Tour Production Specialist

EF Educational Tours; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

EF Educational Tours in Sydney, Australia, seeks a proactive Tour Production Specialist to manage operational planning, supplier coordination and tour components across the South Pacific.

You will partner with suppliers and internal teams to ensure accurate routing, bookings, cost control and a seamless on-tour experience, while driving continuous improvement in our processes and delivering high-quality student and educator travel.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of tour operations or travel logistics experience.
• Strong communicator with stakeholder management across teams.
• Experience negotiating services and resolving supplier issues.
• Good numerical and analytical skills for budgets and costs.
• Excellent organizational skills with multitasking ability.
• Proactive and solution‑oriented with initiative.

Responsibilities

• Source, onboard and manage suppliers across the South Pacific.
• Coordinate and maintain tour components including routing and reservations.
• Manage supplier bookings and confirmations ahead of departures.
• Monitor budgets and variances to improve cost efficiency.
• Collaborate with Operations and other departments for smooth tours.
• Respond to disruptions and resolve on-tour incidents proactively.
• Provide on-tour support and escalate when needed.
• Contribute to tour design and process improvements.
• Maintain accurate data across systems and documentation.
• Travel for supplier visits and safety checks when required.

Skills

Supplier management

Tour operations

Logistics coordination

Budget management

Communication

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Cross-cultural collaboration

Driver's license

Data systems

Job description

Job Overview

We are looking for a proactive, detail-oriented and solution-oriented individual to join our Tour Production team in Sydney, Australia, supporting our operations across the South Pacific region.

Job Description

TOUR PRODUCTION SPECIALIST

Job type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Sydney, Australia – Hybrid

Start date: As soon as possible

We are looking for a proactive, detail-oriented and solution-oriented individual to join our Tour Production team in Sydney, Australia, supporting our operations across the South Pacific region.

At EF, we make it possible for thousands of people every year to experience the world and discover new cultures through travel. Our Operations teams work together to turn those travel experiences into reality, supporting our tours from the planning stages through to the on-tour experience.

As a Tour Production Specialist, you will support two of EF's travel products: EF Educational Tours, which delivers guided educational experiences for students and educators, and EF World Journeys, which offers immersive travel experiences for adults.

You will take ownership of the operational planning, supplier coordination and ongoing maintenance of tour components across the South Pacific. Working closely with suppliers and colleagues across our global Operations organization, you will help ensure our tours are accurately planned, cost-effective and ready for delivery.

You’ll be encouraged to take ownership, think critically, collaborate with others and proactively identify opportunities to improve our processes and the travel experiences we create for our customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Supplier management – Source, onboard and build strong relationships with suppliers across the South Pacific, ensuring quality, reliability and competitive services.
• Tour production and logistics – Coordinate and maintain tour components, including routing, reservations and operational arrangements, ensuring accurate and seamless tour delivery.
• Booking and service confirmations – Manage supplier bookings, confirmations and reconfirmations, ensuring all services are in place ahead of departure and accurately reflected in our operational systems.
• Budget and cost management – Monitor tour budgets across both products, manage cost variances and identify opportunities to maintain quality while improving cost efficiency.
• Stakeholder collaboration – Work closely with colleagues across Operations and other departments to coordinate tour details, resolve questions and support effective communication.
• Operational support and problem-solving – Respond proactively to operational disruptions, quality concerns and complex itinerary challenges, identifying alternatives and coordinating timely solutions.
• On-tour support – Assist with pre-tour calls, support the resolution of on-tour incidents and act as an escalation point for operational challenges when needed.
• Product development and continuous improvement – Contribute to tour design, supplier evaluations and improvements to operational processes, helping strengthen the quality and efficiency of our tours.
• Data, systems and administration – Maintain accurate supplier, booking and tour information across operational systems, while managing communications through shared inboxes and other relevant channels.
• Supplier visits and safety checks – Travel to tour destinations when required to meet suppliers, assess services and conduct safety checks.

Main Objectives For This Role

• Ensure tour components across the South Pacific are accurately planned, confirmed and maintained to support successful tour delivery.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships that support service quality, reliability and cost efficiency.
• Put the customer first by making operational decisions that prioritize safety, quality and the overall travel experience.
• Manage tour budgets responsibly, proactively identifying and addressing cost variances.
• Communicate clearly, professionally and collaboratively with suppliers, internal stakeholders and other relevant parties.
• Demonstrate sound judgment, take ownership of operational challenges and identify effective solutions, even under pressure.
• Maintain accuracy and attention to detail across bookings, operational systems and tour documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve tour production processes, supplier performance and the overall customer experience.
• Contribute positively to a collaborative team environment while supporting the goals and KPIs of the wider Operations organization.

Skills & Experience

• 1–3 years of experience in tour operations, production, travel logistics or a similar operational role.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to build relationships and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience working with suppliers, including managing relationships, negotiating services and resolving operational challenges.
• Good numerical and analytical skills, with experience managing budgets and monitoring costs.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proactive, adaptable and solution-oriented, with the ability to anticipate challenges and take initiative.
• Able to remain calm, professional and resourceful when handling complex or time-sensitive situations.
• Sound judgment and the confidence to make decisions, challenge existing ways of working constructively and escalating concerns appropriately.
• Comfortable working with operational systems and maintaining accurate data and documentation.
• Curious and open to learning, with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Collaborative team player who enjoys working with people from different teams, cultures and backgrounds.
• Accountable, self-directed and willing to take ownership of your work.
• An interest in travel, international operations and creating meaningful customer experiences.
• Experience managing operational disruptions or on-tour incidents is an advantage.
• An Australian or international driver's licence is preferred.

To be considered for this role, applicants must have the legal right to live and work in Australia at the time of application.

Why You Will Love Working With Us

At EF, our culture is built around three Core Beliefs: we put customers first, we take ownership, and we make it fun.

That means caring about the experience we create for our customers, taking responsibility and looking for ways to make things better, and bringing curiosity, collaboration and passion to the way we work.

As a Tour Production Specialist, you'll be part of a close-knit team in Sydney while collaborating with colleagues and suppliers across our international organization. You'll have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of your work, develop your operational and supplier management expertise, and contribute directly to travel experiences across the South Pacific.

You’ll also benefit from being part of EF's global network, with opportunities for professional growth, international collaboration and travel, including eligibility to join one EF tour each year.

About Us

Some companies are in the business of banking. Others are in the business of shoes. Or sports. Or soft drinks. At EF, we're in a different kind of business. One that's a little less tangible, and a lot more important. Because our business, what we make, makes everything else possible. We're in the business of understanding. Between people. Between cultures.

For over half a century we’ve been the leader in international educational programs and experiences designed to foster such understanding. Through language, cultural exchange, academic studies, and educational travel, we create the kinds of immersive experiences that challenge biases, open minds, and pave the way for a more understanding world.

You’ll find our offices and schools located in some of the world’s greatest cities, and filled with smart, driven people (over 50,000 of us) who push each other to be better every day. But it’s what we do together - building greater understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating a better world - that makes all the difference.

Founded in 1965 in Sweden, EF (Education First) is a global association of education companies that share a common mission of opening the world through education. EF has been recognized on Forbes 2025 and 2024 World’s Best Employers and 2024 Top Companies for Women lists, Fast Company’s 2025 Next Big Things In Tech, and was a 2024 App Store Award winner in Cultural Impact.