Work With Knowmad Adventures

Knowmad is continually growing so please introduce yourself! We share job openings in the Knowmad newsletter and our Facebook page before we post them anywhere else. Sign up for our newsletter or follow Knowmad Adventures on Facebook or Instagram to get the most up-to-date information on employment opportunities.

See below for open positions and to learn more about working with Knowmad.

Travel company hiring

NOW HIRING!

OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 10, 2025 | TARGET START DATE: APRIL 1, 2025

WHAT Begin or advance your career in custom, experiential adventure travel with this position, which offers insight into every aspect of the trip-building and execution process. Often a springboard to the Trip Specialist role, the Operations Specialist helps confirm and schedule trips once the client confirms, handling most post-sale coordination and client support.

This role allows you to immediately become an important team member, contributing value to the company while developing skills that prepare you for additional post-confirmation responsibilities. For those interested in transitioning into the Trip Specialist position, this role provides a chance to gain destination knowledge, mastery of Knowmad’s processes and systems, and experience delivering exceptional customer service to our clients.

WHERE This is a remote, work-from-home position. Knowmad team members are based in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Texas, Chile, and Argentina.

 

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • Hard worker looking to start or advance a career in South America travel.
  • Ability to multi-task and handle a wide variety of responsibilities.
  • Excellent writing skills for drafting and finalizing client documents and emails as well as contributing to other writing-intensive projects.
  • Ability to be resourceful, work with little guidance and learn new skills independently.
  • Knowledge of Apple computers, Word, iCal, Outlook, CSV files and Google Drive.
  • Must be proficient at word processing.
  • Further knowledge of WordPress, InDesign, and credit card processing portals is a plus.
  • Customer service experience. The travel industry requires excellent customer service skills, including patience, enthusiasm, attention to detail, and efficient and effective follow up.
  • Ability to provide strong references that will confirm previous successes in roles utilizing similar skill sets.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher.
  • A passion for and travel experience in South America.
  • Conversational Spanish is a plus but not required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Include, but are not limited to:

  • Process traveler registration forms.
  • Assist Trip Specialists with the drafting of traveler itinerary proposals and creating online registration links.
  • Schedule and execute traveler management calendar items.
  • Create trip invoices and payment links.
  • Send passenger information, flight information, and confirmation of services to South American partners.
  • Check service confirmations from South American partners.
  • Assist travelers with the process of purchasing flights through a flight partner.
  • Draft and format client-facing final trip documents.
  • Answer traveler pre-trip questions via phone and email.
  • Mail trip documents to travelers, marketing materials, etc.
  • General database management.
  • General administrative needs, including ordering supplies (minimal errands).
  • Write blog posts.
  • Assist Marketing with the formatting of web pages (WordPress) and pre-departure materials (InDesign).
  • Assist Accounting with data entry.
  • Contribute to team-wide company growth initiative projects.
  • Eventual periodic monitoring of the Knowmad emergency phone and email during non-office hours.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands outlined here represent those required for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

While performing job duties, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, and communicate verbally. Occasionally, the employee may need to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The role also requires the ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds as needed.

Specific vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Additionally, this position requires prolonged computer use for up to 8 hours a day.

COMPENSATION + JOB DETAILS

Knowmad Adventures is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

  • Starting base salary of $38,000 or more depending on experience with company-wide revenue goal related bonus opportunities after 6 months. Significant growth opportunities come along with proven impact and tenure.
  • Schedule & hours: Approximately 40-hour work week, Monday through Friday.
  • After 3 months of employment: 50% health care premium monthly reimbursement begins, 3 weeks of annual Paid Time Off, ability to have a Flexible Schedule (with the majority of your office hours overlapping with Knowmad’s normal office hours).
  • 12 weeks of Family Leave, partially to fully paid depending on tenure with the company.
  • After 1 year of employment: 401k investment plan with company matching program.
  • After 18 months of employment, 2 weeks of paid, work-related travel annually to South America.
  • Additional lifestyle perks: Ability to work from home or abroad (South American locations encouraged!). Periodic Knowmad retreats. Summer hours include half-day Fridays.

WHY THIS Position Could Be A Great Fit For You

This is an exciting opportunity to join a passionate, close-knit team dedicated to creating unforgettable adventures in South America. As an Operations Specialist, you will gain hands-on experience across all departments at Knowmad Adventures, building a strong foundation for a future in travel planning.

If you are passionate about travel and South America, eager to learn, and a hard worker—but don’t have direct experience in custom South American travel planning—this role offers the perfect path to grow in the industry.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send an email titled ‘Operations Specialist Position’ to [email protected], with the following items attached: resume, cover letter, and a list of references willing and able to be contacted.

Additionally, we encourage applicants to also include a one-page creative letter explaining why they are a good candidate for the position.

APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 10, 2025 | TARGET START DATE: APRIL 1, 2025

 

TRIP SPECIALIST

WHAT Trip Specialists work with travelers to build custom South America itineraries. Drawing on their in-depth knowledge of the region, they work with travelers from the initial inquiry through the planning process, crafting trips that align with their travel styles and interests. They also coordinate logistics with our South American partners and oversee pre-departure arrangements in collaboration with our Operations Specialists.

