Director, Sales Operations and Business Development

WHO WE ARE

Lindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, to opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, to leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, to launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we're now taking almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 19 ships, and do whatever it takes to ensure our guests experience the “Exhilaration of Discovery”.

Role Essentials

Within our Sales & Travel Industry Marketing team, the Director of Sales Operations and Business Development will support a team focused on achieving annual sales goals as built upon strategic, company-wide priorities while supporting our multi-year, international expansion plan for sales and operations.

The successful candidate will support sales while leading the Sales & Trade Marketing Support Team to deliver world-class client service. This role will allow a deeply experienced and highly organized leader to collaborate with cross-functional teams across the company and with our Disney/National Geographic Expeditions (“NGE”) partners to define leads and key priorities, using those to drive program development, new itineraries, and technology-focused projects that result in lead acquisition. This person will manage the Sales and Trade Marketing Annual Operating Plan and monthly forecasts, drive data-based reporting across teams and programs, and prepare comprehensive and clear executive-level presentations/decks to keep our leadership apprised of our status, plans, and accomplishments.

Reporting to the SVP of Sales and Revenue, this role will follow the hybrid working model and will require 2-3 days p/week on location in our New York or Orlando-area offices.

• Manage our multi-year, international expansion plan to further grow sales and operations in targeted international markets. Assess the business opportunity in each potential market, recommend cadence and timing for operations, create a business plan, and lead the project to distribute and assess RFPs (Request for Proposals) for local market representation, while conducting contract negotiations, leading web site support, and managing the team’s marketing & public relations support and go-to-market strategy.
• Lead the Sales & Trade Marketing Support Team to provide our clients with outstanding service and support, managing contract administration, reservation support, new account set up, trade marketing administration, and event planning and support.
• Partner with Lindblad Technology to develop sales and trade marketing reporting, KPIs, and scorecards to assess marketing performance and sales goals.
• Implement Salesforce across the team, driving training and ensuring best practices are met.
• Partner with Disney/ National Geographic Expeditions (“NGE”) to support the relationship with Lindblad Expeditions Travel Industry Sales and Marketing. Support the Lindblad Sales team in setting up new Sales accounts and servicing new Disney/NGE accounts. Project manage promotions and benefits with Disney / NGE affinity groups.
• Develop trade account commission strategies to grow account sales.
• Project manage new itinerary deployments and changes and lead acquisition integration among multiple teams and disciplines.

• Bachelor’s degree in business or finance, or equivalent industry experience in related field
• 10 years’ experience in business, project management, business transformation, finance, or sales and marketing strategy development
• Outstanding presentation skills (crafting and giving to executive-level audiences)
• Proven track record of partner development that led to account expansion and sales
• Passion to challenge the status quo and look for ways to improve and enhance the team’s overall performance
• Highly adept in the use of Microsoft Office products including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook, and Teams
• Ability to work, communicate effectively, and collaborate in a hybrid setting
• Ability to travel 20%-30%

•  MBA or Master’s Degree in finance or related field
• Experience using and deploying Salesforce
• Experience using and deploying Tableau
• Knowledge of Seaware
• Travel Industry experience
• International business experience

OUR BENEFITS

• Travel benefits for employees and their family 

• Voyage of Discovery trips for employees to travel as guests  

• Health insurance including Medical, Dental, Vision  

• 401(k) plan with employer match  

• Long-Term Disability, Life & AD&D Insurance

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to be used for out-of-pocket medical and dependent care  

• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit  

• 7-8 Paid Holidays

• 2-3 Floating Holiday Options (pro-rated per start date)

• Up to 15 days of vacation (pro-rated per anniversary year)

• Parental Leave

• Sick/personal days per city & state ordinance

• Pet Insurance discount

Communication Skills 

Using the English language, this person must have the ability to read, write, and comprehend policies, legal guidelines, correspondence, and memos.   Must also possess the ability to effectively communicate--both in writing and orally--with a professional demeanor. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear.  The employee will also be required to write and type.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.  

COMPENSATION STATEMENT

Lindblad Expeditions determines the pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data. We evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company. Our posted salary range is based on national data and may be refined for a candidate's region/town/cost of living.

For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. Salaries will be based on the applicant’s location, level of experience, education, and specialized knowledge and skills. An employee/candidate with a stronger skill set will receive higher pay.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT

At Lindblad Expeditions, we simply could not do our work without the diverse kaleidoscope of humanity that creates and delivers our remarkable offerings across the planet. As a Company that respects and celebrates the inherent diversity in the places we explore, we recognize the need to mirror that same diversity and all the interconnected perspectives within our organization. We are committed to building a community of different genders, races, ages, sexual orientations, chosen identities, and countries of origin where every person brings their whole self to work and whose skills, talents, and abilities are valued. We believe we can explore further and in a more meaningful way by actively creating a more diverse and inclusive organization where everyone feels they belong.

Lindblad Expeditions is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment at Lindblad Expeditions are considered without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, marital status, pregnancy, unemployment status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or veteran status.