Travel Operations Lead - Barmy Army

Travel Operations Lead

Barmy Army

This is a hybrid role based in either our Chesterfield or Reading offices, so you must live within a commutable distance to either.

The Barmy Army have been providing fans with unforgettable, bucket list sporting experiences, both at home and abroad, for more than 25 years. Whether it’s a day at The Test in the UK or a full tour overseas – we pride ourselves on our unique, fun-loving, positive community and our team will be on hand to ensure you’re enjoying the action both on and off the pitch. https://barmyarmy.com/

We are seeking a highly organised and sport-passionate Travel Operation Lead to take a key role in the delivery of long-haul Barmy Army members tours to international cricket events, specifically the England Tour of South Africa 26/27.From ICC tournaments and overseas Test series to bilateral tours, you’ll be responsible for orchestrating every logistical and service element to create seamless, exciting, and unforgettable journeys for cricket fans. This role blends pre-tour operational precision with on the ground tour management, ensuring every tour captures the thrill of the game and the camaraderie of the Barmy Army community.

No two days are the same in this exciting operationally focussed role but on a typical day you will assist with:

Tour Planning

• Work with the Head of Operations to design and develop tour packages for international cricket tours including negotiating with hotels, ground transportation providers, airlines and DMCs to provide high standard tours at the best possible prices.

• Work with the Head of Operations and Finance Team to develop accurate budgets and costings for tours, excursions and events, providing forecasted P&L for all tours.

• Coordinate the accurate loading of tours and products onto our booking system and website, including creating detailed sales itineraries with interesting and informative content.

• Brief the wider organisation prior to tours going on sale, ensuring all team members have detailed product briefs.

Operational Execution

• Lead the delivery of the end-to-end logistics of a tour: flights, hotels, ground transport, excursions and tickets to ensure all deliverables are met on time and within budget.

• Maintain tight control of stock and provide accurate financial risk records to ensure exact and clear data is available to internal stakeholders and suppliers.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, DMCs, and official ticketing organisations.

• Ensure all H&S requirements are met prior to and during tours.

• Lead the delivery of comprehensive pre-departure information for travel members alongside detailed pre-tour briefings to Tour Managers and on-tour staff.

• Travel to destinations for on-the-ground delivery of tours, ensuring the smooth running of the tours and proactively addressing any issues that may arise, such as travel delays, unexpected changes in tour plans, or member concerns.

Travel Member Experience & Customer Service

• Be a champion for the fan journey - working across departments to ensure a smooth and high energy experience from pre-booking through to when members return from tour.

• Foster a strong sense of community and team spirit among travel members, along with the wider Barmy Army Membership on tour.

Reporting & Optimisation

• Work with the Head of Operations and Customer Service Manager to monitor performance metrics including NPS (Net Promoter Score) and complaint resolution.

• Work with the Head of Operations and Customer Service Manager to gather and act on Tour Manager and travel member feedback to refine future tour offerings.

• Work with the Head of Operations to produce post-tour debrief.

To be successful within this role, our ideal candidate will:

• Have at least 3 years’ operational experience within a tour operator environment

• Demonstrable experience supporting and delivering international sports tours; cricket experience highly advantageous

• Show strong working knowledge of the sports industry, with a solid understanding of international cricket formats, schedules, and fan engagement dynamics

• Have proven experience managing third-party suppliers, with exposure to contracting and commercial negotiations

• Be able to manage tours end-to-end, from planning and supplier coordination through to on-site delivery and post-event review

• Be confident collaborating with cross-functional teams (sales, marketing, finance, operations) to ensure successful event execution

• Be highly organised with the ability to manage multiple tours simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail

• have experience building and maintaining strong working relationships with partners, suppliers, DMCs, and ticketing providers

• Demonstrate financial competence, including managing and reconciling event budgets

• Show strong systems proficiency, including Microsoft Office (advanced Excel preferred), CRM platforms, and Google Workspace

• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at varying levels of seniority

• Be commercially aware, with an understanding of margin, cost control, and revenue considerations within tour operations

• Have proven ability to prioritise effectively in fast-paced environments with competing deadlines

• Show willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as required with the flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and bank holidays during peak cricket events

So if you are looking for your next challenge, please get in touch we'd love to hear from you!