Senior Operations Specialist

ExecutivePlacements.com; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A well-known destination management company is looking for a Senior Operations Specialist in Johannesburg. This role requires a detail-oriented individual passionate about travel to provide comprehensive operational support throughout the booking lifecycle. Responsibilities include collaborating with Travel Designers, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring flawless guest experiences. Candidates should have a tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism, 4-5 years of experience in reservations operations, and strong communication skills. A knowledge of TourPlan is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Matric with Maths (Standard Grade or higher).
• 4–5 years in a senior reservations operations role.
• Experience in customer service and supplier relations.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Travel Designers for operational accuracy.
• Engage with agents and guests for information management.
• Act as the main contact for suppliers and manage requests.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Organisational skills

Customer service

Proactive service-driven

Creative thinking

Education

Tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism or Hospitality

Tools

TourPlan

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Recruiter: Phoenix Recruitment

Job Ref: JHB000962/DB

Date posted: Friday, January 9, 2026

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Salary: Monthly

Summary: Well known Destination Management Company with offices in Cape Town & Johannesburg is looking for a Senior Operations Specialist. We are looking for a candidate that is detail-oriented and passionate about travel, that thrive in a fast-paced environment to play a pivotal role in delivering seamless luxury journeys across Africa.

As a Senior Operations Specialist, you’ll provide comprehensive operational and administrative support throughout the booking lifecycle, working closely with Travel Designers. From the quoting stage to post-travel file archiving, you’ll ensure every detail is managed, supplier relationships are strong, and guest experiences are flawless.

Position Info

Duties

• Collaborate with Travel Designers from quoting to completion, ensuring operational accuracy and continuity.
• Engage directly with agents and guests to collect and manage all required information, ensuring it’s accurately captured and communicated.
• Act as the main contact for suppliers, reconfirm services, manage special requests, and coordinate value-adds for VIP guests.
• Maintain up-to-date booking information, upload documents and compile itinerary materials for review.
• Manage supplier invoices, payments, and ensure all services are paid prior to travel.
• Monitor guest travel, resolve in-country issues and archive booking files post-travel.
• Stay current on group’s camps and experiences across Southern & East Africa, and attend regular training to deepen destination expertise.
• Use industry systems (Wilderness Window, WETU, Smartbox, Tourplan, etc.) to streamline processes and enhance service delivery.

Requirements

• Matric with Maths (Standard Grade or higher)
• Tertiary qualification in Travel & Tourism or Hospitality.
• At least 4–5 years in a senior reservations operations role
• Proven experience in customer service
• Familiarity with TourPlan and Microsoft Office.
• Exceptional attention to detail, strong communication (English required, European languages advantageous)
• Organisational skills
• Creative, proactive, service-driven
• Passionate about wildlife and conservation
• Able to work under pressure
• Dedicated to customer satisfaction.