Guided Tours Operations Manager (Italy)

Location: Italy - based in either Milan or Rome

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: €60,000–€75,000 gross annual salary, depending on experience, plus a performance-based bonus of up to 20%, plus a guiding rate of €35/hour for tours personally led (negotiable)

Company: Empire Tours & Productions

About Empire Tours & Productions

Empire Tours & Productions is a rapidly growing international tours, attractions, experiences and hospitality company operating across major tourism markets in the United States and Europe.

We build and operate walking tours, sightseeing experiences, attractions, private experiences, events and destination products while also developing technology and distribution capabilities designed to modernize the global experiences industry. As Empire continues its European expansion, we are seeking an entrepreneurial and highly capable Country Operations Manager to lead our growth throughout Italy.

The Role

The Country Operations Manager will be responsible for building and overseeing Empire's Italian operations, beginning with Milan and Rome and expanding into additional markets over time.

This is not a traditional corporate management position. We are looking for a hands-on operator who is equally comfortable developing strategy, hiring a team, negotiating with suppliers, troubleshooting an operation, analyzing financial performance or stepping into the field when necessary. Critically, this role also means building Empire's Italian tour portfolio from the ground up — working with our team to research, write, develop and test the tours and experiences we launch — and personally guiding tours as one of Empire's first guides in each city while local guide teams are being hired and trained.

The successful candidate will essentially operate as the senior leader of Empire's Italian business and will have significant autonomy as the operation grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the launch, development and ongoing management of Empire's operations throughout Italy.
• Initially oversee the development of Milan and Rome, followed by additional Italian markets.
• Develop and launch Empire's Italian tour portfolio from scratch — researching, writing, testing and refining tours and experiences in partnership with Empire's product and operations teams.
• Serve as one of Empire's first guides in each new city, personally leading tours during launch and ramp-up until local guide teams are hired and trained.
• Recruit, train, manage and retain city managers, tour guides and operational personnel.
• Develop relationships with attractions, museums, transportation companies, restaurants, venues, hotels, tourism organizations and other local partners.
• Oversee operating standards, customer experience, guide quality, scheduling, staffing and day-to-day execution.
• Work closely with Empire's U.S. and European leadership teams on pricing, marketing, technology, distribution and product development.
• Monitor city-level financial performance and assume responsibility for Italian operating results and P&L performance as the business develops.
• Develop systems and operating procedures that can scale across multiple Italian cities.
• Support the opening of new markets and products throughout Italy.
• Identify opportunities for partnerships, acquisitions, exclusive inventory and new experiences.
• Serve as Empire's senior operational representative with local partners and stakeholders.
• Step directly into operational issues when necessary during launches or periods of high demand.

Ideal Candidate

We are particularly interested in candidates with backgrounds in tours and activities, attractions, destination management companies, hospitality, travel, events, tourism operations, sightseeing transportation or other multi-site consumer businesses.

The right candidate will have demonstrated experience managing people and operations and will possess a strong entrepreneurial mindset.

Qualifications

• Certified/licensed Tour Guide in Italy (required) — this is an important condition of employment. The candidate must be able to personally lead tours, particularly during the launch phase of each market.
• Fully bilingual in English and Italian (required).
• Significant management or operational leadership experience.
• Experience managing teams and multiple operational priorities.
• Strong understanding of the Italian tourism or hospitality market.
• Strong commercial judgment and financial literacy.
• Ability to recruit, train and develop teams.
• Comfortable working in a rapidly growing entrepreneurial company.
• Willingness to travel throughout Italy.
• Ability to solve problems independently and make decisions quickly.
• Experience opening new locations, products or markets strongly preferred.

Compensations & Growth

• €60,000–€75,000 gross annual salary
• The position will also be eligible for a performance bonus of up to 20%, tied to agreed operating, revenue and profitability targets.
• Guiding rate: €35/hour for tours personally led (negotiable), in addition to base salary and bonus.
• Empire will provide temporary housing in any Italian city other than the candidate's home base while the candidate is working there to help establish operations.
• For an exceptional candidate capable of building and owning a substantial Italian operation, we are willing to consider the overall compensation package accordingly.
• This role has the potential to become one of the most important leadership positions within Empire's European organization. We are looking for someone capable of building a substantial business, not simply maintaining an existing operation.