You would be joining approximately 70 office-based colleagues at our Head Office in York and almost 160 Tour Managers from diverse backgrounds and a wide range of ages and life experience – all of whom gain personal satisfaction from ensuring that Great Rail Journeys customers have a relaxing and memorable holiday.

For office-based opportunities, please send a copy of your CV and reasons why we should interview you to our HR Manager, Linda Northwood. Linda can be reached on 01904 521908. All new opportunities are detailed below and we would encourage you to regularly check this section of our website. Click here for current office-based opportunities.

For Tour Manager opportunities, please email our TM Manager, Jackie Igoe to request an application form. Click here for current Tour Manager opportunities.

Current office-based opportunities:

We have currently filled all vacancies however, speculative CVs are always welcome.

Current Tour Manager opportunities:

What are we looking for in our Tour Managers?

We are receiving an increasing number of enquiries from people wanting to be Tour Managers, which is great news for us.  It would help if you could provide a BRIEF summary of your experience (not necessarily previous TM experience) and where you heard about us (from a TM, our website, advert, speculative interest etc), and we will send you an electronic application form. We will only send forms to applicants with e-mail addresses as most of our correspondence with TMs is now done electronically. 

We have recently completed our Tour Manager Selection Days for the 2008 season but are always keen to hear from anyone interested in the role. We will be happy to keep applications on file for future use.

Please read on and, if you are interested, then e-mail us for an application form. Please note it is necessary for applicants to be resident in the UK.  We look forward to hearing from you.

The role of the Tour Manager:
You could be a suitable candidate for the Tour Manager Role if you meet the following criteria: have excellent leadership and organisational abilities, can quickly and efficiently solve diverse problems, are diplomatic and friendly, can demonstrate a good understanding of European and Worldwide rail travel, are well-travelled, are available to work an average of 80 days per year, are proficient in a European language in addition to English, and have a thoroughly professional approach.

A view from one of our Tour Managers:
"For those who are outgoing and well-organised, have genuine leadership skills, are tactful and discreet, like and are interested in people, appreciate beautiful scenery and wonderful city sights and can impart enthusiasm to others, are unflappable, and enjoy travelling by train, there are few jobs more enjoyable and fulfilling than to be a Tour Manager for Great Rail Journeys.

"But it’s hard work too.  It’s crucial that you prepare carefully for each trip.  As soon as you receive your allocation of tours, it’s sensible to start reading up on where you are going and what you are likely to see.  You don’t need to be a walking Beidecker on each city you visit, but it’s as well to learn in advance a bit of the country’s history, its system of government, familiarise yourself with local customs and laws.  In most places GRJ offers a superb local guide who knows more about the attractions of their city than you will ever learn from a guidebook – rely on them to provide the local colour and knowledge.

"You should aim to be that sort of dinner guest who can chat intelligently to strangers about interesting things without boring them rigid with too much detail and trivia.  Be willing to listen as well.  You’ll find some really interesting people take part in GRJ holidays – doctors, lawyers, police officers, civil servants, teachers, priests, captains of industry.  Sometimes they want to remain incognito – even if they tell you their secrets, they may not want others to know, so be sure you respect confidences. You will enjoy their company: do your best to get to know every one of them individually during the course of the holiday.

"It’s vital that you plan each day with great care.  Make sure you know where you are supposed to be meeting your passengers and when.  Check out in advance which platform your train is leaving from, and where in the train your reserved seats are.  Be willing to be firm (but courteous) if others are sitting in your allocated seats.  Watch out for pickpockets everywhere, especially on busy stations where you have only a short time to connect trains.  Think through where and when your passengers will be able to get some refreshments, and don’t forget to plan loo stops!!

"The service you get from the GRJ office in York is superb.  Not only are they very, very nice people, they’re efficient as well, and there to help you.  Don’t bother them with trivia, but don’t be afraid to ask if there’s something about your holiday you don’t understand.  Above all, read the tour manager’s notes sent to you by the York office several times, and follow the instructions to the letter."

Richard Faulkner, Tour Manager for Great Rail Journeys