Head of Travel Operations

Ma'wa Collective; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ma’wa Collective is seeking a Head of Travel Operations to design and run the systems that turn trip ideas into seamless experiences. You will manage booking workflows, vendor contracts, and act as the primary on-ground liaison for issues, while safeguarding licenses, permits, and budgets to scale trips from dozens to many more.

You’ll oversee risk procedures, safety plans, waivers, and compliance, partnering with the Founder to build a scalable operational backbone for a values-driven,

Qualifications

• Experience in travel operations, tour/expedition operations, or related logistics field.
• Strong vendor management and contract negotiation skills.
• Solid grounding in budgets, reconciliation, and profitability tracking.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end travel operations: booking workflows, operator contracts, issue resolution.
• Maintain licenses, permits, insurance, and local regulatory registrations.
• Oversee budgets, vendor payments, payroll filings, and insurance renewals.

Skills

Travel operations

Vendor management

Contract negotiation

Operational finance

Risk management

Clear communication

Tools

Booking/Registration platforms

Google Sheets

Payments systems

Job description

Location: RemoteType: Full-time, Virtual

Position Summary

As Head of Travel Operations, you'll own the operational engine behind every Ma'wa trip. You'll design and run the systems that turn every trip idea into a seamless experience: building booking workflows, negotiating and managing local operators and vendors, and serving as the primary point of contact when questions or issues arise on the ground. Beyond individual trips, you'll safeguard the business itself: keeping licenses, permits, insurance, in order and oversee trip budgets and profitability. You will maintain the risk, safety, and emergency-response procedures that protect our participants and our brand. Reporting to and partnering closely with the Founder, you'll be the steady operational backbone that lets Ma'wa scale from dozens of trips a year to many more.

Key Responsibilities

Travel Operations

Own the end-to-end trip operation: build booking and registration workflows, manage local operators and vendor contracts, serve as the primary operational liaison, and resolve trip issues and escalated participant concerns.

Business Operations & Compliance

Keep the business in good standing by maintaining licenses, permits, insurance, and California Seller of Travel registration, and tracking destination-specific permit requirements.

Finance & Administration

Oversee trip and organizational budgets, review profitability, process vendor payments and international wires, and coordinate tax, payroll filings, and insurance renewals.

Safeguard participants and the brand through waivers and Terms & Conditions, risk and safety procedures, emergency response planning, incident tracking, and vendor risk assessments.

Human Resources

Support hiring, contractor and employee agreements, onboarding, payroll coordination, recordkeeping, and performance and offboarding processes.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in travel operations, tour/expedition operations, or a related operational or logistics field
• Strong vendor management and contract negotiation skills
• Solid grounding in operational financeL budgets, reconciliation, and profitability tracking
• Familiarity with compliance, risk management, or regulated operating environments
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to manage many moving parts at once
• Proactive, clear communication and a collaborative attitude
• Comfort with (or willingness to learn) tools like booking/registration platforms, Google Sheets, and payment systems
• Excitement to work with a values-driven, fast-growing team and community

Why Ma’wa

Our goal is to create experiences that align with our mission of allowing Muslim women to feel empowered to explore the world, connect with one another, and be seen as their full selves. The core of our company is serving experiences to an underserved community. You’ll be helping to build the operational foundation of a community-driven brand rooted in purpose, adventure, and sisterhood.

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the Head of Travel Operations role. Ma’wa Collective also offers flexible scheduling, fully remote work, opportunities for travel with our team, and the opportunity to grow alongside a supportive, mission-driven team culture.