At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sales operations and enablement for a world-class cruise line, enhancing team efficiency.
- Company: Join Windstar Cruises, the award-winning small ship cruise line known for unique voyages.
- Benefits: Enjoy a fully remote role with competitive salary and opportunities for international travel.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the travel industry while working with a passionate team.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in sales operations or enablement, strong analytical and communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Awarded World's Best Small Ship Cruise line, Windstar Cruises is known for intimate yacht style experience and unique voyages to the world's best small ports and hidden harbors. Its three sailing yachts and three all-suite yachts carry just 148 to 342 guests and cruise around the world.
Our Mission
We imagine and deliver personalized and immersive experiences 180 degrees from ordinary
Our Vision
Enriching people's perspective through inspired travel
Our Values
Welcoming, Innovative, Now, Discipline, Serve, Teamwork, Authentic, Responsible
Windstar Cruises is dedicated to delivering unique and immersive travel experiences to our discerning guests. We are seeking a Manager of Sales Operations & Enablement to support Windstar Cruises' global sales performance by executing and continuously improving core sales operations, enablement, and sales technology processes. This full-time, permanent role is responsible for translating commercial strategy into scalable processes, tools, insights, and enablement programs that help sales teams operate efficiently and effectively. The Manager works closely with Global Commercial, Sales leadership, Revenue Management, Marketing, Contact Center/VPC, IT, Finance, HR, Legal, Operations, and Itinerary Planning to ensure consistent execution across International, Global Accounts, Charters, and Travel Partners. The role focuses on driving adoption, improving seller experience, and delivering measurable gains in productivity, forecast accuracy, and revenue outcomes. This position will be fully remote, and must be located in the UK.
Responsibilities
- Sales Planning & Operational Support
Support International Sales leadership in executing annual and quarterly sales plans, pipeline management, and forecasting processes. Prepare operational inputs, materials, and analytics for pipeline reviews, QBRs, and sales planning cadences. Help translate commercial priorities into operational plans, timelines, and deliverables. - Process Excellence & Standardization
Document, maintain, and improve sales processes including lead management, partner engagement, opportunity management, quoting/contracting, and charter workflows. Identify opportunities to reduce manual effort and seller friction through process simplification and clear SOPs. Apply continuous-improvement practices to drive efficiency and consistency across regions. - Sales Technology & CRM Administration
Act as day-to-day business owner for sales tools such as CRM, partner/travel advisor tools, content management, forecasting, and sales automation platforms. Partner with IT on enhancements, integrations, testing, and releases to ensure tools meet business needs and scale globally. Support responsible use of AI and analytics features that improve seller productivity and insight quality. Monitor data quality and adherence to governance standards. - Reporting, Analytics & Insights
Build and maintain dashboards and reports that provide actionable insights for sales leaders and sellers. Analyze pipeline health, forecast trends, seller activity, and partner performance; surface risks and opportunities. Support forecast accuracy through consistent definitions, reporting cadence, and data discipline. - Sales Enablement & Readiness
Execute enablement programs including onboarding, ongoing training, certifications, playbooks, and role‑based learning paths. Partner with Marketing and Product teams to align enablement content with messaging, itineraries, and brand standards. Coordinate partner and travel advisor enablement by delivering scalable content, tools, and communications. Track adoption and effectiveness of enablement initiatives. - Commercial Operations Support (in partnership)
Support territory design, quota setting, and capacity planning in collaboration with Sales and Finance. Assist with sales compensation administration in partnership with HR and Finance to ensure accuracy and timeliness. Support deal desk and charter approval workflows to improve cycle time while maintaining margin discipline. - Change Management & Adoption
Execute change management plans for new processes and tools, including communications, training, and feedback loops. Act as a point of contact for field questions, issues, and enhancement requests. Partner with field champions to reinforce adoption and continuous improvement. - Teamwork, Leadership & Budget Support
May manage or mentor analysts, enablement specialists, or system administrators. Support budget tracking and vendor management for sales operations and enablement initiatives. Model Windstar's values and guest‑first mindset; foster strong cross‑functional collaboration.
Qualifications
- Required Knowledge, Skills & Experience
7+ years of experience in Sales Operations, Revenue Operations, Sales Enablement, or related roles. Hands‑on experience with CRM and sales technology platforms, including reporting and data management. Strong analytical skills with experience building dashboards and performance insights. Demonstrated ability to document and improve sales processes and support change adoption. Experience delivering sales training or enablement programs. Strong communication and organizational skills; ability to work effectively across functions and regions. Experience and knowledge of the UK and European travel trade distribution landscape. - Preferred Qualifications
Experience in travel, cruise, hospitality, luxury services, or B2B2C partner/channel environments. Familiarity with travel advisor ecosystems and consortia. Exposure to AI, automation, or analytics tools in a sales environment. Lean/Six Sigma, enablement, or project management certifications.
Working Conditions
Full-time, based in the UK (or as designated by Windstar). International travel as required to support sales teams, partners, and events. This job description may evolve based on business needs.
EEO
Windstar is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
Manager, Sales Operations and Enablement employer: Xanterra Travel Collection
Contact Detail:
Xanterra Travel Collection Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Manager, Sales Operations and Enablement
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the travel and cruise industry, especially those who might know someone at Windstar Cruises. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Windstar's values and mission. Think about how your experience aligns with their focus on personalised and immersive travel experiences. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills in sales operations and enablement can drive results for Windstar. Keep it concise and impactful – they want to see your passion for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Manager, Sales Operations and Enablement
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Manager, Sales Operations and Enablement. Use keywords from the job description to show we’re on the same page!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Numbers and results speak volumes, so let us see how you’ve driven success in sales operations!
Be Authentic: We value authenticity, so let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for travel and how it connects to our mission at Windstar Cruises. We want to know the real you!
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of getting noticed, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets into the right hands!
How to prepare for a job interview at Xanterra Travel Collection
✨Know Your Sales Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of sales operations and enablement. Familiarise yourself with common tools like CRM systems and sales analytics platforms. Be ready to discuss how you've improved processes in your previous roles, as this will show your hands-on experience and understanding of the role.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your analytical prowess by discussing past experiences where you built dashboards or provided actionable insights. Bring examples of how your analysis led to measurable improvements in sales performance. This will highlight your ability to translate data into strategic actions.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration
Windstar Cruises values teamwork, so be sure to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated across different departments. Discuss any cross-functional projects you've been involved in and how you fostered strong relationships to achieve common goals. This will resonate well with their emphasis on collaboration.
✨Be Ready for Change Management Questions
Expect questions about change management and adoption of new processes or tools. Prepare to discuss how you've executed change management plans in the past, including training and feedback loops. Highlight your ability to act as a point of contact for field questions, which shows your leadership and support skills.