Role Snapshot
The Director of Operations – Domestic Meals & Attractions leads strategy, procurement, and operational fulfillment of meals and attractions across WorldStrides' domestic educational travel programs. This role ensures safe, engaging, and high-quality experiences that support student learning while managing risk and cost across all U.S. destinations.
Job Description
Company Introduction
WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways.
Job Description:
The Director of Operations – Domestic Meals & Attractions is responsible for leading the strategy, procurement, and operational fulfillment of meals and attractions across WorldStrides’ domestic education programs. This role plays a critical part in delivering safe, engaging, high-quality, and reliable experiences that support learning beyond the classroom for students and educators.
Reporting into Vice President Product Delivery, this role owns the end-to-end operational lifecycle for attractions—from sourcing and contracting through fulfillment, execution, and continuous improvement—ensuring consistency, scalability, cost management, and risk mitigation across all U.S. destinations as well as overseeing the meals fulfillment. The Senior Director leads a team of Operations managers and meals and attractions coordinators both in the US and in Merida. As well, partners closely with Program Operations, Product, Risk, Finance, and Customer Experience teams to ensure programs operate seamlessly and meet WorldStrides’ high standards for student travel.
Responsibilities:
Operational Strategy & Leadership
- Own and lead the domestic attractions and meals fulfillment operational strategy in support of WorldStrides’ educational travel programs.
- Design and scale operating models that support high-volume, seasonal, and geographically diverse programs.
- Serve as a senior operational leader, contributing to enterprise-level decisions impacting program design, cost structure, and execution.
- Lead and develop teams responsible for supplier management, fulfillment, and operational performance.
- Partner with field and program operations to ensure accurate forecasting, scheduling, and execution.
Attractions / Meals Procurement & Fulfillment
- Lead sourcing, contracting, and fulfillment of domestic attractions, including museums, cultural institutions, performances, educational venues, and experiential activities.
- Negotiate pricing, capacity, access, and policies that support group travel and educational outcomes.
- Ensure attraction selections align with program goals, student engagement objectives, and safety requirements.
- Oversee fulfillment accuracy and operational readiness across all booked attractions and meals.
Supplier Relationship Management
- Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with meal and attraction suppliers nationwide.
- Establish clear performance expectations, service-level standards, and accountability measures.
- Conduct ongoing supplier performance reviews and audits to ensure consistent delivery and continuous improvement.
- Identify and onboard new partners to expand coverage, address capacity needs, and mitigate operational risk.
Financial & Contract Management
- Lead contract negotiations for meals and attractions, securing competitive pricing, favorable terms, and appropriate protections.
- Own budget oversight and cost management for meals and attractions spend, balancing value with experience quality.
- Partner with Finance to forecast demand, manage margins, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- Ensure contracts meet legal, compliance, and risk standards appropriate for student travel programs.
Risk Management & Quality Assurance
- Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks related to food safety, capacity constraints, fulfillment failures, and attraction availability.
- Ensure partners comply with health, safety, and emergency response requirements.
- Establish escalation protocols and contingency plans to support field teams and minimize program disruption.
- Monitor and resolve issues impacting program delivery or participant satisfaction.
Data, Insights & Continuous Improvement
- Use operational and financial data to assess performance, identify trends, and drive improvement across meals and attractions.
- Establish KPIs and reporting to measure fulfillment accuracy, supplier performance, cost efficiency, and quality outcomes.
- Lead initiatives to streamline processes, reduce complexity, and improve scalability.
- Apply lessons learned from program feedback to inform future sourcing and operational decisions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Program Operations, Product Management, Risk, Legal, Finance, and Customer Experience teams to ensure aligned execution.
- Support on-the-ground teams with clear processes, tools, and operational guidance.
- Communicate operational performance, risks, and strategic initiatives to senior leaders and stakeholders.
Sustainability & Responsible Operations
- Integrate sustainability and responsible sourcing practices into meals and attractions operations where feasible.
- Prioritize partners that align with WorldStrides’ commitment to communities, students, and long-term program integrity.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or related field (required).
- Significant experience leading operations, fulfillment, procurement, or supplier management in education, travel, hospitality, or large-scale service environments.
- Proven success managing complex, multi-market programs with high operational volume.
- Strong background in supplier negotiations, contract management, and operational execution.
- Experience supporting student, group, or mission-driven programs strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams.
- Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management skills.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into operational action.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
- Experience with procurement, contract management, and operational systems.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
Work Perks:
- Fun & driven environment.
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, life, accidental death and dismemberment, accident, critical illness, and disability insurance, FSA healthcare, FSA dependent care, HSA with employer contribution, and generous 401k match.
- 11 paid floating corporate holidays, 1 paid volunteer day & up to 25 PTO days to start – accrue up to 28 over 3 years, 4 mental health days, and 5 bereavement days.
- Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 annually
- $1,000 towards professional certifications annually
- Opportunities for paid and discounted travel.
- Flexible work schedule providing on-site, remote, and virtual office opportunities.
- Encouraged participation in our Employee Resource Groups and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion council.
- Fitness Center and café onsite at select locations.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Paid Parental, Caregiver, and Disability leave.
- Team Member Discount Program
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount WorldStrides is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount WorldStrides is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount WorldStrides is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount WorldStrides is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.
WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, WorldStrides is committed to building a diverse workforce, supported by an environment that promotes inclusion and belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
WorldStrides will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, J-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire. Select seasonal roles may consider students on J-1 or F-1 visas.
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