Jean-Pierre Els Email & Phone Number

Dee Why, Nsw, Au

Australia

Key ResponsibilitiesField Operations Oversight:Lead operational training initiatives for expedition team development, including pre-season programs and firearms program training.Ensure quality control of expedition team certifications and documentation.Facilitate communication with relevant regulatory bodies and stakeholders.Run operational briefings and debriefings to ensure adherence to safety protocols and destination regulations.Develop and refine field operation standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Operations Manual.Drive continual improvement strategies for field operations and activity programs.Activity Program Management:Develop and refine SOPs and protocols.Provide feasibility advice to the Product team regarding activity programs.Monitor and enhance performance of activity program provisions.Oversee passenger activity applications process and activity gear inventory, servicing, and repairs.Ensure effective risk management for activity programs.Cross-Functional Collaboration:Liaise with various departments including Expedition Team Recruitment, Operations, Marketing, and Product Management.Develop and maintain relationships with global stakeholders.Strategy Development and Execution:Drive strategic direction for Aurora's Activities Program.Conduct ship visits for operational feedback and mentorship.Implement continuous improvement initiatives.People Management:Lead, manage, and develop direct reports, ensuring alignment with Aurora's goals and objectives.Establish KPIs and conduct periodic performance evaluations.Provide coaching, training, and development opportunities.Financial Management:Manage expenses within budget for field operations, firearms program, training and activities.

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

EXPEDITION TEAM OPERATIONS MANAGER, AURORA EXPEDITIONSMarch 2021 – CurrentRecruitment, scheduling of effective teams with skills suitable to destinations, ensuring a quality passenger experience and the team meets operational needs. Oversee and implementation of operational requirements, compliance and team training and development program. Team briefings and debriefings, personal inductions, operational and logistical briefings for leadership team.Activity program innovation, planning, program review, analysis and improvements. Review and maintenance of Activity related SOPs and tools. Working with third parties on activity provision in required destinations.Contracting, development and review of operations manual, policies, procedures, seasonal updates, reports, H&S protocol updates & expedition department overheads budget.Streamlining and creating efficiencies in processes. Coordinate annual team events and Operations meetings.

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

At Sea

• Directing the day to day activities with passengers, crew and local operators. Maintaining safety for all guests and crew, delivering a successful product to the guests.Key responsibilities• Daily program, logistics and scheduling of excursions, presentations, safety management and risk assessment.• Daily passenger briefings. Timely delivery of daily reports and all end of cruise reports.Achievements• Saved a 3-month season by restructuring itineraries and exceeded expectations in achieving a high customer satisfactory rating after being affected by cyclones, floods, heatwaves and immigration hiccups.• Awarded full-time employment from being a contract worker due to my innovative thinking and dependable work ethic.• Optimized teams to deliver improved customer experience by being respected as a decisive, motivating leader with clear communication of the goals that are required of my team.

At Sea

Surface Activity Coordinator:Start-up and set up of water sports, submersible dive sites and marina operations onboard. Consulting on the onboard organizational structure, itineraries, staffing structures and operational guidelines for all marina and water sports activities. Develop and implement SOPs, schedules, crew training and operations manual for future operations onboard the Crystal Esprit. Scouting activity sites, beach landings, marina management, guest enrichment.Divemaster:Managing the dive and snorkel programs. Pre-trip planning and research into the dive & snorkel sites. Final planning, coordinating with local dive companies, onboard staff, contractor head office and Eyos-expedition team.Key responsibilities• Consulting on the onboard organizational structure, itineraries, staffing and operational guidelines for all water sports activities.• Develop and implement SOPs, schedules, crew training and operations manual.• Prior research and planning of destinations. Leading onboard operations, coordinating with local operators, staff, passengers and the head office.Achievements• Developed and implement SOP’s, schedules for the maiden voyage of the Crystal Esprit in the 2 destinations.• Trained inexperienced expedition ship crew and officers in marina operations, snorkel & dive safety management, as well as expedition shore excursion & landing operations.

