.Collaborate with IT to enhance operational systems, increase automation, and improve workflow visibility and efficiency.Partner with the Sales, Finance and IT department teams to ensure operational feasibility, optimize margins, and deliver high-quality service.Support financial management through operational budgeting, cost control, and advising leadership on the margin impact of operational decisions.Monitor and report on key operational metrics, including tour execution, inventory utilization, margin efficiency, and guide and coordinator satisfaction.Develop, mentor, and evaluate managers within the operations function, ensuring leadership strength, capability, and succession planning.Drive operational readiness for growth into new regions or products, ensuring teams and systems can scale effectively.Champion a culture of accountability, client-centricity, and continuous improvement across all operational teams.Skills & ExperienceProven experience (5+ years) in senior operational leadership roles, preferably in tourism, travel, or hospitality.Track record of managing multi-region operations, large teams, and complex cross-functional projects.Strong strategic and analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable operational decisions.Deep industry knowledge and a robust network in the tourism sector.Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with experience mentoring managers and fostering high-performing teams.Proven ability to drive operational efficiency, scale processes, and maintain high service quality.Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, margin management, and cost optimization.Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, both internally and externally.Tech-savvy with the ability to implement, adapt, and optimize operational systems and processes.Flexibility to work outside standard hours when needed to support operation requirements.Working Hours & ContractFull-time, 1-year contract (renewable).Standard working hours: 9:00 – 17:30, Monday to Friday, with flexibility required during peak periods.Location: fully remote, with the opportunity to collaborate in person at our Dublin or Rome offices if based nearby.Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience, plus company wide bonus incentives.Join Us!If you are a strategic, hands-on operational leader with a passion for excellence in tourism and travel experiences, we want to hear from you. Apply to help drive LivTours’ operations to the next level.