Leading specialist in cruise holidays, who strive to offer unique cruise packages, is seeking an experienced Contracting Manager to play a critical role in planning and delivering contracting agreements for the land element of their holidays. You will have previous experience of working in a similar role, with strong negotiating skills. In return you will be working for an established company, with offices in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, who pride themselves on their brand and appealing to traditional cruisers and new to cruise! Salary is dependent on experience circa £35k pa - £40k pa plus extensive benefits!

• To own and negotiate the worldwide procurement of non-cruise products with a focus being to protect core products and develop the depth and breadth of a sustainable ground portfolio that will drive business growth.
• Create and maintain strong contractual relationships with our key suppliers ensuring a good mix of both competitive and exclusive rate agreements.
• Manage the briefing and contracting timetable with the Product teams, managing expectations around deadlines and budgets
• Develop and maintain key supplier relationships with jointly agreed vision and strategy. Drive 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 opportunities and well as strengthening current agreements.
• Monitor destination arrival statistics and seek strategic initiatives in order to drive incremental market share for the company.
• Agree and take ownership of processes with the Operational team to ensure contracted products are operationally viable and provide an excellent customer journey.
• Ensure zero liability and take proactive action to minimise any financials risks of contracting. Ensuring all stock is managed and released with suppliers in a timely manner.
• Develop sales, room night, rate data, year on year, competitor analysis and recommend rate requirements to help aid negotiations. Communicate risks and recommendations to negate to the Director team.
• 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
• Own 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 REQUIRED:

You will have previous experience of working in a contracting role within the Travel Industry. You will be a pro-active, dynamic negotiator, with excellent communication skills and a passion for tourism worldwide. You will be able to undertake travel abroad when required.

THE PACKAGE:

Starting salary is negotiable and dependent on experience, but in the region of £35k pa - £40k pa. There are extensive benefits including: Company pension, Discounted travel, bonus scheme, private health care, life assurance, retail discounts, and 20 days holiday rising to 25 with service. There are excellent long term career prospects too. This role is currently offering hybrid working but will be office based near Swindon, so you would need to be within a commutable distance.

INTERESTED?

If you are keen to be considered please follow the instructions to apply, attaching your CV. For any questions, please contact Claire on 0121 4509776 or email claire@traveltraderecruitment.co.uk