Trainee Transport Manager
If you love Ireland and want to do more of the things youâre passionate about, why not consider an exciting career with Vagabond Tours?
Youâll be joining a family-owned success story.
Vagabond Tours is an independent Wicklow company that was recently ranked among the worldâs best tour operators.
Our 5-15 day small-group tours visit the most beautiful corners of Ireland in a fleet of customized Mercedes tour vehicles.
Read on to learn why you should consider joining our Operations teamâŚ
An Adventurous New Career...
The Operations team are the behind-the-scenes heroes at Vagabond.
How do we know this? Because our team of tour guides couldnât lead their tours without well-maintained vehicles and expert support.
Thatâs where you come inâŚ
As a Trainee Transport Manager, here are just a few of the skills youâll learn:
âď¸Fleet Management Software
âď¸Logistical planning
âď¸Fleet maintenance scheduling
âď¸Team supervision
âď¸Use of Google Workspace
âď¸PatienceâŚ
We like to say, no two Vagabond tours are the same. The same goes for your working day!
In the morning, you might be picking up a new addition to our fleet of Mercedes Sprinter tour vehicles from the coachbuilder. In the afternoon, you might be offering mechanical support to our team of tour guides on the road around Ireland or even filling in on one of Vagabond or Driftwood Tours!
Work With Purpose
We expect you to bring your values with you to work.
As Irelandâs first travel B Corp, we are committed to best practice as a business, environmentally, with our customers, our team and our suppliers around Ireland.
At VagaHQ in Ireland, we look for more sustainable ways of doing things every day.
That spirit runs from the sustainably-traded beans in our coffee machine to the solar panels on the roof and the EV charging point.
How can we do better? Weâll expect your creative ideas from day one.
You're In Good Company...
Joining Vagabond Tours means joining a community of friendly and experienced colleagues.
We're proud to be a Certified Great Place To Work 2023-2024.
We pride ourselves at Vagabond Tours for pooling our knowledge, being accessible to each other, learning new skills together and improving Ireland (and the world).
We work hard but also place genuine value on having fun.
Flexibility and a healthy work-life balance are built-in to the package at Vagabond Tours.
The end-of-season get-togethers are legendary and the ping-pong table is always open!
Responsibilities...
As a Vagabond Tours Trainee Transport Manager you will:
Fleet Management:
- Assist in all areas of the maintenance and supervision of the transportation fleet, including vehicles, trailers, equipment, and facilities.
- Learn to coordinate vehicle maintenance schedules, inspections, and repairs to ensure fleet readiness and compliance with safety standards.
- Ensure completion of drivers' daily checklists.
- Ensuring compliance with regulations
- Gain experience in managing inventory, ordering supplies, and tracking vehicle usage.
- On call and tour send offs on some weekends
You Will Have These Personl Attributes:
For Vagabond we believe the person is key, if you have the potential we can train and develop you into the role and beyond.
- Excellent team player with a proven record of such.
- Technically savvy - both with vehicles and IT systems
- Ascertain current skills
- Identify suitable training for the successful applicant (some of this may be internal and more external)
- Loads of initiative and the ability to think like a manager
- Well organised with an eye for detail
- You will be able to work flexible hours. During the season Vagabond operates 24/7 and the operations team need to be available at all times to support the on-road team
- Someone committed to the Vagabond ethos and culture
You May Have These Desired Skills:
- Bachelor's degree in logistics, supply chain management, business administration, or a related field is beneficial but not a necessity.
- Transport Management CPC is beneficial but not a necessity.
- Strong interest in pursuing a career in tourism.
- Excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Valid D1 driver's license with a clean driving record.
In Return, You Will Receive...
- A salary commensurate with experience
- A bonus on achievement of KPIs and company budget
- Training in company systems and external training where required. This could range from Transport Manager CPC to a postgraduate qualification.
- Healthcare
- 20 days annual leave
- Employer contribution to private pension
Reporting to the Transport and Operations Manager this full-time permanent role, is based at our offices at Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow.
Hours: 35 hours per week. Our standard day is normally 9.00am to 5.00pm but flexibility is a must and the role will mostly be office based.
Vagabond Tours is an Equal Opportunities employer
Do you have the drive, enthusiasm, skills (and humour) weâre looking for?
If so, please email russ@vagabond.ie enclosing a cover letter and your CV.
Job Type: Full time
Salary: To be discussed on application.
HR Executive - Part Time
Vagabond is seeking to recruit a motivated and ambitious individual to join our team as a Part Time HR Executive.
The Part Time HR Executive will work closely with all staff â both the tour guide and office team â and will report directly to the Group Accounts Manager.
About Vagabond
Vagabond Tours is an independent tour operator based in Wicklow.