Zavora, Inhambane, Mozambique

Responsible for all aspects of the operations at the lodge, day-to-day staff management and direct management of departments to deliver excellent guest experience. Directly managing the maintenance, dive center, restaurant and security departments. Managed all water sports activities that included scuba diving, fishing charters, kayaking, snorkeling, ocean safaris and whale watching. Rejuvenated the resort and grounds, improved menu’s, self-trained the staff, initiated advertising on different platforms and increased dive center revenue.Key responsibilities• Direct management of maintenance, water sports, security and F&B departments.• Greeting guests, ensure company standards for guest services and housekeeping are achieved.• Improve profit while reducing costs, improve standards, staff training and monitoring of staff performance.Achievements• Improved the standards and cleanliness of guest rooms, public areas, grounds and equipment of a previously mismanaged lodge.• Invested time in staff training and developing their customer service skills, quality of service and optimizing time management.• Increased revenue and visitors through progressive marketing and advertising with dive clubs, social media and inviting South-African travel magazines.• Minimized wastage and costs within the F&B department, improving profits and convinced owner to re-invest funds back into maintenance and development of the lodge and staff.

South Africa

• Corporate and small business commercial vehicle fleet sales.Key responsibilities• Fleet costing analysis, tender proposals, sales to corporate companies, small business enterprises and direct public sales.• Generating own business stream and servicing of existing corporate customers.Achievements• Introduced new corporate marketing events and advertising strategies that gained two major corporate clients.• Increased small business sales through one-on-one visits and relationship building through trust and listening to their needs.

Shelly Beach. Kwa-Zulu Natal, South-Africa

Our family owned restaurant, hands on managed and run. My father’s dream in his last years and a big family project. My open and friendly personality was perfect as the floor manager, further to that I incorporated staff training, marketing and advertising, revamped the venue, menu’s and eventually had to take the reins after my father’s passing. Gained valuable experience during this project in various ways.Key responsibilities• Floor and staff manager, greeting patrons and along with my father being the face of the business.• Staff training, improving service and further develop staff skills.• Marketing, advertising and networking in the community.Achievements• Introduced new menu, time management and staff training that streamlined the daily operations, increased staff morale and produced higher profits.• Generated an advertising and marketing campaign along with networking in the local community that doubled the monthly patrons within 3 months.• Improved the quality of food and service through staff training that achieved higher customer satisfactory ratings and generated higher return diners.

South Africa

Employed in passenger vehicles sales at first. Initiated new self-marketing strategies, reached high sales rates and was promoted to commercial vehicle sales. Corporate sales, marketing events and roadshows. Left the company to start a family owned restaurant.

Designed a new food menu, established a cocktail bar in the venue that was a major draw card for new business raising revenue and consumers by 80%, invested in staff training, reduced wastage losses and built a strong team environment. General management of restaurant, staff, BOH management, stock control & purchases. Property was demolished by the landlord for development.

South Africa

Adaptability to different people, attention to detail, thorough financial analysis and honest approach made this a very successful career. Registered personal financial planner for life, dread and disability cover. Short term, long term investments, retirement planning and drafting of wills. Clients were sourced through independent cold calling, repeat business and a high rate of referrals. Spectrum of clients were individuals, families and small business pension funds.

South Africa

Wholesale suppliers of dry goods to restaurants, schools, hospitals, resorts, lodges and hotels. Within 4 months my sales contribution was consistently 30% of the monthly revenue for the state and I maintained 2nd highest sales in a team of 7. Cold calling sales, sourcing new clients and increasing sales orders from existing clients.

Nqf Level 5 Higher Certificate, Finance, Wealth Management

Activities and Societies:Completed NQF Level 5 qualification, Higher Certificate in Financial Planning and Wealth Management.

National Senior Certificate, High School/Secondary Diplomas And Certificates, Grade 12

Activities and Societies: Rugby, athletics, range shooting school play.