Part-Time Sales & Marketing Role (Remote Working)

This position is closed because a candidate has already been recruited.

Key Points

• Part-time position
• Hourly-paid position
• Remote working position
• Previous experience not required
• Visa sponsorship not provided
• Available for an immediate start, or as soon as your current commitments allow
• Employment progression:
  • Initial 3-month probation/training period, then;
  • Continuous rolling contract

Main Requirements

• Kyushu resident
• Native English speaker
• University graduate
• Computer with an internet connection
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Computer literate (Social Media, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Gmail)
• Confident with numbers and working with basic spreadsheets
• Confident making cost calculations with 100% accuracy
• Confident in speaking with, and corresponding in English to, clients
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy
• Willingness to embrace AI (Chat GPT and others)

Sales Duties

• Communicating with clients online (via Gmail, WhatsApp, Zoom)
• Making Kyushu tour proposals for clients
• Calculating price of tour proposals
• Issuing and processing client invoices
• Meeting clients in Fukuoka city (unless you live far from Fukuoka city)

Marketing Duties

• Managing company Social Media accounts (currently Facebook, Instagram & YouTube)
• Running digital advertising campaigns (currently Facebook and Google Ads)
• Updating company Wordpress website - no programming or technical knowledge required
• Creating company newsletters
• Discovering and developing new marketing channels and opportunities

During busy periods you may be asked to assist the team with other duties as required.

Training and Experience

No previous experience is required but any previous experience or knowledge in the following areas will greatly benefit your application:

• Sales and/or Marketing
• Corporate social media management
• Digital advertising
• English copywriting or editing
• Travel industry (especially Kyushu tourism)
• Customer service
• Travefy travel planning or Slack communication platforms
• Excel or Google Sheets formulas
• Wordpress editing or content writing
• Photo or video editing

Workplace (Hybrid Working)

Your place of work will be your home or office however preference will be given to candidates who will be available in either Iizuka city or Fukuoka city for twice monthly face-to-face working/training sessions and able to provide a meet-and-greet service at Fukuoka airport.

Working Hours

Number of working hours will depend upon both your availability and company requirements. Currently we estimate up to 20 hours per week. Some of the duties can be done at any time to suit your personal schedule, however to communicate with our team you will also need to be available for some time during Japan office hours Monday to Friday. For this reason, this position isn’t suitable for you if you intend to work a regular 9-5 job in addition to this position.

About Us

• Trading name: Kyushu Journeys (https://www.kyushujourneys.com/)
• Official company name: Gōdō gaisha (合同会社) Starbright Concepts
• Travel agent license: 福岡県知事登録 第3-873号
• Formation: June 2017
• Clientele: English-speaking visitors to Kyushu from overseas

Kyushu Journeys is owned and managed by a husband (UK) and wife (Japanese) team. Both have 20+ years of experience in the tourism industry in Asia and extensive management experience. We currently employ one full-time Japanese staff member and two-part-time remote team members. We are looking for our next valuable team member (you!)

About You

You are an outgoing, friendly person: hard-working, loyal, honest, and fun. You enjoy traveling (especially Kyushu) and communicating with people. You enjoy working as part of a team but are disciplined and responsible enough for solo working. You are looking for a long-term permanent position. You should be passionate about making new projects succeed. This position is only available to candidates who are permanently based in Kyushu and therefore is not suitable for students or those on a working holiday visa.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship is not available; therefore, we invite applications only from those who hold a Japanese passport or who already have a visa that allows employment in Japan, such as a spouse visa or Permanent Resident visa.

How should I apply?

Email your CV (or questions) in English to [email protected] and briefly explain why you want to join Kyushu Journeys and why you are suitable for this position. Please mention your nationality and current visa status on your application. Applications or questions via Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or telephone will not receive a response.

Future Roles

There is a possibility, but not an expectation or requirement, that this position may grow into a full-time permanent position.

Full-Time Office and Guiding Role (Hybrid Working)

This position is closed because a candidate has already been recruited.