At Vagabond, youâll be joining a family-owned success story.
Our 5-15 day small-group tour itineraries feature the most beautiful corners of Ireland. Our team of highly-trained tour guides operate a fleet of customized Mercedes tour vehicles, entertaining and informing guests as they go.
We were ranked in the top 15 best tour operators globally in 2023 by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Read on to learn why you should consider joining our teamâŚ
Work With Purpose
We expect you to bring your values with you to work.
As Irelandâs first travel B Corp, we are committed to best practices as a business, environmentally, with our customers, our team and our suppliers around Ireland.
At VagaHQ in Ireland, we look for more sustainable ways of doing things every day.
That spirit runs through the sustainably-traded beans in our coffee machine to the solar array on the office roof to the EV charging point for staff.
How can we do better? Weâll expect your creative ideas from day one
You're In Good Company...
Joining Vagabond Tours means joining a community of friendly and experienced colleagues.
We're proud to have won the Learning and Development category at the Great Place To Work Awards in 2024. Not to mention being listed as an Outstanding Employer in the FĂĄilte Ireland Employer Excellence Awards 2024.
We pride ourselves for pooling our knowledge, being accessible to each other, learning new skills together and improving Ireland (and the world).
We work hard but also place genuine value on having fun.
Flexibility and a healthy work-life balance are built-in to the package at Vagabond Tours.
The end-of-season get-togethers are legendary and the ping-pong table is always open!
Job Description
Hours: TBC
Flexible working arrangements. Remote working is possible.
Responsibilities
- Project Management; oversee the implementation of a new HR software package that will be used across the company.
- Implement, assist and advise on company policy queries and employee relations issues, complying with legislation and ensuring consistency across the organisation.
- Respond to all human resources-related inquiries.
- Maintain employee personnel records.
- Create and distribute internal communications regarding status changes, benefits or company policies.
- Manage grievance and disciplinary investigations, as required.
- Work closely with hiring managers, manage recruitment processes end-to-end, from advertising posts through shortlisting of candidates, interviews, selection and job offers for all departments.
- Deliver new employee inductions and conduct exit interviews (as well as recommend corrective action, if necessary).
- Liaise with payroll, as required on any staff pay items linked to recruitment, internal promotions, leavers etc.
- Maintenance/Implementation of the HR system (entering absence information, new hires, leavers, payroll changes, coding etc.)
- Extraction and analysis of data from the HR system as required. For example, payroll reports, attendance reports, trend and KPI reports etc.
- General administration duties relating to HR functions.
- Produce accurate and professional correspondence, policy documents etc. as required.
- Ensure HR administration and systems are maintained up to date in a timely and accurate manner.
- Monitor employee morale and company culture.
Required Skills
- Demonstrate knowledge of the human resources field
- Understanding of employment regulations
- Understanding of personnel and compliance records management
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- High attention to detail.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication abilities
- Strong IT Skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Self-motivated to question and query anomalies and the initiative to improve the process and workflow.
Qualifications and Experience Requirements
Bachelorâs degree in human resources, business administration or a related field.
HR Experience: 3 to 5 years.
In Return, You Will Receive...
- A salary commensurate with experience
- 12 days annual leave
- An annual bonus on achievement of team KPIs and company budget
- Annual salary review
- Employee pension scheme incl. company contribution
- Employee Healthcare Scheme
Adventure Tours Driver-Guide
If you love Ireland and want to do more of the things youâre passionate about, why not consider an exciting new lifestyle and career change with Vagabond Tours?
- âď¸ Fresh air.
- âď¸ Exploring Ireland.
- âď¸ Outdoor activity and adventure.
- âď¸ New skills.
- âď¸ Being part of an awesome team within a company that strives to be a truly sustainable and rewarding employer.
Read on to find out why becoming a VagaGuide might be just the change youâre seeking.
An Adventurous New Career...
Youâre not a tour guide with Vagabond, youâre a VagaGuide.
VagaGuides are the superheroes of every guest experience.
How do we know this? Because our 5-star TripAdvisor and TrustPilot reviewers keep on telling us how much they loved their guides.
What Is A VagaGuide?
Leader.
Storyteller.
Navigator.
Problem-solver.
As a VagaGuide, youâll become all of the above while leading our 5-12 day small-group tours to Ireland's most beautiful and little-known corners.
Earn a competitive salary â plus tips! â explaining Irish history, culture and nature to guests while driving our fleet of customised 4x4 Mercedes tour vehicles.
Work With Purpose
We expect you to bring your values with you to work.
As Irelandâs first travel B Corp, we are committed to best practice as a business, environmentally, with our customers, our team and our suppliers around Ireland.
