About the Company
This budding travel agency has set out to be the industry leader in quality and experience in the South African Safari scene. With an award-winning safari lodge already well established, they have their sights set on developing an equestrian escape like no other through the African bush! Their horseback safari is bound to be a bucket-list destination for equestrians and adventure enthusiasts alike. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a small, focused team as a founding member of the business - and sole specialist in the US Equestrian market!
Job Description
As the second member to join the equestrian promotions team, you will have an integral part in launching and shaping this program from the ground up. The primary responsibilities of this role will be sales, elite customer service, and business development - but you can expect to have a hand in marketing, experience design, internal infrastructure, and more in collaboration with the company's VP and their team in South Africa. Although the equestrian venture is new, the travel agency itself is established and proven - giving all of the excitement of a startup endeavor without the questionable job security! This is the type of dream-job opportunity you can really build and develop into a long-term career in one of the most exciting corners of the equine industry!
This is a remote opportunity, with preference given to applicants in the Southeast USA. This is intended to begin as a 30hr/week role with the ability to transition into full-time as the company grows - with travel both nationally and to South Africa anticipated.
Job Duties
Sales & Business Development
- Generate, qualify, and close horseback safari sales within the US markets
- Prospect and built relationships with equestrian organizations, riding clubs, breed associations, and influencers in the industry to promote the brand
- Represent the brand at tradeshows, events, and conferences
- Collaborate with the Vice President for high-stakes meetings
- Develop and maintain a partnership pipeline with outside travel agents and equestrian media channels
Concierge & Customer Service
- Manage every guest from inquiry through post-trip follow-up with a white-glove approach
- Built itinerary templates that can be tailored to individual guests alongside the domestic and international teams
- Handle reservation management, confirmations, deposits, payments, and pre-trip communications
- Anticipate guest needs and proactively solve issues before they escalate!
Operations & Documentation
-Log all client interactions, leads, opportunities, and bookings in Salesforce with discipline and accuracy
- Build and maintain SOPs for sales and concierge functions
- Built out the internal knowledge base - internal articles, guest-facing FAQs, and onboarding materials for future members
- Design and launch a volunteer program for Americans to serve in the sables in South Africa for discounted rates
- Contribute data, insights, and feedback to inform pricing, product design, and marketing decisions
Product Development
- Work alongside the Vice President and South Africa-based team to shape the equestrian experience as the lead knowledge source in the equestrian markets.
- Help design itineraries, riding programs, and experience add-ons that will enhance the trip for guests.
- Influence the brand voice, marketing positioning, and channel strategy from the inside
Job Requirements
- Minimum of 8+ years of experience in the equestrian industry on a professional level
- Minimum of 2+ years sales experience - including prospecting, cold calling, and servicing accounts
- Deep understanding of the key events and equestrian hubs across the USA
- Strong existing network within the equestrian community
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Exceptionally well organized - you log everything, follow up on everything, and never let a lead slip
- Tech savvy - CRM systems, scheduling tools, communication platforms, and willing to learn new systems
- Self-directed, entrepreneurial, and energized by freedom to create and design and take charge of a brand
- Willing to travel domestically and internationally for industry events - including to company headquarters in the Greater Atlanta area as needed
**Strong preference given to candidates with experience in the travel industry - hospitality, travel agency, cruise lines, tour operations, etc - and who maintain connections in this space
**Strong preference given to candidates who are familiar with safari, African travel, or adventure travel
Job Benefits
- Part-time role at 30 hours per week with flexibility on schedule and remote capabilities
- Highly competitive hourly rate + Commission structure on all sales
- Supplemental sales capabilities with non-equestrian travel bookings (with commission)
- Travel Opportunities to trade shows and events
- Possibility of an experiential trip to South Africa to learn the product first-hand
- Freedom, trust, and flexibility to help shape a brand new division of an established company where your voice truly matters
- Direct working relationship with the Vice President and visibility across the entire company
- Travel expenses completely covered (vehicle mileage reimbursement, flight cost coverage, hourly wage when traveling overnight, accommodations covered)
- Potential to step into a full-time opportunity with benefits after 1 year