Arigato Japan, the country’s number one food tour operator and culinary tourism expert is looking to hire a Kansai Regional Operations and Training Coordinator. The perfect candidate for this position will be an experienced travel expert and organizational professional with the ability to work with a dynamic, fast-paced team. The position will require you to work with and support our guides, Kansai trainers, and our management team in Tokyo. You will be responsible for training programs, vendor relations and guest satisfaction. You will report to the General Manager and CEO, support the HR Coordinator and work closely with other members of the Arigato Japan team.  Kansai has grown over the last 3 years to become 50% of our business and we are ready to invest in someone in the Kansai region with passion for travel, Japanese food, and for sharing cultural insights with inbound travelers from all over the world.

The Role

You will be the bridge between our Kansai and Hiroshima team and the home office in Tokyo. You will help choose new team members and make sure our goals of life-long learning and improvement are instilled in everyone who works with us. You may also be called upon to assist with special projects, sales outreach, vendor support, events and company initiatives. Once you gain confidence and demonstrate skill in your role, there are many opportunities to grow within Arigato Japan.

You will also be expected to contribute to the company’s marketing efforts. As our eyes and ears on the ground, we may also ask you to under-take research or carry out new projects to support the Kasai team as well as research for new products, tours and build new restaurant relationships. We are also keen to make use of any special skills or knowledge you bring.

You will need to be a confident person but also a good listener and have empathy with your team. At times you will need to make some difficult decisions, and be prepared to take responsibility for those consequences, as you look after any problems that occur with guides, tours and systems.

Who will you be working with?

• Clients and guests from all over the world.
• Guides and staff both Japanese and Foreign
• Management and staff across Japan, and Manilla where our customer service call center is located.
• Suppliers (hotels, restaurants, and other support suppliers)

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with GM and Training Coordinator to develop and implement excellent training programs for Kansai and Hiroshima teams. 
• Be responsible for overview of our tours, materials and outreach with partners, hotels and restaurants in the area. 
• Operate as the first line of  support senior guides, trainers and new guides. 
• Perform frequent reviews of tours and guides to ensure the highest quality controls. 
• Creation and review of new regionally specific materials, and programs. 
• Work to train all guides on software and systems to handle the administrative requirements for guiding within a remote company. 
• Participate in interviewing, hiring, training and development of guides including coaching and feedback. 
• Perform other duties as needed to accomplish operations, administrative, and business development goals.

Specific Reporting Outputs

• Monthly detailed regional report. 
• Training meetings-  planning and coordination. 
• Training reports and accounts submitted in an accurate and timely manner
• PR & marketing contributions such as updates of interest on the ground in Japan, blog pieces, photographs and videos
• Self evaluation report twice yearly

Key Skill Requirements:

• Strong Japanese (N2) and excellent native level English language ability 
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and public speaking skills (ability to give clear directives and briefings)
• 2-3 years experience in the Tourism industry (Tour leading or guiding experience a plus) 
• Experience living and working in Japan and Must currently reside in Kansai area
• Willingness to travel
• Deep knowledge and interest in Japanese food, culture and customs
• Experience training others, including experience working with a diverse range of individuals and groups
• The ability to multi-task and balance the needs of the group while paying attention to individual guide and company overall needs
• Comfortable working in a remote company
• Computer and technology proficiency

Desirable attributes

• Possess a healthy sense of humour
• The ability to remain calm in high-pressure and tense situations
• Creative problem solving 
• Flexibility and adaptability in order to meet the needs of guides and the company
• Professional yet friendly and open manner
• Commitment to self-driven, personal growth
• Specialist knowledge of the Kansai area. 
• You will need to be a confident person but also a good listener and have empathy with your group members (strong emotional intelligence)

Branch: Kansai branch Work location: Across Kansai area with some travel to Hiroshima and Tokyo required Full time: 1-year contract, to be extended by mutual agreement Reports to: General Manager and Co-Founders Start date: Feb. 1st 2020 or earlier

What will we provide for you?

We provide support from our Tokyo offices, as well as comprehensive on-the-ground training. You will have a valuable database of knowledge and training materials upon which to build upon. We work as a team across all parts of the company.  (Visa sponsorship may be available to the right candidate)

What are we looking for from you?

We are looking for people to commit to a 1-year contract and welcome those who are looking for a longtime career. This not only ensures continuity of our tours and training systems, it also enables us to invest and ensure the best possible experience for our clients our guides and partners. 

We are looking for a self-starter who is comfortable working remotely, and is self motivated and organized. This will require working consecutive days and evenings, on weekends, national holidays and perhaps even Christmas and over the New Year period. You may also be called upon to assist and support your colleagues in last-minute and urgent situations. We also want you to be realistic about this role and come into it with your eyes open. It is a rewarding job, but a big commitment and hard work.

Pay and remuneration

• Contract:1-year contract, to be extended by mutual agreement
• Basic salary: Depending on experience and ability an initial salary between 260,000yen – 290,000yen per month salary. 
• Remote Work (work from home, a coffee shop or wherever delicious memories happen! )
• Additional benefits are the provision of Japanese Health care insurance and visa support if needed.

About Arigato Japan

Who we are and what we do! We are Arigato Japan Food Tours and our goal is to help you make delicious memories of Japan during your travels to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima! On our tours you’ll taste local and regional specialties like okonomiyaki, yakitori, sashimi, taiyaki, gyoza, nabe, yakisoba and so much more. We will show you places locals cherish for an off-the-beaten-path, foodie experience of daily life in Japan that you won’t soon forget.

Our story: Beginning January 20, 2016, Arigato Japan Food Tours started as a 1-woman show. Anne Kyle, the Founder of Arigato Japan Food Tours, performed the first 300 tours herself. Out of her passion for helping visitors to Japan blossomed a team of over 70 people completely aligned with a mission to provide a fun, entertaining, and delicious understanding of Japanese history, etiquette, manners, culture and of course, FOOD!

Arigato Japan has been featured at the New York Times Travel Show, on the U.S. News & World Report, Travel Weekly, by British Airways, the popular TV show Travels with Darley, and most recently on CNN Travel as one of the top 7 most authentic experience companies in Japan. We are excited at the opportunity to work with you this year. With more than 1200 reviews on TripAdvisor and having served over 24,000 guests since Arigato Japan began, the momentum shows no sign of slowing down as we look to the future.

Work Culture You will be working for a vibrant organization with a great team with a passion for sharing the best of Japan, a strong sense of collective values and purpose. Our work culture is supportive, creative and dedicated and is at its best when we all try to lead by example; the more you put in, the more you and the team get out, and it will be important that you play your part.  In everything we do at Arigato Japan Travel we aim to act in line with the company’s mission to create delicious memories for every guest and create authentic connections between our local experts and visitors to Japan.

Process

If this looks like the new challenge you have been looking for, send your resume and cover letter by email to lauren.shannon@arigatojapan.co.jp  

We will then send an application form. 

**Note: Only those who are invited to complete the written application will be contacted.

 We will then schedule video interviews. 

Closing date for applications: 1/5/2020

Initial interviews to take place: from jan 5th to the 20th

The above information is a public job advertisement. This is neither an offer nor a contract.