Manager - Brochure Group Tours

Abercrombie & Kent (Australia) Pty Ltd; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Travel benefits

Staff discounts

Parental leave

Wellbeing leave

Job summary

Abercrombie & Kent (Australia) Pty Ltd is seeking a senior leader to develop and deliver tour series programs across the business. You will own end-to-end planning, manage financial performance, and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to drive growth and client satisfaction.

The role leads a team, contributes to product selection, and supports continuous improvement initiatives in a hybrid work model, with occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in travel, with leadership experience.
• Experience with inbound tour operator groups.
• Proven ability to manage supplier relationships, negotiate and contract.
• Experience developing group tour series for existing and new clients.
• Strong product knowledge of Australia and New Zealand.
• Experience preparing and managing group tour costings.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Demonstrated leadership including mentoring team members.
• Adaptable and resilient, open to change.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; Amadeus/GDS knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Oversee tour series operations including inventory, flight arrangements, staffing, and guest documentation.
• Monitor operations and manage changes, risks, and service delivery.
• Prepare quotations for third-party tour series opportunities with pricing accuracy.
• Lead tour series product selection with stakeholders to ensure viability.
• Maintain tour costings and brochure information for profitability.
• Plan and deliver tour series programs from inception to completion.
• Primary contact for tour series operational matters.
• Manage a team and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Escalation support for emergency phone on Tour Series files.
• Participate in Weekend Duty emergency phone roster and related training.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Supplier negotiation

Group tour programs

Product knowledge AU/NZ

Costings

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Problem solving

Adaptability

Microsoft Office

Amadeus GDS

Travel Industry systems

Tools

Amadeus GDS

Wholesale reservations systems

Job description

Come and join one of the world\u2019s leading luxury travel brands

Abercrombie & Kent is the world\u2019s leading luxury travel business and has been a pioneer of experiential luxury travel since 1962. Founded as a luxury safari company in Africa, A&K today employs more than 3000 staff in over 70 offices in more than 83 countries. The company specialises in private, tailor-made and flexible small group travel to every corner of the globe and has a wholly owned portfolio of cruise boats, luxury lodges, tented camps, hotels, and all-terrain vehicles. As part of its global commitment, Abercrombie & Kent is committed to responsible and ethical tourism and through A&K Philanthropy supports projects in the communities where its guests travel dedicated to positively impacting lives and livelihoods.

The role

We are seeking a candidate with in-depth experience in the luxury travel market to take on responsibility for leading the development, financial performance and operational delivery of tour series programs across the business. The role owns the end-to-end planning and management of tour series operations, ensuring programs are commercially viable, operationally effective and aligned with client and market expectations.

This position leads a team and works closely with internal and external stakeholders to drive business growth, maintain service excellence and deliver successful client outcomes. The role also contributes to product selection and development, continuous improvement initiatives and organisational change to support the evolving needs of the business.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Oversee operational requirements associated with tour series programs, including inventory management, flight arrangements, tour staffing, guest documentation and tour enhancements, ensuring all elements are delivered accurately
• Monitor tour operations and proactively manage changes, risks and service delivery challenges to minimise disruption and maintain client satisfaction.
• Prepare and manage quotations for new and existing third-party tour series opportunities, ensuring accurate pricing, operational feasibility and effective client outcomes.
• Lead the tour series product selection in consultation with internal and external stakeholders providing operational and commercial input to ensure programs are commercially viable, operationally achievable and aligned with client expectations.
• Ensure accurate preparation and maintenance of tour costings and brochure copy information to support profitable tour operations and client expectations.
• Lead the planning, coordination and successful delivery of tour series programs from inception through to completion.
• Act as a primary point of contact for tour series operational matters, ensuring effective communication and timely issue resolution.
• Manage a team working closely with internal and external stakeholders.
• Act as the primary point of escalation support for emergency phone on Tour Series files.

Other responsibilities:

Participate in the Weekend Duty emergency phone on a rostered basis

The successful applicant will have:

• Minimum 5 years' experience in the travel industry, including experience in a leadership or management capacity.
• Previous experience working for an Inbound Tour Operator in a groups capacity
• Demonstrated success in managing supplier relationships, negotiating and contracting
• Proven experience developing and implementing group tour series programs for both existing and new clients.
• Strong product knowledge of Australia and New Zealand.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and managing group tour costings
• High level attention to detail
• Team player with an enthusiastic approach to the job
• Excellent communications skills – both written & verbal
• Ability to identify challenges and develop effective solutions.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including experience managing or mentoring team members.
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to positively support change and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook)
• Previous GDS (Amadeus preferred) will be highly regarded
• Travel Industry Wholesale Reservations Systems will be highly regarded

Other Information

Up to 2 weeks travel may be required to participate in familiarisation trips.

Some out of hours work will be required (to attend training, product sessions, events, manage emergency phone calls)

Why work for A&K?

Our valued team of travel professionals across Australia and New Zealand each share a passion for making travel dreams a reality. These enthusiastic individuals come from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

What you can expect with A&K

Flexible and inclusive workplace where staff are encouraged to expand their skill set, take on challenges and contribute positively to our collective team.

Supportive environment that will make you proud to work for A&K

Investment in our staff with both in-house and external training opportunities

Opportunity to progress your career, not just in Australia but as part of our global business

Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Work in the enviable CBD office location

Opportunity to work from home as part of our hybrid working from home/office model

Paid Parental leave and extra Wellbeing leave

Monthly birthday celebrations and other team activities

Staff discounts and Travel Benefit program

An organisation that is mindful of the environment, conscious of waste and seeks to minimise our eco-footprint.

We're also a company that makes a difference. Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy (AKP) has proudly supported local communities around the world for the past 40 years.

Your application will include the following questions

• Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
• What's your expected annual base salary?
• How much notice are you required to give your current employer?
• How many years of people management experience do you have?
• How many years of experience do you have in the Travel Industry?
• Do you have Supplier Negotiation experience?