Polar Expeditions: Operations & Permitting Lead (Hybrid)

Travelopia; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 48,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Retirement savings plan with company"s

Generous PTO and birthday day off

Flexible hybrid schedules

Parental leave

Group-wide travel discounts

Job summary

Quark Expeditions, a Travelopia company based in Toronto, seeks an Operations and Permitting Manager for 4 months (Nov–Mar). Lead Antarctic/Arctic permitting, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage community engagement across expeditions. Hybrid work schedule with competitive benefits and travel discounts.

You will oversee IAATO/AECO scheduling, build community partnerships, and manage shore excursions end-to-end while supporting safety and exceptional guest experiences.

Qualifications

• Experience in an operational role within travel or adventure industry.
• Ability to manage complex regulatory frameworks and permitting processes.
• Experience engaging with Indigenous and local communities with cultural sensitivity.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with trust-building ability.
• Commercial acumen with budgeting experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead Antarctic and Arctic permitting processes and identify risks to keep voyages operational.
• Maintain regulatory compliance for off-ship activities and coordinate with marine operations.
• Oversee IAATO and AECO scheduling to align with industry standards.
• Develop relationships with Arctic and Northern communities and coordinate community visits.
• Build local partnerships for culturally enriching guest experiences.
• Plan and oversee shore excursions, manage budgets and contingencies.
• Provide shoreside support to field leadership across communities and regulatory areas.
• Support Operations Emergency Response and Incident Management as needed.
• Own budget planning and cost control to meet financial targets.
• Drive customer experiences to meet NPS and OSAT goals.
• Uphold safety management standards with strong risk controls.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Permit management

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Safety mindset

Excel user

Strong communication

Tools

Microsoft Excel

SharePoint

Teams

Job description

Quark Expeditions, a Travelopia company based in Toronto, seeks an Operations and Permitting Manager for 4 months (Nov–Mar). Lead Antarctic/Arctic permitting, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage community engagement across expeditions. Hybrid work schedule with competitive benefits and travel discounts.

You will oversee IAATO/AECO scheduling, build community partnerships, and manage shore excursions end-to-end while supporting safety and exceptional guest experiences.