Product Operations Manager - Japan The role: Are you passionate about travel and a people-focused operations leader who loves turning complexity into smooth, reliable processes? As our Product Operations Manager, you’ll head up a new Product Operations team, optimising workflows and processes, making sure Sales and Booking Delivery teams have the accurate information, systems and resources they need to quote and book quickly, confidently and at scale. You’ll manage a small, international team across time zones, working closely with the rest of Product, Sales and Booking Delivery to keep our product data, client documentation and internal resources in great shape. You’ll combine hands-on operational work with process improvement, leadership, and coaching – helping us deliver unforgettable cultural adventures in Japan, efficiently and sustainably. This is a brand-new role, created as part of our 2026 product restructure, so you’ll have real scope to shape how Product Operations works and how we support future growth. Key responsibilities: Lead, develop and support a small, international Product Operations team, ensuring capacity is allocated effectively across day‑to‑day tasks and project work. Optimise the systems, processes and internal reference materials that underpin product operations, identifying opportunities to simplify, automate and speed up workflow. Own the delivery of business‑as‑usual product operations enabling Sales and Booking Delivery teams to produce fast, accurate quotes and bookings. Monitor KPIs and SLAs, using data to identify risks, report progress and drive continuous improvements in productivity and quality. Lead your team’s contribution to regular audits and quarterly projects, making sure key resources, documentation and processes remain robust, accurate and fit for purpose. Troubleshoot technical issues ensuring swift resolution and clear communication to internal stakeholders. Manage and prioritise the Product helpdesk and ticket backlog, ensuring operational and system issues are triaged, resolved and clearly communicated within agreed timeframes. Maintain and improve our product data, rates and client‑facing documentation, ensuring everything is accurate, consistent and up to date across systems and resources. Work closely with Sales, Booking Delivery, Product and Commercial colleagues to resolve supplier and system issues, support audits and contribute to cross‑functional initiatives. What we are looking for from you: A natural process improver – confident analysing how things work today, spotting bottlenecks and designing simpler, faster ways of doing things. A proactive, organised and approachable leader who enjoys coaching others just as much as rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck into the work yourself. Proven experience managing and motivating a small operations or admin team, with a focus on hitting clear KPIs and service levels while supporting team wellbeing. High attention to detail and a commitment to accurate data and documentation, even when working at pace and volume. Excellent communication and collaboration skills, comfortable building strong relationships with colleagues in different teams and time zones. Calm and solutions‑focused under pressure, able to juggle competing priorities, make sensible trade‑offs and keep work moving. An interest in travel and in creating great experiences for both internal teams and our customers; prior experience in travel operations or product administration is desirable but not essential. Strong systems and data skills, with experience working in complex databases or booking/product platforms; familiarity with Axum or similar would be a real bonus. You don’t need to meet every requirement. If you’re motivated, passionate, and think you’d be a great fit, we would love to hear from you. As an equal opportunities employer, we're committed to making our recruitment process inclusive, accessible, and welcoming for everyone. If you require any adjustments or accommodations to support you during the recruitment process, please let us know. What you get in return: Annual discretionary performance (individual and company related) bonus 25 days annual leave, rising by one day each year to a maximum of 28 days Hybrid working Day off on your birthday Enhanced parental leave Employer pension contribution Employee Assistance Program Volunteering leave Designated learning and development time Discounted travel for staff, family and friends Why work with us: At Inside Travel Group, we value Knowledge, Friendliness, Passion, Determination, Quality, and Integrity. We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, supported, and inspired to do their best work. We celebrate the different cultures, perspectives, lifestyles, and experiences that shape our team, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities. How to apply: We will be reviewing and interviewing candidates on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. Due to the high volume of applications, we may close the application process before the stated deadline if we receive enough qualified candidates. Please note that all applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. While we do not provide visa sponsorship, applications from candidates on valid, time-limited visas are welcome. Closing Date: 15th February 2026 Interviews: On a rolling basis