Local Partnership Development Specialist – Tourism Network

About the role

The Local Partnership Development Specialist will lead the acquisition and onboarding of qualified local tour guides for a fast‑growing travel and tourism company operating in South Africa. Working closely with senior management, you will expand the company’s network of guide partners by building strategic relationships with tourism associations, universities and community organisations.

Key responsibilities

• Source qualified tour guides through directories, tourism associations, social media, guide marketplaces, university programmes, tourism offices, referrals and community groups.
• Develop and maintain relationships with university tourism departments, lecturers, student organisations and alumni networks to strengthen the candidate pipeline.
• Conduct comprehensive background research on prospective guides, covering specialties, language skills, certifications, customer reviews, online presence and professional credibility.
• Perform structured screening interviews to assess communication, storytelling, destination knowledge, guest‑service standards, safety awareness and operational readiness.
• Evaluate and rank candidates using standardized criteria, maintaining an organised pipeline of qualified partners.
• Prepare concise candidate profiles, recommendations and market‑fit assessments for management review.
• Negotiate basic partnership terms and coordinate onboarding activities, including contracts, scheduling, pricing guidance and operational readiness.
• Identify and test new sourcing channels such as community organisations, tourism job boards, alumni networks and industry events.

Required profile

• Proven experience in partnership development, guide recruitment or similar sourcing functions within the tourism sector.
• Strong research and analytical abilities to evaluate guide credentials and market fit.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for building relationships with universities, associations and guide candidates.
• Ability to conduct professional interviews and assess storytelling, safety and service standards.
• Negotiation skills to establish partnership terms and coordinate onboarding processes.

Required skills