General Manager for New Mission-Led Tour Operator

eXXpedition; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A unique opportunity exists to join eXXpedition as a General Manager, leading their new travel operations aimed at addressing ocean plastic pollution. This role requires operational excellence combined with strategic thinking to deliver transformative travel experiences. You will manage a small team and collaborate closely with the organization’s founder to drive significant impact on environmental issues.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable problem solving and multitasking skills.
• Strong financial management capabilities.
• Robust operational management experience in scaling businesses.

Responsibilities

• Manage operational processes and financial planning.
• Oversee Guest Crew experience and relationships with Delivery Partners.
• Ensure compliance and maintain company policies and licenses.

Skills

Problem Solving

Operational Excellence

Financial Management

Written Communication

Project Management

Education

Experience in travel or related industry

Tools

G-Suite

Xero

Airtable

Trello

Job description

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Join to apply for the General Manager for New Mission-Led Tour Operator role at eXXpedition

eXXpedition C.I.C. – led by ocean advocate and skipper Emily Penn – was founded in 2014 on a mission to help people understand the true ocean plastic and toxic pollution problem, so they can use their skills to solve it from sea to source.

Over the past decade, eXXpedition has led all-women sailing research voyages to some of the most remote corners of the planet incorporating scientific research and a transformative on-board programme to build a global network of diverse leaders who discover their role to tackle plastic pollution. eXXpedition has run 29 missions with 274 participants, of 41 nationalities and inspired action through research missions, global media coverage, a thriving online community, and collaborations with hundreds of partners.

Now, after five years focused on land-based projects, eXXpedition is heading back to sea and launching an exciting new chapter requiring a travel operations arm of the organisation ‘eXXpedition Travel Limited’. This new entity will manage future expeditions in collaboration with third-party vessels and tour operators, scaling participation and expanding the offering to include kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, and hiking on coasts and rivers.

eXXpedition is building their team, recruiting for two key positions (including General Manager for eXXpedition Travel Limited) and growing their global network of partners.

The Role

This is an opportunity to join eXXpedition at a pivotal time as we relaunch and scale operations.

As the General Manager of eXXpedition Travel Limited, you will be the driving force behind the delivery and growth of this new arm as a mission-led tour operator. Working closely with eXXpedition Founder, Emily Penn, you will continue to co-develop the operational model, set key performance indicators (KPIs), and manage all operational, financial, and legal aspects. You will line manage and work closely with the eXXpedition Travel Limited Administrator to deliver the key responsibilities of this role outlined below, ensuring exceptional trips and significant impact. This position demands a blend of operational excellence, a problem-solving attitude, hands-on delivery and strategic thinking, to deliver transformative travel experiences that educate and inspire action against ocean plastic pollution. It really is a ‘doing’ and ‘leading’ job in a start-up environment.

You will join the small and friendly, close knit team including eXXpedition Founder Emily Penn, the eXXpedition Travel Limited Administrator, the incoming eXXpedition C.I.C. Communications and Community Manager and a trusted group of specialist advisors and suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

Business administration

• Set up, manage and deliver the operational processes for the organisation.
• Help shape the company’s goals, track and report on progress and ensure they are met.
• Establish and maintain all necessary licenses and insurances to ensure we are compliant.
• Manage and maintain all company policies.
• Manage the company finances including day-to-day invoicing, payment systems, cashflow management alongside regular company financial planning, forecasting and reporting.
• Constantly look for process and business improvement opportunities to streamline our systems.
• Feed into marketing and communications activity delivered and led by the wider team.

Guest Crew Management

• Overall responsibility for the Guest Crew experience from selection, booking, preparing for the trip, the expedition and post trip ensuring quality and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead the Guest Crew selection process working with the wider team to review, select, offer and allocate trip spaces to multinational, multidisciplinary Guest Crews.
• Track and manage Guest Crew payments and contracts addressing and managing any challenges that may arise.
• Manage the significant flow of information between eXXpedition, Guest Crew and Delivery Partners in preparation for a trip (including medical screenings, packing lists, travel logistics and more)
• Write, update and maintain all written content and information packs supplied to Guest Crew to prepare for their trip.

