Airline Account Manager

A career with EF combines the support and opportunity of a large international organization with the spirit and energy of a small business. We look for thinkers and doers – creative, collaborative, and motivated people who are excited by education and travel. EF Education First, the world leader in international education, is looking for a passionate, entrepreneurial and driven Airline Account Manager to join our in-house travel agency. About The Role As an Airline Account Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping EF Travel’s strategy and drive growth through industry-leading airline relationships. You will be responsible for developing and executing partnership initiatives that maximize value for EF and our travelers. This is an ideal opportunity for someone with a strong supplier negotiation or sales background, proven relationship-building skills, and a passion for creating win-win solutions with external partners. This position is open to candidates at either the Manager or Director level, depending on experience. In this role, you will be part of a matrix organization and directly lead two team members who split their time between Airline Account Management and flight operations. While you will manage them in all aspects of airline partnership management, their operational work will continue to be managed by a separate leader. Your focus will be on developing their skills in supplier relations and commercial strategy with the goal of helping them—and EF—excel in the dynamic airline partnership landscape. In addition, this role is responsible for leading the internal working group that is comprised of all Airline Account Managers. As the lead you will be responsible for ensuring the group is on track to meet their strategic priorities, chair the meetings and set monthly working group agendas, act as the primary representative of the group to other parts of the business including but not limited to tech, marketing and the corporate travel team. You will also manage other projects related to the airline partnership space as needed. This role will report to a member of the Senior Leadership Team, be empowered to collaborate across teams, mentor talent, and influence the future of EF Travel’s airline strategy.  Airline Relationship Leadership Strategic Relationship Management: Build, nurture, and expand EF Travel’s relationships with key airline partners, identifying new opportunities for collaboration and growth. Negotiation & Commercial Excellence: Lead contract negotiations, ensuring favorable terms, rates, and innovative solutions that support EF’s business goals. Supplier Program Optimization: Ensure EF teams understand and maximize supplier programs, driving incremental revenue and value. Market Intelligence: Analyze market trends and competitive activity to inform partnership strategies and tactics. Internal Collaboration: Work closely with Sales, Product, and Operations teams to align airline partnership strategies with broader business objectives. Team Development & Coaching Direct People Leadership: Manage, coach, and develop two new Airline Account Managers, providing ongoing feedback, training, and support as they build expertise. Mentorship & Growth: Foster a culture of learning, innovation, and collaboration within your team, empowering direct reports to achieve their potential. Professional Development: Champion EF Travel’s development programs, actively participate as a member of the department’s leadership team, and contribute to staff engagement, retention, and motivation initiatives. About You You have a proven track record in sales, account management, or partnership development—ideally within travel, hospitality, or a related industry. You are a natural relationship builder, negotiator, and influencer, and comfortable engaging stakeholders at all levels. You are self-motivated and thrive on coaching and developing others. You are strategic, entrepreneurial, and results-driven, always seeking new opportunities for growth. You bring strong communication and presentation skills. You are energized by change, innovation and a fast-paced, multicultural environment. You demonstrate an ability to independently analyze data to inform decisions; are well versed in Excel and additional data analytics experience is a plus. You are passionate about travel, cultural exchange and the transformative power of education. Requirements Higher academic degree. Proficient in English. Proper work authorization for this opportunity (European work permit). Experience in sales, account management, or partnership development. Previous people management, coaching, or mentorship experience preferred. Availability to travel internationally 5-6 times per year. Passion for the airline industry is a bonus