Meals Procurement Coordinator

Company Introduction

WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning. The company was founded in 1967 to provide middle school travel programs to Washington, D.C. and has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. WorldStrides offers experiential learning programs in educational travel, performing arts, language immersion, career exploration, service-learning, study abroad, and sports. Each of these experiences helps students to see beyond the classroom and to see the world – and themselves – in new ways.

Job Description: 
Provide our customers the highest quality meal experience on tour within the limits of an acceptable budget. Maintain strong relationships with vendors through consistent and clear communication. Function as a contributing member of the Product Delivery team through effective communication and assisting others as needed.

Responsibilities: 

• Research and establish relationships with potential meal vendors for designated regions across domestic areas of operation.
•  Procure and negotiate within the limits of the acceptable budgets, with the goal of providing an exceptional travel experience.
• Maintain proper reporting for assigned areas.
• Facilitate business development for areas of need with existing meal vendors including survey reviews/tour feedback and assisting with payment/auditing of invoices as required.
• Maintain strong relationships with supplier contacts through positive and professional phone conversations.
•  Maintain a system for quality control including providing feedback to vendors based on internal performance metrics.
• Educating potential vendors about WorldStrides operations, value proposition and customer service philosophy.
• Collaborate with department Director on adjustments needed to account for changes in market trends, company goals, and budget parameters.
• Maintain familiarity with meal locations to serve as an effective resource for staff.
•  Desire to travel to meet with vendors and develop new business.
•  Maintain clear communication with applicable internal teams.
•  Look for ways to maximize financial resources by renegotiating contracts or other arrangements.
•  Continually seek out ways to improve internal systems for efficiency and usefulness.
• Maintain flexibility and willingness to take on additional duties as products and or process needs change.
• Facilitate and/or perform training of staff members as requested.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date process documentation.
•  Foster timely and meaningful communication with suppliers, all departments and team members, and with your direct manager.
• Maintain knowledge of company policies and procedures.
• Support company policies and management decisions with a sense of urgency and professionalism.
•  Maintain a good working knowledge of all responsibilities within the department.
• Seek out and participate in internal and external programs that facilitate personal and professional growth.
•  Document self-evaluations and deliver self-performance appraisal to department Director as part of WorldStrides Professional Journey
•  Identify and discuss personal and professional growth goals with the department Director.
• Lead by example within the Operations Department through effective communication and assisting/mentoring others team members as needed.
•  Work closely with other staff members for efficiency opportunities and provide support on other projects and tasks as requested.
• Support Field Staffing assignments during select periods throughout the year
•  Where, and when applicable, support cross-functional operational work
• Attend and contribute to Department meetings. 

 Qualifications:

• High school degree or equivalent. Four-year college degree preferred.
• A keen appreciation of a high level of customer service balanced with business considerations.
• Dependable, hardworking, well organized, strong interpersonal, time and organization skills, detail oriented, with excellent ability to follow instructions.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills including group presentation skills and the ability to diplomatically handle cross-functional communications.
•  A strong ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and strong negotiating skills.
•  Demonstrated ability to effectively manage large amounts of information.
•  Must have strong negotiating and analytical solution-oriented business skills.
• Basic computer skills, ability to type, process paperwork and work in an office environment under deadline pressure.
• Must be able/available to travel out of town periodically and operate in a variety of public environments.

Work Perks:

• Fun & driven environment.
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, life, accidental death and dismemberment, accident, critical illness, and disability insurance.
• +10% of gross salary as food stamps.
• 1 paid volunteer day & 25 PTO* days to start – accrue up to 28 over 3 years, 4 mental health days, and 5 bereavement days.
• Statutory Holidays by Mexican Federal Labor Law.
• Tuition reimbursement up to five thousand, two hundred fifty dollars annually or one thousand dollars towards professional certification annually.
• Flexible work schedule providing on-site and hybrid opportunities.
• Encouraged participation in our Employee Resource Groups and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion council.
• Fitness opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid statutory parental leave.