Director of Trip Development, Europe

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About the role:

The European TD Director will oversee most European trip development and operations, managing six European Regional Directors and providing oversight of the RLs and TEs aligned to their regions. The Director of Trip Development, Europe is responsible for ensuring the overall success in Trip Quality, Capacity and Cost Accuracy across European regions by setting direction, aligning priorities, strengthening systems and processes, and making sure the right tools, guidance and support are in place to design and deliver excellent guest experiences.

This role will collaborate closely with the US-based Director of Trip Development, TD Leadership, Utrecht office partners, as well as other teams throughout TD & Backroads at large, including Leader Development, Ops, Sales, Marketing, Hotel Operations, Data Quality, Supplier Operations, Rooming, and IT.  The Director of Trip Development, Europe will be focused on making sure European trips are high-quality, financially sound, and consistently guest focused.

What you'll be doing:

Specific responsibilities may evolve or be adjusted based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, and the needs of the Trip Development team.

• Manage six European Regional Directors, including annual performance reviews, ongoing mentorship, prioritization support, and leadership guidance.
• Set strategic direction for European Trip Development across trip quality, capacity, vendor relationships, cost accuracy, trip content, and operational readiness.
• Partner with European RDs to improve quality across all European trips, with particular focus on high-volume areas and opportunities identified through guest feedback, field insight, and regional performance trends.
• Partner with European RDs to increase capacity within their markets and create new trips as needed to support business goals and guest demand.
• Oversee Trip Content quality audits and standards, ensuring clear, accurate, and timely information for Go Live, Sales, Marketing, guests, and internal partners.
• Provide in-time-zone leadership, mentorship, guidance, and high-level support to RDs & RLs as well as other Utrecht office team members.
• Own RD training materials and curriculum globally, oversee all-RD training in partnership with the US-based counterpart, and own hiring and onboarding for European RDs.
• Serve as liaison for European RL contracts and partner with relevant teams to support clear communication and execution.
• Support European RDs in escalated vendor negotiations, participate directly when appropriate, and partner with the Supplier Operations Manager and US-based counterparts to define negotiation processes and standards.
• Support European RDs through communication and decision-making related to strikes, natural disasters, and other exigent situations requiring timely, guest-focused responses.
• Partner with European RDs to identify opportunities for cost savings while increasing value for guests.
• Implement approved systems and process enhancements that support the RD team, provide feedback on RD resources and documentation, and partner with IT on improvements that strengthen execution.
• Partner within Trip Development and across departments to explore, launch, communicate, and train RDs on new initiatives, ensuring RD perspective and engagement are incorporated where needed.

What you'll need to be successful:

• Regional Director experience highly preferred
• Trip Development, RL, TE, or similar experience required
• Prior people management, mentorship, and performance review experience required.
• Strong analytical, budgeting, cost management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance long-range planning with practical execution needs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with high EQ and sound judgment in complex interpersonal, operational, and vendor-facing situations.
• Strong cross-functional communicator who can connect field and office perspectives and bring clarity to complex decisions.
• Ability to manage details, deadlines, and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfort with Backroads systems and processes (Ascent, JIRA, Confluence, Workday, Concur), and content management programs
• Comfort working across time zones and departments, with the ability to support both direct reports and dotted-line team members in a collaborative matrix environment.
• Strong experience with Microsoft 365 products, including Office, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote

Eligibility, Compensation and Benefits:

• Salaried, full-time, year-round role, based in the Backroads Utrecht office.
• Pay dependent on experience and qualifications.
• Regular travel is required.
• This position is open to all nationalities and is dependent on Backroads’ ability to secure a visa unless a candidate already has European work authorization.

Netherlands Details:

• Paid time off provided in accordance with Dutch standards.
• Eligible to contribute to a Dutch Pension Plan; Backroads will provide matching on a portion of your contributions.
• Backroads may provide relocation assistance; details to be determined.
• If required, Backroads will cover fees and legal advice needed to obtain Dutch visas for you and your spouse.
• All offers are contingent upon visa eligibility. Backroads visa sponsorship requires a 3-year commitment to working in the Netherlands.
• Applicants and employees are responsible for understanding and complying with any personal tax, social insurance, and reporting obligations associated with their work location. Backroads does not provide individual tax advice and encourages candidates to consult a qualified tax professional regarding their specific circumstances.

Application Details:

• Please apply via Workday, including a cover letter explaining why you are interested and your qualifications, as well as your resume.
• Reach out to Cat Malone, VP of Trip Development, with questions.