Outline Roles

• Kyushu tour planning and arrangement
• Guiding Kyushu tours
• General admin & office duties

Key Points

• Full-time, permanent position (flexible options available)
• Previous experience not required
• Great opportunities for career development
• Interviewing now to start any time after August 2024
• Employment progression:
  • Initial 3-month probation period, then;
  • Two years Keiyakushain (契約社員), then;
  • Seishain (正社員) subject to both parties’ agreement

Main Requirements

• Fukuoka Prefecture resident, passionate about Kyushu travel
• Japanese with advanced English skills or foreigner with advanced Japanese skills
• University or college graduate
• High level of attention to detail
• Computer literate; comfortable with office work
• Confident with numbers (numerate)
• Confident speaking and corresponding in English with foreigners
• Confident speaking and corresponding in Japanese
• Willingness to embrace AI (no previous experience required)

Duties

• Creating and managing itineraries
• Guiding English-speaking foreigners (day trips and multi-day tours)
• Booking accommodation, transport, restaurant, activities, guides etc.
• Communication with clients by email, phone, messaging, face-to-face
• General admin and office duties
• Destination inspection visits
• Meeting clients and travel industry professionals

Training and Experience

No previous experience is required but any previous experience will benefit your application. A travel agent licence is not required. A National Licenced Guiding certification (全国通訳案内士資格) and/or guiding experience is not required but will greatly benefit your application. You can apply for this position whether you are already very experienced or if this will be your first full-time job in the travel industry. You will be given training and time to learn the skills required. You will never be asked to perform tasks beyond your comfort level. This is a perfect opportunity for personal and career development.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary and fees to be disclosed during interview process
• Shakai Hoken (社会保険) according to Japanese law
• 14 days annual leave (after probation period) + public holidays

Workplace (Hybrid Working)

A combination of remote work and working at Kyushu Journeys HQ (currently in Iizuka city). Periodic meetings with clients, local government representatives and travel industry professionals in or around Fukuoka city. Guiding tours in Fukuoka city and around Kyushu.

Working Hours

Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00, with a one-hour lunch break. Flexible working hours are available. You may occasionally need to meet clients outside regular office hours or on weekends and work longer days during busy periods. Extra hours will be compensated with additional payment or time off in lieu. We offer flexibility to accommodate personal and family commitments. You will sometimes be required to carry the company mobile phone outside office hours to handle client emergencies. Working hours when guiding will depend on each individual tour arrangement.

About Us

• Trading name: Kyushu Journeys (https://www.kyushujourneys.com/)
• Official company name: Gōdō gaisha (合同会社) Starbright Concepts
• Travel agent license: 福岡県知事登録 第3-873号
• Membership: Kyushu Tourism Organization (KTO) || 九州観光機構
• Formation: June 2017
• Clientele: English-speaking visitors to Kyushu from overseas
• Main business: Customised trip planning, day tours, group tours, various travel support services within Kyushu Island

Kyushu Journeys is owned and managed by a husband (UK) and wife (Japanese) team. Both have 20+ years experience in the tourism industry in Asia and extensive management experience. Additionally, we currently employ one full-time Nationally Licenced guide, one Japanese part-time admin staff, one part-time native English-speaking sales staff and are currently recruiting another part-time native English-speaking marketing staff.

Most importantly, we are looking for our next valuable team member - you!

About You

You are an outgoing and friendly person, hard-working, loyal, honest and fun. You enjoy travelling and meeting people. You are looking for a position that allows you to spend some of your time guiding and some of your time creating and managing client itineraries. You want to learn new skills, try new things and develop yourself personally and professionally. You enjoy working as part of a team but are disciplined and responsible enough for solo working. You are looking for a long-term permanent position with opportunities for promotion and career advancement. You love to challenge your limits. You should be passionate about making new projects succeed. You want to be part of the team that takes Kyushu Journeys to the next level. You want to be part of an extraordinary company.

Future Roles

Apply for this job if you want a long-term position with expectation of promotion to higher roles. The company owners intend to step back from day-to-day management in the coming years and are looking for a candidate who can gradually take over more responsibility as their experience increases. As your responsibilities grow you can expect your salary to increase accordingly.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship will not be provided therefore only apply for this position if you are a Japanese national or a foreigner holding a Spouse Visa or Permanent Resident visa.

How should I apply?

Send your CV in English to [email protected] and briefly explain (maximum 500 words) why you want to join Kyushu Journeys and why you are suitable for this position. All applications or questions received by email will receive a response. Applications or questions via Facebook or Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, or telephone will not receive a response.

We look forward to welcoming you onto our team!