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 senior management, you will identify, evaluate, and onboard qualified guides while forging 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, referrals and community groups.
• Build and maintain relationships with tourism departments, lecturers, student organisations and alumni networks to sustain a strong candidate pipeline.
• Conduct comprehensive background research on prospective guides, including specialties, language skills, certifications, reviews and online presence.
• Perform structured screening interviews assessing professionalism, communication, storytelling, destination knowledge, safety awareness and operational readiness.
• 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 set‑up.
• Continuously test new sourcing channels, including community organisations, tourism job boards, alumni networks and industry events.

Required profile

• Proven experience in partnership development, business development or guide acquisition within the tourism sector.
• Strong research and analytical abilities to evaluate guide credentials and market fit.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills for building relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, manage a pipeline and meet recruitment targets.

Required skills

• Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus.
• Familiarity with tourism industry standards, guide certifications and safety protocols.