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- Tasks: Lead the design and contracting of exceptional holiday experiences for our customers.
- Company: Saga Holidays specializes in providing top-notch services for people over 50 in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, 25 days holiday, and a range of employee discounts.
- Why this job: Join a trusted brand and innovate travel experiences that inspire and excite customers.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in travel contracting, excellent negotiation skills, and European destination knowledge required.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with occasional travel; commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 47000 - 62000 £ per year.
£55,000-£65,000 (dependent on experience)
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.
Role Responsibility
- 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
Package Description
Everyday 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
About the Company Over 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.Fair consideration is given to applications from all applicants, including those with disabilities and those over who are over 50 as we are champions of age inclusivity. We are 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.Job Reference: saga/TP/40191/3145
Product and Contractor Manager - Europe - London Hybrid employer: Saga
Contact Detail:
Saga Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product and Contractor Manager - Europe - London Hybrid
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the latest trends in European travel and hospitality. Understanding what excites customers can help you propose innovative products that align with Saga Holidays' vision.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with industry professionals and attend trade shows to build relationships with potential suppliers. This will not only enhance your negotiation skills but also give you insights into exclusive deals that can benefit Saga Holidays.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your Spanish language skills if you’re not already fluent. Being able to communicate effectively with overseas partners can set you apart as a candidate who can truly represent Saga Holidays.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your understanding of customer needs by preparing examples of how you've previously enhanced customer experiences through product innovation. This will show your alignment with the role's responsibilities.
We think you need these skills to ace Product and Contractor Manager - Europe - London Hybrid
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in travel contracting and product management. Emphasize your achievements in developing innovative holiday products and your negotiation skills with suppliers.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully managed product development and contracting in the past, and how you can contribute to Saga Holidays' mission.
Showcase Your Knowledge: Demonstrate your understanding of European destinations and market trends in your application. This will show that you are well-prepared to innovate and enhance the customer experience at Saga Holidays.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is key for this role, provide examples of how you've effectively communicated with internal teams and external partners. This could include training sessions, presentations, or successful negotiations.
How to prepare for a job interview at Saga
✨Showcase Your Product Knowledge
Make sure to demonstrate your understanding of European travel products and destinations during the interview. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of successful product management or contracting experiences you've had in the past.
✨Highlight Your Negotiation Skills
Since the role requires exceptional negotiation skills, come ready with examples of how you've successfully negotiated contracts or secured exclusive deals in previous positions. This will show your potential employer that you can deliver results.
✨Emphasize Team Leadership Experience
As a Product and Contracting Manager, you'll be managing a team. Share your experiences in leading teams, mentoring colleagues, and driving collaborative projects. This will illustrate your capability to lead and inspire others.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities, especially in crisis situations. Think of scenarios where you've had to react quickly to market pressures or customer feedback, and be ready to discuss how you handled them.
