Travel Operations Manager – Service Delivery, Leadership & Improvement

Not Just Travel; England; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

UK remote working

HQ Bournemouth option

Permanent role with responsibility

Senior leadership exposure

Performance bonus

Job summary

Not Just Travel is seeking a confident Travel Operations Manager to become a trusted senior leader within our growing Operations team. This remote or Bournemouth-based role demands ownership, problem-solving and hands-on leadership to turn ideas into practical improvements.

You’ll drive service delivery, support colleagues, and collaborate with senior leadership to shape how we work as we scale. A strong travel background and customer-experience focus are essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience within the travel industry and a strong understanding of operational service delivery.
• Proven experience leading, coaching or managing teams in a busy customer-focused environment.
• Ability to take ownership of complex problems and make independent decisions.
• Track record of identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing changes.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of day-to-day travel operations, ensuring high standards of service.
• Lead, support and develop colleagues to create a confident, collaborative team.
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex operational challenges and resolve them.
• Work with the Head of Operations to manage priorities and keep the department running smoothly.
• Identify inefficiencies, challenge processes and implement practical improvements.
• Explore opportunities to use technology, AI and automation to improve efficiency and delivery.
• Ensure every interaction with Personal Travel Consultants and customers is exceptional.

Skills

Travel Operations

Team Leadership

Service Delivery

Problem-Solving

Process Improvement

Customer Experience

Job description

Great at Running an Operation? Even Better at Making It Better?

Some people are brilliant at keeping things running. Others can spot what's not working, bring people together and make things better.

We're looking for someone who can do both.

At Not Just Travel, we're searching for a confident, adaptable and hands-on Travel Operations Manager who can become a trusted senior leader within our growing Operations team.

You’ll be someone who thrives when no two days are the same. You know how to take ownership, solve problems, support people and turn good ideas into practical improvements.

If you've built your career in travel, developed strong leadership skills and love making a real difference, this could be an exciting next step.

The Role at a Glance

Travel Operations Manager

UK | Remote or Bournemouth HQ

Competitive Salary DOE + Benefits

35 Hours per Week | 5 Days, Including Saturdays (One Weekday Off)

Permanent | Full Time

Your Background / Skills:

Travel Operations | Team Leadership | Service Delivery | Problem-Solving | Process Improvement | Customer Experience

Who We Are

Not Just Travel is one of the UK's largest homeworking travel businesses, supporting more than 800 Personal Travel Consultants and annual holiday sales approaching £200 million.

Behind every great holiday is a team making sure everything runs smoothly.

Our Operations team plays a vital role in supporting our consultants, solving complex challenges and delivering exceptional experiences for their customers.

As our business continues to grow, we're investing in experienced leaders who can help us take our service to the next level.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to become a trusted senior member of our Operations leadership team, working closely with the Head of Operations to keep the department running effectively while helping shape how we work in the future.

You’ll take ownership of day-to-day operational challenges, support and develop colleagues, make confident decisions and identify opportunities to improve the way things are done.

We don’t need someone who simply follows existing processes. We want someone who asks whether there's a better way, brings forward ideas and has the determination to make improvements happen.

It’s a varied, hands-on role where your judgement, initiative and leadership will make a genuine difference.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Take ownership of day-to-day travel operations, ensuring the team delivers consistently high standards of service.
• Lead, support and develop colleagues, creating a confident, collaborative and accountable team.
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex operational challenges, finding practical solutions and seeing issues through to resolution.
• Work closely with the Head of Operations to manage priorities, make decisions and keep the department running smoothly.
• Identify inefficiencies, challenge existing processes and introduce improvements that make work easier and more effective.
• Explore opportunities to use technology, AI and automation to improve operational efficiency and service delivery.
• Help ensure every interaction with our Personal Travel Consultants and their customers delivers an exceptional experience.
• Support operational planning, changing priorities and the continued growth of the department.
• Bring fresh thinking, sound judgement and a willingness to get personally involved whenever needed.

About You

You may have progressed through travel operations, worked your way up from a customer-facing travel role or developed your leadership experience within a busy travel business.

Pche you've been a Travel Rep, Branch Manager, Operations Manager or Senior Team Leader.

Your exact career path matters less than what you've learned along the way and how you approach challenges.

You’ll likely bring:

• Significant experience within the travel industry, with a strong understanding of operational service delivery.
• Proven experience leading, coaching or managing teams in a busy customer-focused environment.
• Confidence taking ownership of complex problems and making sensible, independent decisions.
• A track record of identifying opportunities for improvement and putting changes into practice.
• A proactive, adaptable approach and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to challenge ideas constructively.
• Genuine enthusiasm for improving customer experience and supporting colleagues.
• Curiosity about technology, AI and new ways of working.
• A practical, hands‑on attitude and willingness to get stuck in.
• Experience within travel agency operations, tour operations, aftersales or complex customer service environments would be particularly welcome.

Why Join Not Just Travel?

This is an opportunity to have real influence within a growing travel business.

You’ll be trusted to make decisions, bring forward ideas and help improve the way a busy Operations function works.

You'll enjoy:

• UK remote working or the opportunity to work from our Bournemouth HQ.
• A permanent role with genuine responsibility and variety.
• The opportunity to work closely with senior operational leadership.
• Scope to introduce improvements and influence how services are delivered.
• Personal development and opportunities to grow with the business.
• Bonus, private medical and pension benefits.

Your Experience May Include

Travel Operations Manager, Travel Branch Manager, Assistant Branch Manager, Travel Customer Service Manager, Aftersales Manager, Travel Operations Team Leader, Tour Operations Manager, Service Delivery Manager, Travel Support Manager or Senior Travel Operations Executive.

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