Travel Program Manager, Missions

POSITION SUMMARY  

The Travel Program Manager is responsible for planning and implementing missions to Israel and other destinations worldwide. This position executes an annual Missions Work Plan and works in conjunction with lead and senior professionals, lay leadership, as well as professionals from Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), air agents, and tour companies to plan missions aligned with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s overall goals and objectives.  

This position is full-time and reports to the Managing Director, Campaign.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Strategic Leadership:  

• In partnership with senior staff and lay leaders, implement the overall strategy and direction for travel experiences that bring donors closer to Federation’s work, our organization, and one another.  

• Create and monitor an annual work plan to guide departmental activities.  

• Stay up to date on recent trends, best practices and innovative ideas within mission content and locations, including from other Federations and Jewish organizations. 

Mission Management:  

• Create unique overseas mission itineraries to Israel, and around the world to Jewish sites of significance, importance, and interest, each tailored with the group in mind: VIPs, major donors, leadership groups, young professionals, etc. 

• Complete post-mission evaluation, both from operations standpoint and participant feedback. 

• Ensure seamless execution of missions by coordinating with travel vendors, such as airlines, tour operators, speakers, and destination management companies.  

• Provide guidance and support to Lead Staff in preparation of mission proposals from initial concept to final approval.  

• Develop and manage mission budgets, accountable for adherence to the approved budget.  

• Manage calls from potential participants, answering general and specific informational questions regarding missions.  

• Review mission participant applications and monitor special requests. Work in consultation with mission lead staff, lay leadership, and tour operators, ensure itinerary and participant experience for each mission is consistent with goals and objectives.  

• Create, implement, and monitor a follow-up plan with mission participants upon return from a mission, in coordination with Campaign, Leadership Development, and other Federation departments. Ensure accurate tracking in CRM that eases planning, solicitations, and follow-up.  

• With mission lead staff and overseas land agent, review and maintain the accuracy of all lists: participant, rooming, bus, land only, special requests, seating requests, dietary requests, celebrations, etc.  

• Develop strong working relationships with mission lead staff, from various Federation departments, and with varying mission-facilitation/implementation experience.  

• Travel with delegations to provide on-site logistical support as necessary and appropriate.  

• This position requires scheduling flexibility, with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities, as well as consideration of time differences for overseas calls.  

Vendor and Relationship Management:  

• Manage relationships with all travel vendors and service providers.  

• Maintain accurate records in CRM of all vendors, speakers, and mission contacts.  

Communication and Materials Preparation:  

• Prepare and manage necessary materials for missions, including pre, post, and during mission documentation.  

• Serve as a contact for professional and volunteer leadership seeking to travel, acting as a point-to-point concierge for our donors.  

• Prep and assist in scheduling, preparing, and organizing mission informational sessions.  

Local Site Visits:  

• Schedule, organize, and implement ”Mini Missions” (local agency site visits) for pre-determined groups based on goals and objectives set by the Development Department or other departments where appropriate.   

Overseas Speaker Visits:  

• Where appropriate, assist with logistics and planning for speaker visits.  

• Other duties as assigned.  

ADDITIONAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES 

• This position will include a Campaign assignment each year.  

QUALIFICATIONS  

• Bachelor’s degree required.  

• 5+ years of experience with development travel/stewardship or related field like a travel agent or equivalent combination of relevant education, experience, and skills required.  

• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, verbal, and written communication skills.  

• Demonstrated exceptional customer service skills. High-level attention to detail. 

• Maintain a high level of confidentiality and professional integrity.  

• Strong knowledge of basic office computing, including MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams), Zoom, and basic database skills required.  

• Strong experience and ability working with CRM databases.  

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.  

• Experience in developing and managing large budgets.  

• Experience with Jewish organizations/institutions, either as an employee, volunteer, or participant preferred.  

• Experience and demonstrated ability to coordinate and prioritize workflow processes including managing multiple tasks, setting schedules, meeting deadlines, organizing, and planning.  

• Ability to build trusted relationships; work effectively, respectfully, and collaboratively with lay leadership and colleagues across departments and at all levels of the organization.  

• Ability to manage multiple priorities with demonstrated organizational skills.  

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced work environment and adapting to rapidly changing priorities and needs.  

ABOUT THE FEDERATION

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is the only organization in Cleveland that focuses on the health and vitality of the entire Jewish community. For more than 120 years, the Federation has created the critical scale necessary to drive meaningful social change and provide relief in times of crisis in ways no one person or organization could do alone. As Jewish Cleveland’s hub for innovative solutions and collaborative services, the Federation is able to change and improve lives in Cleveland, Israel, and around the world.