Our sister company, Sustainable Travel Network, is Irelandâs leading sustainability certification body.
At VagaHQ in Ireland, we look for more sustainable ways of doing things every day.
That spirit runs from the sustainably-traded beans in our coffee machine to the solar panels on the roof and the EV charging point.
We exchange sustainability ideas with our guests on tour as well as via our blogs and social media.
How can we do better? Weâll expect your creative ideas from day one.
Happy Days
Forget about 9 to 5.
Flexibility and a healthy work-life balance are built-in to the package at Vagabond Tours.
Do more of the things you love â like connecting with new people from around the world â every day of your Vagabond career.
Here are just a few of the skills youâll learn with Vagabond:
- âď¸ Leadership
- âď¸ Resilience
- âď¸ Organisation
- âď¸ Communication
Thereâs no such thing as a typical day. Our guests can be aged 8-88. Our tour itineraries and destinations are famously flexible.
We like to say, no two Vagabond tours are the same. The same goes for your working day!
Youâre In Good Company
Becoming a VagaGuide means joining a community of friendly and experienced colleagues.
We pride ourselves at Vagabond Tours for pooling our knowledge, being accessible to each other, learning new skills together and improving Ireland (and the world).
We work hard but also place genuine value on having fun.
The end-of-season get-togethers are legendary and the ping-pong table is always open!
A Windswept & Interesting Career
Youâll not only be representing us as a VagaGuide, youâll be an ambassador for Ireland itself.
Give our guests the ultimate gift; golden memories and life-changing experiences.
Itâs not unusual for guests to return to Ireland for a second, third or even fourth Vagabond tour, based largely on their positive experience with a VagaGuide.
Even better, your development as a VagaGuide could be the perfect launchpad for a rewarding career in tourism.
Meet our current team of VagaGuide tour guides
The Role
Our tours come in two distinct styles:
- đś Vagabond Adventure Tours - Fast-paced, adrenaline-filled and active.
- đ Driftwood Journeys of Discovery - A more relaxed pace with an emphasis on culture and sightseeing.
VagaGuides are expected to deliver both experiences to guests.
No matter which tour style you lead, we are passionate about the fantastic experience delivered to our guests, requiring the highest level of dedication and professionalism from all our team.
In return, we invest considerable time and effort into developing people into our guiding roles.
Our customers come from all over the world and across a wide spectrum of ages and backgrounds. But what they have in common is that they are all here to relax, unwind and enjoy Ireland.
Each Vagabond or Driftwood Tour lasts between 5-12 days. It is hard work and you will be away from home, but it is also great fun, a healthy way of life and very rewarding (you also get a great tan).
Plus the pay is OK too. (Season runs from mid-March to the end of October).
Duties
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Preparation of vehicle for trip including
- Ensure it is clean, has all required kit and equipment
- Performing and submitting morning and evening checks
- Ensuring vehicle is kept in a roadworthy condition throughout the tour and timely reporting of defects
- Safety (including safe driving) and contentment of your groups
- Excellent all round knowledge of Ireland - history, culture, education, economy and Irish life in general.
On tour:
- Embarking guests and their luggage each morning
- Full delivery of tour information throughout tour
- Organising activities, walks etc on tour
- Accompanying customers on walks and at attractions
- Checking in guests to accommodations at end of each day
- Ensuring all admin tasks are completed in a timely fashion (e.g., double checking accommodation allocation)
- Timely reporting of all incidents involving customers or which may impact on the company
- Cleaning of vehicles to expected standard
Post tour:
- Cleaning vehicle inside and out
- Ensuring all vehicle fluids are topped up (fuel, oil, water, additives, coolant and brake fluid)
- Post tour vehicle checks
- Other duties as required: These may vary, and activities outside the role of driver-guide would be optional.
Requirements
Class D or D1 Passenger Carrying Vehicle Licence - If you are looking for work for the 2023 and 2024 season, don't yet have a D or D1 licence, but have begun the process, then feel free to apply. (Vagabond will also partially assist financially with the cost obtaining the D1 licence. This support is paid after the successful applicantâs first touring season).
Tourism or touring experience would be an advantage but not essential. Customer service experience is also handy.
A âPeople Personâ- Patient, outgoing, independent, with initiative, reliable, punctual, personable. You donât have to be the life and soul of the party, but good interpersonal skills are a must.
Training
- Successful candidates will be provided with extensive training including:
- 4-5 weeks in house training, including
- Team Training Week (great craic)
- On the road training (also great craic)
- Further training, if required:
- First aid training
- Manual Handling
- Lowland Leader or Mountain skills training
Do you have the drive, enthusiasm, skills (and humour) weâre looking for?
If so, please email info@vagabond.ie with your cover letter and CV.
