quark expeditions

Quark Expeditions is the leading polar expedition travel company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. We operate cruises to Antarctica and Arctic regions (Greenland, North Canada, Svalbard) on board of 3 modern polar expedition ships – Ultramarine, Ocean Explorer, and World Explorer. Since 1991, Quark has been establishing a tradition of firsts in polar travel: as the first to transit the Northeast Passage with adventure travellers; the first to take travellers to the far side of Antarctica; and the first to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent with guests. Quark Expeditions is part of Travelopia, the world’s leading experiential travel business, owned by KKR.

We are looking to hire a Senior Director of Expedition Operations to join our team! Reporting to VP Operations, you’ll lead the planning and delivery of all expedition elements across the Quark product, ensuring a safe, seamless, and high-quality guest experience. The role oversees expedition teams, provides real-time operational leadership, and ensures consistent execution of onboard and off-ship programmes, including helicopter operations.

Our Quark HQ is in Toronto. We welcome candidates from Toronto and wider Ontario, as well as people located throughout Canada who are open to regular travel.

What we’ll offer: 

• Competitive base salary ($120,000 to $180,000 CAD) and bonus scheme (10% to 20%)
• Comprehensive health benefits 
• Retirement savings plan with company contributions 
• Generous paid time off allowance and birthday day off 
• Parental leave and family-supportive policies 
• Charity or volunteering time off 
• Group-wide travel discounts 

What you’ll do: 

Operational Delivery

• Partner with Marine and Safety leaders to deliver safe, compliant, and well-executed expeditions
• Lead IAATO/AECO scheduling, permitting, and community engagement
• Help deliver high-quality onboard programming aligned with guest experience goals
• Ensure day-to-day guidance to Expedition Leaders
• Take accountability for regulatory compliance, operational risk, budgets, and field reporting, ensuring teams are supported to operate effectively

Safety, Risk & Compliance

• Promote and embed a safety-first culture and aligned operational governance across ship and shoreside teams
• Lead SOP development, incident response, and emergency operational support across the fleet
• Ensure full regulatory and environmental compliance, including delivery of pre-season training

Expedition Staffing

• Oversee end-to-end expedition staffing, including recruitment, scheduling, contracts, deployment, and payroll
• Ensure all voyages are staffed with qualified, well-supported teams set up for success
• Establish clear and consistent expectations for performance, conduct, and development
• Build capability, depth, and retention across expedition teams, particularly in safety-critical roles

People, Product & Brand

• Lead and support expedition leadership teams, building capability, succession, and global coverage
• Partner cross-functionally to shape product development and enhance the guest experience
• Represent Quark externally at IAATO/AECO and industry forums, building strong relationships and brand reputation

What you’ll bring: 

• Proven operations leadership experience within expedition, cruise, or adventure travel
• Comfortable leading and supporting global, field-based teams in complex environments
• Strong knowledge of IAATO/AECO frameworks and experience managing safety, risk, and incident response in high‑risk environments
• Commercially minded, with experience managing budgets and delivering exceptional guest experiences
• Collaborative communicator, able to influence across diverse stakeholders
• Able to manage priorities and detail in dynamic environments
• Willing and able to travel regularly
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office tools (Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint)
• Experience in polar regions or relevant academic/technical background (e.g. marine, environmental, outdoor, tourism) is valued

We know that no one candidate will meet every requirement. If you’re excited about the role and believe you could make an impact, we encourage you to apply!

We believe people perform best when they can be their true selves and diverse teams drive better results. We’re committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where everyone can succeed. 

Travelopia ensures an inclusive workplace for all. If you need accessibility support during the recruitment process, please inform us here: Talent@Travelopia.com 

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