Contracting Manager

Leading specialist Wilshire based tour operator, who strive to offer unique packages are seeking an experienced Contracting Manager to create and maintain strong contractual relationships with their key suppliers, ensuring a good mix of both competitive and exclusive rate agreements.

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, who pride themselves on their brand. Salary is dependent on experience circa £35k pa - £40k pa plus extensive benefits!

THE ROLE

• 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.
• 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 Imagine.
• 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.
• Review Customer Feedback and look to ways to improve ground products and the customer journey with the product and service team.
• 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)

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Be able to adapt to internal processes and relay complex information in a concise way to peers/contracting executives
• Experience in contracting, negotiating and maintaining new supplier partnerships
• 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
• Excellent command of Microsoft Office (Excel/Word) applications and computing skills.
• Ability to undertake travel abroad when required by the business

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. There are excellent long term career prospects too. This role is currently offering office/hybrid working in their 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 Suzanne on 0121 4509776 or email suzanne@traveltraderecruitment.co.uk