At a Glance
- Tasks: Source and negotiate contracts for travel services, ensuring competitive rates and strong supplier relationships.
- Company: Join Cashel Travel Group, a leading Destination Management Company with a passion for bespoke travel experiences.
- Benefits: Be part of an employee-owned business that values your ideas and offers career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Work remotely or from Edinburgh/London, in a fast-paced, supportive atmosphere.
- Why this job: Shape supplier strategy and drive commercial success in a dynamic and ambitious travel environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in contracting or purchasing within the travel industry and strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Edinburgh/London/Remote Full-time
About Cashel Travel Group
Cashel Travel is a leading Destination Management Company specialising in bespoke travel experiences across the UK and Ireland. Founded in 2001, we combine deep local expertise with a passion for delivering exceptional, tailor-made programmes for clients from around the world. From incentive travel and conferences to group tours and luxury journeys, we create experiences that go far beyond the ordinary—delivered with precision, creativity, and care.
This role supports the wider Cashel Travel Group, including Alainn Tours and Great British Trips, working across multiple brands to ensure a consistent, commercially sound approach to purchasing and supplier management.
What you'll do:
- Source, negotiate, and contract accommodation, transport providers, and local services to support group and ad hoc business across Cashel Travel Group of Companies. This includes securing competitive rates, terms, and availability within required turnaround times, ensuring solutions align with client budgets while protecting margin.
- Own the contracting process end-to-end, including onboarding new suppliers.
- Drive the standardisation of contracts, templates, and purchasing processes to ensure efficiency, compliance, and a consistent approach across the business.
- Maintain accurate loading of rates, terms, and allocations across systems, ensuring consistency and visibility across all brands.
- Build and manage strong supplier relationships.
- Maintain oversight of market trends and commercial performance, tracking margins and analysing information to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Support negotiations with data and insights, ensuring pricing accuracy and ongoing optimisation of supplier agreements.
- Drive continuous improvement across purchasing processes, including any RFP activity, system accuracy, and overall efficiency, while managing renewals, deadlines, and compliance across all supplier agreements.
- Build and maintain a Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) system to drive supplier performance and support commercial outcomes.
What We’re Looking For:
- Experience in contracting, purchasing, or product within travel (DMC or tour operator).
- Strong negotiation and communication skills.
- Commercial mindset with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Experience with systems such as Bókun or Travia is a plus.
Why Join Us?
At Cashel Travel Group, you’ll be part of a supportive, employee-owned business where your ideas are valued and your impact is visible. This is an opportunity to shape supplier strategy across multiple brands, drive commercial success, and grow your career within a dynamic and ambitious travel company.
Senior Contracting Specialist in Edinburgh employer: Cashel Travel - DMC Great Britain and Ireland - Proud Member of Euromic
Contact Detail:
Cashel Travel - DMC Great Britain and Ireland - Proud Member of Euromic Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Contracting Specialist in Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the travel industry, especially those who work with DMCs or tour operators. You never know who might have a lead on a job or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Cashel Travel Group and its brands. Understand their approach to supplier management and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Since the role involves sourcing and contracting, being able to demonstrate your negotiation prowess during interviews can set you apart. Maybe even role-play with a friend to get comfortable.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Cashel Travel Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Contracting Specialist in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience that match the Senior Contracting Specialist role. Highlight your contracting and negotiation experience, especially in the travel industry, to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about the role and how your background aligns with our needs. Be specific about your achievements in supplier management and contracting.
Showcase Your Attention to Detail: In this role, attention to detail is key. Make sure your application is free from typos and errors. We want to see that you can maintain accuracy in your work, just like you would in managing contracts and rates.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cashel Travel - DMC Great Britain and Ireland - Proud Member of Euromic
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Cashel Travel Group's operations and values. Familiarise yourself with their brands like Alainn Tours and Great British Trips. Understanding their approach to bespoke travel experiences will help you align your answers with what they value.
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare specific examples of past negotiations you've handled, especially in the travel sector. Highlight how you secured competitive rates or improved supplier relationships. This will demonstrate your strong negotiation skills and commercial mindset, which are crucial for the role.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role involves supporting negotiations with data and insights, come prepared with examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. Discuss any systems you've worked with, like Bókun or Travia, to show your familiarity with industry tools.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions ready about their supplier management strategies or how they track market trends. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company is the right fit for you.