Delivery Partner Management

• Ensure critical relationships with our Delivery Partners are positive and productive, responding to queries and challenges and proactively ensuring they have all the information and support required to deliver quality experiences.
• Onboard new delivery partners through contract management, due diligence and briefings.
• Research, identify and establish new trip offerings and delivery partners.
• Write, produce and maintain key operational documents such as the Delivery Manual/Guide.
• Set up and manage supplier quality control and risk management processes including legal compliance and on-going quality evaluation.
• Liaise with eXXpedition Science Lead, Mission Leaders and wider team to plan for logistics required for science and programme delivery on trips, including identifying and securing permits, permissions and local partners and planning onshore activities.
• Manage Mission Leader (eXXpedition representative on board trips) recruitment, onboarding, training and management to ensure the consistent delivery of eXXpedition experience.
• Create and write training materials to ensure quality of experience.

Who You Are

We are seeking a highly motivated individual who is an operations master with a problem solving mindset and a deep commitment to our mission. You will be instrumental in building a new arm of the organisation, combining strategic thinking with hands-on operational excellence.

• Positive ‘can do’ attitude and desire to be a key part of an energetic and high performing team.
• Demonstrable problem solving and multitasking skills to deploy in the start up environment.
• Legal – Comfortable reviewing, negotiating and managing contracts to ensure quality and consistency. Confidence in managing contractual challenges with excellent attention to detail and the ability to flip between the specifics of contractual clauses and the important relationship management.
• Finance – Robust financial management skills with ability to manage the financial systems and processes of a business including reviewing and analysing financial data, planning and forecasting and regularly reporting on financial performance.
• Operations – Previous experience of setting up, running and scaling operations with the ability to design, implement and manage effective business systems and processes
• Technical – excellent proficiency in using online tools and digital systems (G-Suite, Xero, Airtable, Trello, etc) to ensure efficiency and performance.
• Written communication – Excellent communication skills, particularly writing competency, as there is a significant need for in-house production of materials and documents.
• Transferable experience in the travel or related industry
• Creative experience in marketing and PR
• Interest in travel/outdoors/environmental and social good

About eXXpedition

eXXpedition C.I.C. – led by ocean advocate and skipper Emily Penn – was founded in 2014 on a mission to help people understand the true ocean plastic and toxic pollution problem, so they can use their skills to solve it from sea to source.

Over the past decade, eXXpedition has led all-women sailing research voyages to some of the most remote corners of the planet incorporating scientific research and a transformative on-board programme to build a global network of diverse leaders who discover their role to tackle plastic pollution. eXXpedition has run 29 missions with 274 participants, of 41 nationalities and inspired action through research missions, global media coverage, a thriving online community, and collaborations with hundreds of partners.

Now, after five years focused on land-based projects, eXXpedition is heading back to sea and launching an exciting new chapter requiring a travel operations arm of the organisation ‘eXXpedition Travel Limited’. This new entity will manage future expeditions in collaboration with third-party vessels and tour operators, scaling participation and expanding the offering to include kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, and hiking on coasts and rivers.

eXXpedition is building their team, recruiting for two key positions (including General Manager for eXXpedition Travel Limited) and growing their global network of partners.

The Role

This is an opportunity to join eXXpedition at a pivotal time as we relaunch and scale operations.

As the General Manager of eXXpedition Travel Limited, you will be the driving force behind the delivery and growth of this new arm as a mission-led tour operator. Working closely with eXXpedition Founder, Emily Penn, you will continue to co-develop the operational model, set key performance indicators (KPIs), and manage all operational, financial, and legal aspects. You will line manage and work closely with the eXXpedition Travel Limited Administrator to deliver the key responsibilities of this role outlined below, ensuring exceptional trips and significant impact. This position demands a blend of operational excellence, a problem-solving attitude, hands-on delivery and strategic thinking, to deliver transformative travel experiences that educate and inspire action against ocean plastic pollution. It really is a ‘doing’ and ‘leading’ job in a start-up environment.

