Product Development Manager - Brighton, East Sussex

With more than 30 years’ experience, TravelBound are the industry leaders in high quality, subject-led tours for schools, universities, colleges, and clubs. With bespoke itineraries to incredible worldwide destinations, and our exclusive Chateau du Molay in Normandy, TravelBound tailor every tour to meet your specific educational and cultural requirements.

The role involves reporting to the Product Manager in the UK as part of the Travelbound team, focusing on the development of new and existing products through research to deployment to the sales team. Additional responsibilities include supporting the procurement team in securing accommodation for group requests and confirmations. This is a fixed-term 12-month role covering maternity leave.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Lead research and analysis to build new product and destination portfolios (flights, transfers, accommodation, catering, excursions and experiences).
• Develop these to sale stage in collaboration with Commercial and Marketing.
• Support pricing by providing and reviewing negotiated rates with the Commercial Manager.
• Present new and evolved products to the wider business.
• Monitor and manage accommodation bookings, confirmations, deposits and payments.
• Analyse competitors and market trends to optimise product offering.
• Work closely with the sales team during new product introduction to source and secure accommodation for provisional bookings.
• Maintain good relations with overseas suppliers, establish new contacts and contracts.
• Negotiate the best rates and conditions with suppliers in line with commercial expectations.
• Ensure suppliers are meeting Health and Safety Regulations.
• Work with the Commercial department to ensure units, packages and prices are loaded on the Travelink Reservation System.
• Ensure data is current and accurate.
• Monitor sales/quotes and react commercially as necessary for the Sales teams.

What we are looking for

• Experience in travel product development (tour operating, group or educational travel preferred).
• Strong research and analytical skills; able to take products from concept to sales.
• Proven supplier negotiation skills, securing competitive rates and terms.
• Experience in accommodation sourcing, bookings and payment handling.
• Experience maintaining and developing supplier contacts and overseas partnerships.
• Commercially aware; monitors sales and responds to support performance.
• Understanding of travel health and safety standards and supplier compliance.
• Confident communicator, able to present products to stakeholders.
• Collaborative, working across teams within the wider business.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, particularly around pricing, reservations and product specification.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and able to work with reservation/booking systems (e.g. Travelink).
• Good geographical knowledge and interest in travel; willing to travel to destinations as required.
• Proactive, flexible and able to work independently or as part of a team.

Some of the benefits

• Hybrid working pattern between our office and homeworking.
• Annual Bonus scheme.
• Opportunities to travel overseas on familiarisation trips.
• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays and a bonus day off for your birthday; we also have a tenure based annual leave benefit, up to a maximum of an additional 5 days depending on length of service.
• Global recognition and reward programme.
• Access to extensive online learning resources.
• In-house training opportunities.
• Regular social events.
• Various employee discounts and offers, including discounted trips with our brands.

Diversity and inclusion

We believe that people are happier and perform best when they are able to be their true selves and that diverse teams deliver better results. We are committed to building an inclusive culture and embracing diversity in all its dimensions. This includes inspiring change through increasing awareness of unconscious bias. Together we will cultivate a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment, where everyone can flourish.

Experience Education

Student Travel Group TravelBound is a part of the Experience Education Student Travel Group, a collective of specialist brands dedicated to delivering exceptional and memorable travel experiences for schools and groups. Our specialist brands include TravelBound, SkiBound, World Challenge, JCA, Edwin Doran and MasterClass, and they operate across 5 unique travel categories: curriculum tours; ski trips; expeditions; UK activity centres and sports tours.