Guide & Contractor Specialist

Job Details

Level: Experienced

Job Location: Edmonds Office - Edmonds, WA

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Salary Range: $85000.00 - $90000.00 Salary/year

Travel Percentage: Some

Job Overview:

At Rick Steves’ Europe, we are passionate about travel. Through our European tour program, guidebooks, our public television series, our weekly radio show, and our expanding web presence, we have inspired millions to explore and contribute to the world in which we live.

We are looking for a Guide Contractor Specialist to join our Guide Services team. This role manages all the administrative aspects relating to Rick Steves’ Europe (RSE) contracted guides. This includes sourcing, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, scheduling, and maintaining current information and documents.

This is a full-time, 40 hours/week (hybrid remote) position with full benefits.

Responsibilities:

Guide Recruiting and Onboarding:

Responsible for guide sourcing, recruitment, coordination, and onboarding, based on projections received from the Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Customer Experience and the Program Manager of Tours

Manages the guide onboarding process which includes (but is not limited to) reviewing applications in Paycom, scheduling and collaborating with other Guide Services team members in interviewing candidates, and completing all necessary onboarding tasks

Reaches out to new guides with initial offer emails confirming rate of pay, informing them of the background check, and requesting availability for tour apprenticeships

Coordinates any onboarding communications between internal departments

Coordinates all guide paperwork (including following up on missing paperwork) and maintains the most current versions of forms in Paycom

Performs administrative tasks when a guide’s contract with RSE is terminated

Reviews guide status annually to determine status of active or inactive

Guide Scheduling:

Solicits annual tour requests from all Lead Guides and My Way Tour Managers

Drafts initial guide schedule for the tour season using a variety of tools and factors; partners with other GS team members in determining which tours need additional support (Apprentices, etc.)

Collaborates with team members on assigning new guides apprentice tours prior to them becoming RSE guides

Confirms drafted tour schedule with guides and makes adjustments as needed

Throughout the year looks to fill any additional tours that the Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Customer Experience and the Program Manager of Tours ask to open

Maintains accuracy of the guide schedule in internal RSE systems

Updates schedule process documents on a rolling basis

Finds replacement guides as needed for upcoming tours and communicates all necessary information, changes, and updates to the guides and appropriate stakeholders

Schedules guide apprenticeships, training tours, training assistants and other on-tour roles as needed

Additional Responsibilities:

Supports other departmental needs and responsibilities during Guide Services colleagues’ out of office time as needed

Occasional travel to Europe may be required for the role

Other relevant duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications:

B.S. or B.A. degree

3+ years of relevant experience in contractor hiring, scheduling, administration, or similar

Travel industry and travel experience preferred

Strong problem-solving skills

Proven organizational and multitasking abilities

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

Ability to meet deadlines and manage time effectively

Thorough knowledge of RSE’s tour programs

Ability to thrive under pressure

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint, OneDrive) and Adobe, as well as the other software and systems that RSE chooses to implement. Experience with project management programs such as Wrike, a plus

Benefits:

Hybrid work schedule (3 days in office, 2 days remote) w/ flexible hours

Paid holidays (9)

Paid vacation (starting at 10 days) and sick leave (based on WA state laws)

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance Plans

Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Life, and AD&D Insurance

Access to EAP (Employee Assistance Program)

401(k) with annual profit sharing

Discretionary Bonuses

Additional fringe benefits include:

Tour and Travel Benefits

Employee Merchandise Discount

Education and Health Club Allowance

Tech and Remote Work Equipment Allowance

Strong emphasis on work/life balance plus

Relaxed culture and office atmosphere

About Us:

Our mission is to inspire, inform, and equip Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. We value travel as a powerful way to better understand and contribute to the world in which we live. Our number one priority is to teach good and thoughtful travel. We believe we have the obligation to set an example of how a successful company, with personality and distinction, can be a role model to others: engaged in our community, true to our philosophy, and actively communicating and demonstrating our values.

As an employer, we are committed to understanding, accepting, and valuing the many differences between individuals. We maintain a supportive, respectful, and inclusive environment where every person feels welcome and valued, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.