Local Partnership Development Specialist – Tourism Network

About the role

The Local Partnership Development Specialist will expand our client’s network of professional tour guides across South Africa. Working closely with management, you will source, evaluate, and onboard qualified guides while building strategic relationships with tourism associations, universities, and other key stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

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

Required profile

• Proven experience in partnership development or guide acquisition within the tourism sector.
• Strong ability to evaluate candidate credibility and fit.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently while collaborating with cross‑functional teams.

Required skills

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape a rapidly growing tourism network.
• Collaborative environment with a focus on sustainable growth.