Excited to grow your career?

We value our talented employees, and whenever possible strive to help one of our associates grow professionally before recruiting new talent to our open positions. If you think the open position you see is right for you, we encourage you to apply!

Our people make all the difference in our success. 

PURPOSE OF JOB 

The Market Expert (ME) is a Trip Development (TD) role that provides guidance and support for a market’s Trip Experts. An ME is an existing Trip Expert within the market, with broad expertise in the market and in the Backroads systems used by TEs. MEs spend the majority of the season within their market and are available for systems updates, research needs, and in-person supplier meetings.   

During a market’s season, MEs provide hands-on training and support for all market TEs. MEs assist with TE tasks during presearch, first departures, peak weeks, and PSUs, providing real-time systems guidance and help to ensure TE deliverables are complete and approach gold standards. MEs may lead trips during the market’s operating season (this is flexible depending on market needs), and those trip leads are focused on less busy times and during September peak. We expect the ME’s non-leading workload to be variable, based on minimum requirements per nationality, and up to 40 hours per week. 

Outside of the market’s season, MEs are available through the winter on a more flexible hourly basis (in or out of market) to help with various TE-related tasks, including answering sales questions, updating Ascent and other market materials, and assisting with audits and other projects as needed.  We expect the workload during these timeframes to be variable and based on minimum requirements per nationality. Market Experts may be fully available to lead trips during this time.   

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Support all TEs in the Market 
  • Serve as a point of contact for systems questions  
  • Complete time-sensitive TE responsibilities while TEs are unavailable  
  • Conduct research and supplier meetings in coordination with RLs and TEs 
• Serve as an additional knowledge expert for the Market and all its itineraries 
  • Provide field-based support for trip issues and crisis management, working closely with the RL and RD 
  • Provide insight and market knowledge to TD Team and Office Staff with respect to Sales information, Marketing content, Activity Levels, Scheduling Parameters and trip overlap within Market. 
• Provide onboarding support and hands-on training for all TEs in the market 
  • Post-Training Check-In for new TEs: 1:1 meeting with RL after online training; discuss TE doubts/questions; practice together in Ascent & RWGPS; redirect unresolved questions to RL. 
  • Hands-On Training: in-field support and training during TE Deliverables (Presearch/QA/PSUs).  
• Regular review and updates of Ascent and other market materials to ensure all TE deliverables are complete and accurate before passing off to RL for review. 
• Assist with off-season audit efforts and trip questions 
• Possibility to assist with Trip Development projects unrelated to the Market, as time allows 
• When needed, co-host segment sales seminars with RLs and RDs to give Trip Consultants a clear and accurate picture of our trips.  
• New trips, revised trips, and capacity adjustments - Review itineraries for overlap of meet/depart, activities, meals, and other services. 
• Review private trip requests and provide recommendations to RL for approval.  

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:   

• 2+ years of Trip Expert experience in the applicable market 
• Strong interpersonal skills, including proven feedback skills via FTR feedback on trips and co-leaders. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Extensive Trip Leading experience in the applicable market and understanding of Backroads’ service ethic. 
• Expertise in Ascent, Ride with GPS and other systems used by TEs. 
• A strong understanding of the TE Program and Backroads’ gold standards for TE deliverables  
• Ability to manage projects and follow through on project-related deliverables. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Excel, & Word 
• Experience in Leadership Development as a mentor is preferred 
• New Trip Researcher experience is a plus 
• A solid understanding of the connection from office to trip to leader to guest 
• Willing and able to spend most of the season in-market 
• Understanding local language is a plus