Head of Bespoke Travel & Operations in Orsières

Epic Europe | SwitzerlandWe're looking for someone exceptional to help shape the next chapter of Epic Europe. One minute you might be speaking to a private client about their dream European trip. The next you're negotiating with a supplier, checking the margin on a booking, solving an operational problem, supporting a member of the team, or working with the founders to figure out how we can optimize systems. Epic Europe designs and delivers highly bespoke private travel across Switzerland and the Alps for a select international clientele. After more than 15 years building Epic Europe, we're entering our next stage and looking for someone commercially minded, ambitious and brilliant with people to take a genuine leadership role in what comes next. This is a hands-on role with real responsibility. Over time, you'll take increasing ownership of our travel design and operations function — leading the team, making important decisions and shaping the systems and standards that will support Epic Europe as we grow. What you'll be doing: This is a varied role spanning sales, luxury travel design, client relationships, operations and team management. You’ll: Manage and convert high-value client enquiries. Design and oversee exceptional bespoke trips. Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers and partners. Negotiate with suppliers and make commercially sound decisions. Keep an eye on booking value, costs, margins and profitability. Manage multiple complex trips and priorities at once. Lead, develop and hold accountable a small travel and operations team, helping people make better decisions independently. Review work and make decisions without everything needing to go back to the founders. Spot where processes could work better — and do something about it. Handle the inevitable moments when plans change, something goes wrong or a client needs an immediate solution. Take increasing ownership of our travel design and operations function, setting priorities, developing the team and ensuring exceptional trips are delivered consistently. This is a hands‑on leadership role, but success isn't about doing everything yourself. It's about creating clarity, building capability in the team and establishing the standards and structure that allow people to take ownership and perform at their best. Who we're looking for: Your background could be in luxury travel, sales, account management, project management, events, hospitality, operations or another high-value client environment. Luxury travel experience is a big advantage, but we're deliberately interested in transferable experience, too. More important is that you: Have strong sales and commercial instincts. Are confident working with high-value, demanding clients. Have excellent judgement — knowing when to make the call yourself, when to involve others and how to balance what a client asks for with what will actually make a trip work. Thrive in a fast-moving environment where priorities change. Can juggle the big picture and the tiny details. Take ownership and make decisions without needing constant approval. Understand margin and profitability, not just revenue. Have genuine people-management experience — setting expectations, developing people and being comfortable having direct or difficult conversations when necessary. Stay calm and practical when things don't go according to plan. Build great relationships with clients, colleagues and suppliers. Are comfortable with technology and quick to learn new systems. Naturally think, "There must be a better way of doing this." Knowledge of Switzerland and the Alps is a significant advantage, but we don't expect you to arrive knowing every hotel, destination and supplier. We're more interested in your ability to learn, your judgement and what you can bring to the business. Why this role? Because this isn't just another travel job. There's genuine scope to grow your responsibility as Epic Europe grows, working directly with the founders and having meaningful influence over how the business operates. You'll help us scale one of Switzerland's leading luxury travel businesses while protecting the creativity, judgement and personal service that have built Epic Europe's reputation over the past 15 years. This isn't a corporate management role where you'll inherit a large team and an established operating manual. We're a small, entrepreneurial business. You'll be expected to get involved, understand how things really work and then help make them better. For the right person, it's an opportunity to help build something, not simply inherit a job description. And you'll do it from the mountains of Switzerland, working in a business built around one of the most spectacular parts of the world. We're looking for someone who's ambitious about their career and the life they want outside it. Languages & location Excellent written and spoken English and the right to work in Switzerland are essential. Additional European languages are an advantage, but are not requirements. The role is based in Switzerland and requires regular in-person work with our team, as well as opportunities to travel throughout Switzerland and the wider Alps to develop first‑hand knowledge of the destinations, hotels and partners we work with. Applications will be reviewed from the week beginning 5 October. Rather than relying solely on CVs and cover letters, we'll ask you to complete a short application form so we can get to know the person behind the CV — how you think, work, lead and solve problems. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to speak with us and, later in the process, complete a practical exercise based on the kind of real-world situations you'll encounter at Epic Europe. #J-18808-Ljbffr