Guide & Contractor Specialist

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.