WHEN This position has presently been filled, however, we are always looking for travel talent. If you feel like you would be an excellent fit, please inquire as to when we will be hiring next.

WHERE This is a remote, work-from-home position. Knowmad team members are based in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Texas, Chile, and Argentina.

 

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • Past professional travel planning experience with South America focus.
  • Excellent verbal and phone communication skills, to interact with a variety of clients and meet demanding expectations for a high level of personalized service.
  • Detail-oriented and hard-working.
  • Excellent writing skills in order to quickly and effectively communicate with clients via email, finalize client documents as well as contribute to Knowmad’s blog, itinerary creation and other projects.
  • Exceptional customer service skills.
  • Advanced knowledge of Word and Google Drive as well as excellent general computer skills.
  • Ability to multi-task and handle a wide variety of responsibilities.
  • Ability to work with little supervision and use sound judgment.
  • Ability to provide strong references that will confirm previous successes dealing with challenging, detail-oriented work.
  • Conversational Spanish is a plus but not required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Include, but are not limited to:

  • Follow up with potential leads by phone and email to guide clients through our custom trip planning process.
  • Educate potential clients about destinations, excursions, and accommodation options, providing tailored recommendations based on their travel style and preferences. Determine whether a client is a good fit for Knowmad Adventures and the types of trips we create.
  • Create a custom itinerary, prepare the trip outline in a Google Drive document, work together with suppliers on the logistics of the itinerary, pay close attention to details at all times, finalize traveler itinerary proposals, and use efficient and effective follow-up throughout the sales cycle.
  • Answer client pre-departure questions and continue to be a resource to them until they return from their trip.
  • Prepare final trip documents, paying close attention to all details of the trip.
  • Communicate with suppliers and partner networks.
  • Assist when issues arise while a traveler is on the ground.
  • Contribute to team-wide company growth projects. Ideal candidates will have unique abilities that will be harnessed in growth initiatives and special projects. Projects are a part of all Trip Specialist positions.
  • Periodic monitoring of the Knowmad emergency phone and email during non-office hours.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands outlined here represent those required for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

While performing job duties, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands, reach with hands and arms, and communicate verbally. Occasionally, the employee may need to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The role also requires the ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds as needed.

Specific vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Additionally, this position requires prolonged computer use for up to 8 hours a day.

 

COMPENSATION AND JOB DETAILS

  • Salary and compensation depends on experience and performance. Knowmad Trip Specialists generally earn above industry averages, and high-performing Trip Specialists have considerable earning potential. Inquire for details when applying.
  • Schedule & hours: Minimum 40-hour work week Monday through Friday.
  • After 3 months of employment: 50% health care premium monthly reimbursement begins, 3 weeks of yearly Paid Time Off, ability to have a Flexible Schedule (with the majority of your office hours overlapping with Knowmad’s normal office hours).
  • 12 weeks Family Leave, partially to fully paid depending on tenure with company.
  • After 1 year of employment: 401k investment plan with company matching program, ability to Telecommute or Work from Home one day per week.
  • Initial exploration trip to South America to aid in travel planning knowledge after 2 to 3 months of employment. Thereafter, 2 weeks of paid, work-related travel annually to South America.
  • Additional lifestyle perks: Ability to work from home or abroad (South American locations encouraged!). Periodic Knowmad retreats. Summer hours include half-day Fridays.

 

WHY THIS Position Could Be A Great Fit For You

Trip Specialists who have joined us from other companies often highlight our incredible culture, improved earning potential, organized processes, and better work-life balance. At Knowmad, we are a fun-loving, driven team of travel-obsessed professionals dedicated to growing both our company and our close-knit community.

If you are a skilled Travel Planner with extensive South American experience and are looking for a place to advance your career while enhancing your work-life satisfaction, we would love to hear from you!

 

HOW TO APPLY

Please send an email titled ‘Trip Specialist Position’ to [email protected], with the following items attached: resume, cover letter, and a list of references willing and able to be contacted.

Additionally, we encourage applicants to also include a one-page creative letter explaining their professional travel industry experience, knowledge of high-quality South American travel, and why they may be open to a job change.

what it means to work with knowmad adventures

Knowmad Adventures Founders Joran and Tara HarveyKnowmad Adventures was founded in 2009 by a husband-and-wife team while living in Northern Patagonia, Chile. Since then, it has grown into a team of 13, generating $7+ million in revenue by 2020. Recognized as a leader in custom and private South American travel, Knowmad has earned Travel & Leisure’s A-List honors, Condé Nast Experience Makers awards, and been named “one of the best tour operators” by Frommer’s.

We create incredible adventures for great people. We open minds. We blow minds. We collaborate, craft, and construct. And we have fun doing it. At Knowmad, we are dedicated to crafting unique travel experiences, and our team culture reflects that.

We love what we do—travel is exciting. Helping clients fulfill lifelong dreams of exploring South America is rewarding. Bringing people together across cultures and continents is a mission worth standing behind. But the best part of Knowmad? The team. It’s hard to put into words, but the work culture here is what makes it special—familial, fun, and incredibly supportive. Join our team!

Knowmad Adventures is an Equal Opportunity Employer.