At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead e-commerce strategy, optimise website performance, and drive online sales growth.
- Company: Join Riviera Travel, a leading cruise and tour holiday specialist with big digital ambitions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of online travel sales and make a real impact in a fast-paced industry.
- Qualifications: Proven e-commerce leadership experience and strong analytical skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a passionate team dedicated to enhancing customer experiences.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About Riviera Travel:
Riviera Travel is a private equity owned cruise and escorted tour holiday specialist, operating in the UK, Europe and across the world. The company is based in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Its holidays are aimed at over-55s who want to continue to travel and explore the world with confidence. Riviera Travel is the UK’s leading River Cruise specialist. The company has been operating since 1984 and is a Which? recommended provider. We’re a dynamic travel business with big ambitions for digital growth. You’ll be at the heart of shaping our online sales strategy, driving real impact, and leading a talented team in a fast-moving environment.
Role Purpose:
To lead and drive the commercial performance of our website as a high-performing sales channel — optimising for both online bookings and lead generation. This role is pivotal in trading the site effectively, shaping the digital agenda, and ensuring our web experience converts traffic into revenue and qualified leads.
Key Responsibilities:
Trading & Performance
- Own the commercial performance of the website, driving improvements in conversion, revenue, lead and sales call generation.
- Lead the e-commerce trading calendar, ensuring timely execution of campaigns, offers, and merchandising strategies.
- React quickly to trading conditions, using data to make fast, informed decisions.
- Oversee the marketing trading squad, ensuring trading priorities are clearly communicated across the team with clear action plans in place to support commercial focuses
- Balance strategy with short term tactical initiatives, ensuring ‘quick wins’ are delivered without compromising long term strategic goals
Digital Development
- Set the strategy for website development from a commercial performance perspective.
- Work with the Digital Product Owner to ensure the roadmap supports trading initiatives and marketing strategy & is prioritised accordingly
Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO)
- Oversee the CRO programme, working closely with the Digital Product Owner & E-Commerce Manager to prioritise and optimise testing.
- Ensure successful CRO tests are actioned in the digital development roadmap to improve user journeys and conversion.
SEO Strategy & Execution
- Set and lead the SEO strategy, balancing technical and content-led approaches.
- Collaborate with Brand Marketing on content execution and with the Digital Product Owner on technical SEO enhancements.
Lead Generation & Data Capture
- Work closely with the Head of Sales to optimise the sales journey for prospective customers
- Work with the Senior CRM Manager to optimise lead journeys and develop new data capture routes.
- Ensure the website supports CRM goals through smart UX and integrated lead funnels.
Reporting and analysis
- Work with the Digital Analyst to develop dashboards and reports to improve insight into website performance and customer behaviour, to guide optimisation or development efforts
- Deliver clear and concise monthly Exec and Board reports on website performance and progress against KPIs and focus areas
- Work with internal and external stakeholders to enhance digital data and reporting to support advanced analysis and insight
Team Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
- Inspire and lead a high-performing team across e-commerce, merchandising, CRO and SEO
- Influence senior stakeholders to drive the digital agenda, balancing strategic vision with tactical agility.
- Work closely with the Head of Brand Marketing, Head of Customer Insight & Analytics and Head of Sales to ensure all website merchandising, design and development aligns with the wider Brand and business strategy
Supplier relations & budget management
- Manage the contract and relationship with key third parties including GA360 analytics support, Infinity call tracking, CRO, SEO and UX tools.
- Manage and maintain the e-commerce budget, ensuring invoices are processed in a timely fashion, costs are accurately forecast and recorded in the marketing budget tracker
Skills, Experience & Qualifications
- A tenacious, commercially-minded leader with a proven track record in e-commerce performance, delivering measurable output and financial results.
- Comfortable navigating legacy systems and technical constraints with creativity and resilience.
- A fast-paced operator who thrives under pressure and adapts quickly to changing priorities.
- A strategic thinker who can also roll up their sleeves and get stuck into the detail.
- A natural people leader and influencer, capable of building strong cross-functional relationships.
- Excellent knowledge of eCommerce and experience driving website development, CRO and SEO strategies
- Confident at analysing and interpreting complex data and drawing out insights for business growth and optimisation.
- B2C marketing experience essential, travel industry experience or interest desirable
Head of E-Commerce employer: Riviera Travel
Contact Detail:
Riviera Travel Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of E-Commerce
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the travel and e-commerce sectors on LinkedIn. Join relevant groups, engage in discussions, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a personal website or portfolio that highlights your e-commerce achievements, especially if you’ve driven conversion rates or led successful campaigns. This is your chance to shine and demonstrate what you can bring to Riviera Travel.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into Riviera Travel’s online presence. Familiarise yourself with their website, identify areas for improvement, and come armed with ideas. This shows you’re proactive and genuinely interested in helping them grow their digital strategy.
✨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 keen on being part of our dynamic team at Riviera Travel. Let’s make those ambitions for digital growth a reality together!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of E-Commerce
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for E-Commerce: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for e-commerce shine through! We want to see how your experience aligns with our goals at Riviera Travel, especially in driving online sales and optimising user journeys.
Be Data-Driven: Make sure to highlight your ability to use data to inform decisions. We love candidates who can demonstrate how they've used analytics to improve conversion rates or lead generation in their previous roles.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that match the Head of E-Commerce role. We appreciate when candidates show they’ve done their homework on us.
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’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape our digital growth!
How to prepare for a job interview at Riviera Travel
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you’re familiar with key metrics related to e-commerce performance, like conversion rates and revenue growth. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles, as this will show your analytical skills and commercial mindset.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've led teams in fast-paced environments. Highlight your ability to inspire and influence others, especially when it comes to driving digital agendas. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you overcame them while keeping your team motivated.
✨Understand the Travel Market
Brush up on current trends in the travel industry, particularly for the over-55 demographic. Being able to discuss how these trends impact e-commerce strategies will demonstrate your interest and knowledge about Riviera Travel's target audience.
✨Be Ready to Discuss SEO and CRO
Since the role involves overseeing SEO and CRO strategies, prepare to talk about your experience in these areas. Bring examples of successful campaigns or initiatives you've led, and be ready to explain how you measure success and optimise performance.