Regional Office Manager, Tour Directors

EF Education First Teachers

Tour Director Manager overseeing recruitment and development of Tour Directors. Building operations excellence and strategic initiatives within the regional office in Japan.

Posted 6/18/2026full-timeKyoto • 🇯🇵 JapanLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build and maintain a high-performing and engaged Tour Director community that consistently delivers exceptional customer experiences.
Ensure Tour Director supply meets business needs through effective forecasting, recruitment, and workforce planning.
Drive strong operational performance through effective allocation, cost management, and issue resolution.
Improve Tour Director retention, engagement, and overall performance.
Develop a capable and motivated Regional Office team that supports both day-to-day operations and long-term business goals.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across Japan and APAC Operations.
**Team & Reporting Structure**
This role sits within the APAC Operations Management Team and carries dual reporting lines:
- Functionally to the Senior Manager for TD Management APAC, based in Sydney
- Operationally to the Senior Director of APAC Operations, based in Tokyo
The Japan Operations Management Team are direct peers of this role. Collaboration, information-sharing, and joint decision-making with Japan Operations peers are central to how this role operates.
The same peer relationship applies within the broader APAC Operations Management Team. This role is a full and active participant in the APAC management community, contributing to shared goals, cross-regional initiatives, and collective accountability for operational outcomes across the region.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum two years of operations experience with strong product knowledge and a demonstrated commitment to customer experience.
Demonstrated understanding of Japanese culture and the ability to communicate effectively in Japan.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, particularly in fast-paced operational environments.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and coaching abilities
Proven experience leading or developing people and building strong working relationships.
Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational execution.
Strong business acumen, including an understanding of cost management and operational efficiency.
Experience managing operational incidents or complex customer situations is preferred.
A customer-centric mindset. Enthusiasm for educational travel.
**Languages**
**Required**
- English
- Japanese
**Useful to Have**
- Korean

Benefits

Comp & perks

Opportunities for international collaboration across EF offices worldwide
Participation in staff travel experiences and global programs
Professional development and growth opportunities
A collaborative, energetic, and supportive team culture
Opportunities to travel and engage directly with Tour Directors and customers
Discounts on EF products and partner services

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

operations experiencecost managementforecastingrecruitmentworkforce planningproblem-solvingdecision-makingstakeholder managementcustomer experienceoperational efficiency

Soft Skills

communicationcoachingstrategic thinkingrelationship buildingengagementteam developmentcollaborationinformation-sharingissue resolutioncustomer-centric mindset