Product Manager - Travel & Tourism - Africa
- Recruiter
- Bluetownonline Ltd
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire, England
- Salary
- £30000 - £35000 per annum
- Posted
- 16 Jun 2017
- Closes
- 14 Jul 2017
- Ref
- EECF-04
- Contact
- Elina Lund
- Sectors
- Marketing, PR & Advertising
- Contract Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
Job Title: Product Manager - Africa - Travel and Tourism
Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 Dependent on Experience
Based: Farnborough, Hampshire - International Travel required
The company has been running small group adventure holidays since 1981. They are passionate about what they do and love to travel. Their experience and knowledge make them one of the most trusted tour operators in the UK. They have over 500 small group trips in 120 countries (including Family Adventures, Cycling & Walking), plus tailor-made and self-guided programmes; so a product range that is second to none in the industry.
Their wide range of activities and experiences, award-winning Tour Leaders, a commitment to responsible travel and a pinch of company spirit, keep their customers coming back year after year.
They have been a part of a larger group of specialist travel companies since December 2015. They operate as a totally standalone business, but also work closely with their sister companies wherever possible.
They currently have a great opportunity for an experience travel Product Manager who specialises in Africa. The Product Manager has responsibility for all Discovery tours within a specific geographical area, managing a team to ensure that the company plans, contracts, and operates industry leading itineraries.
Passionate about travel the Product Manager ensures that they have on sale a range of cultural and multi-active tours that cater to the company's client demographic, whilst continuing to push the boundaries with pioneering tours that achieve the company vision of "Enriching Lives Through Adventure Travel". They are responsible for sales, trip note and brochure content for their area and for ensuring that this is both inspiring and accurate.
Each Product Manager is accountable for the overall profitability of their trips, sales growth and operating profit of all the relevant company's products within that region.
Key Responsibilities:
- To be the leader of the Africa & Middle East product team, driving the team forward to achieve strategic and personal goals.
- To develop members of the team to ensure that everyone is challenged to attain their maximum potential.
- To be responsible for all product development within a specific geographical area and for ensuring it is based on the strategic aims of the business, and in line with the market-led product strategy briefs provided by the Business Intelligence team (BI).
- To produce accurate and inspiring brochure / web text for all trips.
- Working alongside BI to ensure that the most appropriate product is on sale at the optimum price at all times.
- To work closely with the Air Contracts Manager to ensure that the company has the best and most appropriate air costs and routings.
- To have ownership of all operational supplier relationships within the geographical area, and to be responsible for achieving and maintaining the very best working relationship in each case.
- To be accountable for ensuring all products on sale within the geographical area adheres to the company's stringent guidelines on quality, safety and responsible travel.
- To oversee any necessary changes to itineraries.
- This includes the timely provision of product information required to maximise customer satisfaction and sales - including up to date planning sheets, updating the Product Database, sales focussed text & images for web, brochures, trip notes, 3rd party websites, one-off campaigns, PR releases & training material etc.
- To have ownership of product-based PR for the specific geographical area and to ensure that it is considered at all stages of the product cycle. To be actively and regularly involved in PR and other promotional activity.
- To travel overseas as and when required. This is to meet our ground agents (who provide transport, accommodation and tour leaders) to negotiate and contract as well as to familiarise yourself with our itineraries and to recce new destinations or itineraries. In addition there will be the opportunity to attend trade shows.
Skills and Experience - Essential
- Proven people management & leadership skills
- Commercially aware
- Excellent negotiation skills
- Demonstrable organisational, communication & interpersonal skills
- Proven ability to work to deadlines.
- Team player
- High degree of numeracy
- High degree of literacy
Skills and Experience - Desirable
- Extensive travel experience within Africa & the Middle East
- Demonstrable results inside a product environment
- Knowledge of the adventure travel market
Benefits
One thing we pride ourselves on at Explore is looking after our staff, not only do we offer a competitive salary we also offer an extensive range of benefits that include, Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme, Profit Related Annual Bonus, Life Assurance, Private Medical Insurance, Onsite or Paid Local Parking, Health Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), Staff Discount on Explore holidays, Season Ticket Loans, Childcare Vouchers Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme, Onsite Massage Therapist, Employee Reward and Perks Scheme - to name a few!
To apply for this role please click APPLY to submit your CV and covering letter
Candidates with previous experience, job titles, or qualifications such as; Product Development Manager, Marketing and Sales Manager, Programme Development, Product Development Coordinator, Travel Product Manager, International Property Product Manager, International Investment Manager, Sales Manager may also be considered for this role.