Operations Trainee

Operations Trainee

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

(On-site)

• Job Schedule Full time
• Organization EF Educational Tours
• Job Type Seasonal
• Seniority level Internship
• Job category Operations

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Job type: Full-time, Temporary

Duration: 6-9 months

Location: Zurich, Switzerland – 100% office-based

Start dates: Between November 15, 2026 and February 1, 2027, depending on team placement

Job overview:

We are looking for an energetic, detail-oriented and proactive individual to join our Operations team in Switzerland.

As an Operations Trainee, you will gain hands-on experience within our global Operations organization and contribute to the successful planning and delivery of our tours.

We are recruiting for several trainee opportunities across our Operations teams, with roles spanning different areas of tour planning, delivery, procurement and customer support. Depending on your team placement, you will work closely with colleagues across Operations, internal stakeholders and external suppliers, while being based at our headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

You'll be encouraged to take ownership from the start, stay curious, collaborate with others, and pay attention to the details that help us create a beautiful experience for our customers.

Key responsibilities

You and your team will contribute through:

• Operational support – support the day-to-day activities required to plan, prepare and successfully deliver our tours.
• Tour coordination – assist with bookings, reservations, allocations, tour changes and other operational processes depending on the needs of your team.
• On-tour support – help resolve operational questions and challenges that arise while our customers are travelling, escalating issues when appropriate.
• Stakeholder collaboration – work closely with colleagues across Operations and other EF teams to ensure information is shared accurately and our customers receive a consistent experience.
• Supplier coordination – communicate and collaborate with external suppliers and partners to support tour logistics, quality, cost-effectiveness and service delivery.
• Problem-solving and ownership – take responsibility for your work, respond proactively when something needs attention, and help find practical solutions to operational challenges.
• Data, systems and administration – work with data, systems and operational records to maintain accurate information and support effective decision-making and processes.
• Continuous improvement – stay curious and contribute ideas and fresh perspectives to help improve our processes, tools and customer experience.

Main objectives for this role:

• Provide reliable and effective support to your team and contribute to the successful delivery of our tours.
• Develop a strong understanding of EF Educational Tours and how our Operations teams work together.
• Put the customer first by delivering accurate, thoughtful and service-minded support.
• Communicate clearly, professionally and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain accuracy and attention to detail while managing multiple tasks and priorities.
• Take ownership of your responsibilities and demonstrate initiative when solving problems.
• Bring curiosity, energy and a collaborative approach to your work.

Skills & Experience:

• Fluent in English, both written and verbal; additional languages are an advantage.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Service-minded, with a genuine desire to create a great experience for our customers.

• Proactive, flexible and solution-oriented.

• Curious and eager to learn, with the confidence to ask questions and contribute ideas.

• Quick learner and practical problem-solver.

• Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Able to remain calm and professional when circumstances change or challenges arise.

• Collaborative team player who enjoys working with people from different teams, cultures and backgrounds.

• Accountable and willing to take ownership of your work.

• An interest in travel, international business and/or operations.

• To be considered for this role, applicants must have the legal right to live and work in Switzerland.

Recruitment Process:

• We are recruiting for multiple trainee opportunities across our Operations teams through one coordinated recruitment process.

• Our selection process will include an initial phone screening, followed by an in-person interview for shortlisted candidates.

• Throughout the process, we'll aim to match candidates with opportunities that best align with their skills, interests and the needs of our teams.

• Successful candidates will join us on different start dates between November 15, 2026 and February 1, 2027, depending on their team placement.

Why you will love working with us:

• At EF, our culture is built around three Core Beliefs: we put customers first, we take ownership, and we make it fun.

• That means caring about the experience we create for our customers, taking responsibility and looking for ways to make things better, and bringing curiosity, collaboration and passion to the way we work.

• As an Operations Trainee, you’ll be trusted to contribute from the start while learning from colleagues across our international organization. You’ll gain practical experience in how a global travel business operates, build your professional network, and have plenty of opportunities to learn, ask questions and develop along the way.

• About Us

• Some companies are in the business of banking. Others are in the business of shoes. Or sports. Or soft drinks. At EF, we're in a different kind of business. One that's a little less tangible, and a lot more important. Because our business, what we make, makes everything else possible. We're in the business of understanding. Between people. Between cultures.

• For over half a century we’ve been the leader in international educational programs and experiences designed to foster such understanding. Through language, cultural exchange, academic studies, and educational travel, we create the kinds of immersive experiences that challenge biases, open minds, and pave the way for a more understanding world.

• You’ll find our offices and schools located in some of the world’s greatest cities, and filled with smart, driven people (over 50,000 of us) who push each other to be better every day. But it’s what we do together - building greater understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating a better world - that makes all the difference.

• Founded in 1965 in Sweden, EF (Education First) is a global association of education companies that share a common mission of opening the world through education. EF has been recognized on Forbes 2025 and 2024 World’s Best Employers and 2024 Top Companies for Women lists, Fast Company’s 2025 Next Big Things In Tech, and was a 2024 App Store Award winner in Cultural Impact.

• About the Team

• EF Educational Tours teams up with educators to take students beyond the classroom on immersive international travel programs. We deliver educational experiences powered by a proven learning method that’s designed to build essential skills, like curiosity and communication. Our tours are where learning meets life—they give students firsthand experience of the world, and unlock the type of personal growth that prepares them for their futures.

• Learn more about EF Educational Tours: https://www.eftours.com/

• Apply Now

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