You will join the small and friendly, close knit team including eXXpedition Founder Emily Penn, the eXXpedition Travel Limited Administrator, the incoming eXXpedition C.I.C. Communications and Community Manager and a trusted group of specialist advisors and suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

Business administration

• Set up, manage and deliver the operational processes for the organisation.
• Help shape the company’s goals, track and report on progress and ensure they are met.
• Establish and maintain all necessary licenses and insurances to ensure we are compliant.
• Manage and maintain all company policies.
• Manage the company finances including day-to-day invoicing, payment systems, cashflow management alongside regular company financial planning, forecasting and reporting.
• Constantly look for process and business improvement opportunities to streamline our systems.
• Feed into marketing and communications activity delivered and led by the wider team.

Guest Crew Management

• Overall responsibility for the Guest Crew experience from selection, booking, preparing for the trip, the expedition and post trip ensuring quality and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead the Guest Crew selection process working with the wider team to review, select, offer and allocate trip spaces to multinational, multidisciplinary Guest Crews.
• Track and manage Guest Crew payments and contracts addressing and managing any challenges that may arise.
• Manage the significant flow of information between eXXpedition, Guest Crew and Delivery Partners in preparation for a trip (including medical screenings, packing lists, travel logistics and more)
• Write, update and maintain all written content and information packs supplied to Guest Crew to prepare for their trip.

Delivery Partner Management

• Ensure critical relationships with our Delivery Partners are positive and productive, responding to queries and challenges and proactively ensuring they have all the information and support required to deliver quality experiences.
• Onboard new delivery partners through contract management, due diligence and briefings.
• Research, identify and establish new trip offerings and delivery partners.
• Write, produce and maintain key operational documents such as the Delivery Manual/Guide.
• Set up and manage supplier quality control and risk management processes including legal compliance and on-going quality evaluation.

Programme Delivery

• Liaise with eXXpedition Science Lead, Mission Leaders and wider team to plan for logistics required for science and programme delivery on trips, including identifying and securing permits, permissions and local partners and planning onshore activities.
• Manage Mission Leader (eXXpedition representative on board trips) recruitment, onboarding, training and management to ensure the consistent delivery of eXXpedition experience.
• Create and write training materials to ensure quality of experience.

Who You Are

We are seeking a highly motivated individual who is an operations master with a problem solving mindset and a deep commitment to our mission. You will be instrumental in building a new arm of the organisation, combining strategic thinking with hands-on operational excellence.

Essential:

• Positive ‘can do’ attitude and desire to be a key part of an energetic and high performing team.
• Demonstrable problem solving and multitasking skills to deploy in the start up environment.
• Legal – Comfortable reviewing, negotiating and managing contracts to ensure quality and consistency. Confidence in managing contractual challenges with excellent attention to detail and the ability to flip between the specifics of contractual clauses and the important relationship management.
• Finance – Robust financial management skills with ability to manage the financial systems and processes of a business including reviewing and analysing financial data, planning and forecasting and regularly reporting on financial performance.
• Operations – Previous experience of setting up, running and scaling operations with the ability to design, implement and manage effective business systems and processes
• Technical – excellent proficiency in using online tools and digital systems (G-Suite, Xero, Airtable, Trello, etc) to ensure efficiency and performance.
• Written communication – Excellent communication skills, particularly writing competency, as there is a significant need for in-house production of materials and documents.

Desired:

• Transferable experience in the travel or related industry
• Creative experience in marketing and PR
• Interest in travel/outdoors/environmental and social good

Details

Reports to:Emily Penn, Director

Start Date:August 2025 onwards (flexible as required)

Time Commitment:3-5 days per week (flexible hours and working arrangements considered)

Salary Range:£50,000 – £80,000 pro rata (We welcome applications from individuals who might be earlier in their career and show exceptional potential, or a more experienced individual who will contribute wisdom and expertise. The salary range reflects this openness to finding the right person, valuing potential and contribution over strict years of experience or formal qualifications.)

Eligibility:Only applicants who are eligible to work in the UK will be considered.

Application Process

Pleasefill out the application form and upload your CV here.

The deadline for applications is13th July, but we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to send in your applications as soon as you are ready.

We will be interviewing a shortlist and asking candidates to complete a short time-boxed task (no preparation required) to enable us to better understand you and your working style. If you have any questions or require any adjustments to enable you to participate in the application process, please [e-mail].

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Management and Manufacturing

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