We're recruiting on behalf of our client, a globally recognized brand operating in the tourism sector. We are looking for a highly capable Local Partner Acquisition Specialist to oversee and drive their local partner acquisition operations.

The position requires a profile capable of sourcing, vetting, and onboarding top-quality tour guides while building strong relationships with individual guides, local guide associations, and university tourism departments. It is essential that the candidate possesses a strong commercial and relationship-building mindset together with excellent outreach, structured interviewing, and pipeline management skills.

Key Responsibilities

Proactively find tour guides through local directories, social media, guide marketplaces, university tourism programs, tourism offices, and referrals.
Engage tourism departments, faculty, and student tourism clubs to identify emerging guides and program alumni.
Investigate each candidate’s background, tour offerings, language skills, certifications, reviews, and social proof.
Conduct outreach and run structured screening interviews to assess professionalism, storytelling ability, route knowledge, safety practices, and guest service.
Score candidates against defined criteria, e.g., local knowledge, guest ratings, availability, language ability, and maintain a ranked pipeline.
Prepare concise profiles and recommendations; present shortlisted guides to management with pros/cons and fit-for-market notes.
Negotiate basic commercial terms, pilot partnerships, and assist with onboarding logistics including contracts, scheduling, and pricing guidance.
Test new sourcing channels such as community groups, tourism job boards, alumni networks, and events to refine outreach plays.
Maintain accurate records, track candidate conversion metrics, and maintain a rigorous reporting discipline for weekly pipeline health.
Gather guide and guest feedback from pilot phases and share insights to improve selection criteria and partnership terms.

Qualifications

1–3 years of experience in business development, recruiting, partnerships, or hospitality/tourism operations.
Ability to adapt to an international corporate environment with a professional and global mindset.
Strong outreach and interviewing skills; comfortable with field outreach and phone/video interviews.
Familiarity with local tourism ecosystems and university structures is highly preferred.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple candidate pipelines effectively.
Comfortable negotiating basic commercial terms and documenting agreements.
Experience working with tour operators, DMCs, travel marketplaces, or university career services is preferred.
Multilingual capabilities or direct experience evaluating multilingual guides.
Experience onboarding independent contractors or freelance talent.
Familiarity with local licensing and certification requirements for guides.
Results-oriented, accountable, and proactive working approach.
Flexibility to balance remote work with fieldwork and travel for evaluations.

Application Form