As the Contracting Manager for a large, growing tour operator your role will be to create and maintain strong contractual relationships with key supplier, ensuring a good mix of both competitive and exclusive rate agreements. Managing the Worldwide Procurement of Non-Cruise Products with focus being to develop the depth and breadth of a sustainable ground portfolio for the business.

THE JOB:
*Co - manage the annual briefing and contracting timetable with the Product teams.
*Help lead the Contracting team with strong and dynamic leadership, developing their supplier relationship, market research and negotiating skills.
*Develop and maintain key supplier relationships with jointly agreed vision and strategy agreements that are regularly reviewed. Nurture agreements to negotiate industry leading rates and unique products.
*Develop a travel timetable to research and negotiate product briefs creating new supplier relationships and strengthening agreements. Travel to Global Destinations to review and finalise agreements.
*Negotiated commercial agreements and marketing contributions with ground handlers, hotels, destination management companies and tourist boards.
*Monitor destination arrival statistics and seek strategic initiatives in order to drive incremental market share for Imagine.
*Create a Contracting team with the necessary processes and training to effectively manage the contract management process
*Agree processes with the Operational team to ensure contracted products are operationally viable and provide an excellent customer journey.
*Work with the to ensure we have access to group contracts and we have an operational booking process.
*Develop sales room night and rate data, year on year, competitor analysis and recommend rate requirements to help aid negotiations.
*Review Customer Feedback and look to ways to improve ground products and the customer journey with the product and service team. Manage any customer complaint escalations and drive compensation recovery where appropriate from suppliers.
*Understand the of pricing strategy, margins and volumes associated with each contracted product
*Review supplier performance and highlight any contractual risks to the Director team (including and financial risks from committed contracts)
*Create a Contracting plan to support the Up-Sell Strategy (post booking / pre departure sales)
*Ensuring strong and robust department processes are in place for contract filing, version controls, liability risk reviews and deadline achievement.


EXPERIENCE:

*A passion for tourism worldwide.
*Experience in Contracting, Negotiating and creating new Supplier partnerships
*Strong pro-active, dynamic, passionate and a team player.
*Experience in negotiation skills preferred
*Excellent verbal and written communication skills plus excellent numeric ability
*Excellent attention to detail.
*Innovative thinker and creative problem solver
*Manage and Prioritise conflicting priorities.
*Microsoft Office (Excel / Word) with intermediate level.

THE PACKAGE:
The successful candidate will be rewarded with an excellent salary in the region of £30000 - £45000 plus you will be entitled to some great company benefits like Pension & medical benefits!

INTERESTRED?
If you would like to be considered for this excellent new position please follow the link and click apply, send your CV to helenc@traveltraderecruitment.co.uk or call Helen Cassin on 01293 850647 for more information