Product and Contracting Manager - Europe - Saga Holidays
Salary £55,000- £65,000 (dependent on experience)
Permanent
FT - 35 hours
Hybrid - Home/London/Ashford Office a couple of times per month. With occasional travel to our Crawley office
Here at Saga Holidays, we are looking for a European Product and Contracting Manager.
The Product and Contracting Manager role is critical to ensuring our customers’ holiday experience is the best it can possibly be. You will take ownership for designing and contracting hosted hotels and special interest holidays with a constant eye for detail and an enthusiasm for giving our customers an exceptional and sector leading experience on every holiday. You will source the best overseas partners both commercially and service-orientated, innovating new products and destinations that inspire and excite our customers and truly set the benchmark for a hosted holiday. Your responsibility is full circle and will focus on really understanding our customers; from research, design and contracting, through operational effectiveness to refinement and quality control.
Package DescriptionEveryday our colleagues deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. We believe exceptional work deserves even more exceptional rewards, that's why we have put together an amazing benefits package for all colleagues.
We offer total flexibility over where you work you choose a place that you feel most comfortable and productive, either from home or in one of our hubs in London, Ashford or Sandwich.
BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO ALL COLLEAGUES:
Our working week is 35 hours per week, these can be worked flexibly to suit your working style
25 days holiday + bank holidays
Option to purchase additional leave up to 5 extra days
Pension scheme matched up to 10%
Life assurance policy on joining us
Wellbeing programme
Colleague discounts including family discounts on cruises and holidays
Range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
Grandparents leave
Company performance related annual bonus - Up to 5%
Income protection
Access to Saga Academy, our bespoke learning platform
Main Responsibilities
Developing new, innovative and commercially successful holidays aligned to the product strategy, appealing to both existing and first-time-buyers
Support the Product Director in delivering a strategy for product innovation and sector leadership.
Take a pro-active, leadership approach to innovation, proposing new brand-enhancing products and services to delight our customers
Managing a team of Product Developers and Executives
Refining and re-engineering existing product to optimise performance and customer experience
Contracting and negotiating with suppliers, securing best in market rates and exclusive deals, offers, overrides, marketing funds and other commercial advantages
Ensuring products meet company Health & Safety standards with necessary due diligence
Renegotiating with suppliers; reacting to market pressures as necessary and seeking exclusive offers to maintain maximum competitiveness in the market place
Managing allocations and stopsells to maximise sales potential
Briefing Marketing on new products, securing images and copy checking brochures and DM
Awareness of competitor activity and using customer insights to identify and implement commercial opportunities
Being an active part of the Quality process; working closely with internal and external partners to continuously improve customer satisfaction
Working closely with internal stakeholders (Aviation, Commercial, Marketing, Sales and Operations)
Travel as needed to attend trade shows, source new suppliers, research new product ideas and gain knowledge of destinations
Representing at the highest levels with supplier organisations, political bodies and trade contacts
Delivering informative and engaging product training to all relevant areas of the business and directly to customers
Play a key role in any crisis situation
The Ideal Candidate
A proven track record in travel Contracting and Product Management
Excellent European product and destination knowledge
Able to be a senior ambassador for the company
To be able to speak Spanish is desirable
Exceptional negotiation and influencing skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (written & verbal)
High level of numerical skills
High level of commercial and operational experience
Initiative, diplomacy, tact and sound judgement
Highly organised and disciplined
Ability to follow through targets and objectives
Flexibility to travel, sometimes for extended periods and sometimes at short notice
About The CompanyOver the past 70 years we have become the UK's specialist provider of products and services to people aged over 50 in the UK. The Saga brand has become one of the most recognised and trusted brands amongst UK consumers in this demographic, recognised for its high quality products and exceptional standards of service. These include cruises and holidays, insurance, personal finance and the Saga Magazine.
At Saga we are committed to treating all employees fairly and to offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement. We value diversity not just because it is the right thing to do, but because diverse teams perform better.
We’re passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Championing diversity is important to us, and diverse teams really are the best ones. We’re dedicated to creating a culture where every colleague feels like they belong. So that at Saga, more than anywhere else, you can be your best, be yourself and make a difference.
Fair consideration is given to all applicants, including those with disabilities and those over who are over the age of 50. As champions of age inclusivity and signatories of the Age-Friendly Employer Pledge, we are proud of our multigenerational teams. We are also an official Disability Confident Committed employer and ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible and we will make reasonable adjustments as required. For more information on our DEI policies please visit our Saga Careers page.
Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the Talent Acquisition Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga will not be responsible for any fees related to CVs received in this unsolicited manner.
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