Strategic Buyer Tourism & MICE

SR Travel GmbH; Gießen; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

JobRad

Professional development

Employee discounts

Retirement plan

Job summary

SR Travel GmbH in Giessen, a B2B tour operator, seeks a strategic buyer to lead international supplier negotiations for group and MICE travel. You will select, negotiate with, and develop service partners to ensure cost-effective and marketable travel products.

The role requires a senior-level procurement mindset, cross-functional collaboration, and a proactive approach to growing our partner network. Occasional travel may be necessary.

Qualifications

• College degree or comparable qualification in business or tourism.
• Several years of strategic procurement experience, preferably in tourism/MICE.
• Experience negotiating prices, capacities and contract terms.
• Strong business acumen with focus on costs, margins and bid comparisons.
• Excellent English; knowledge of other languages a plus.

Responsibilities

• Strategic sourcing for mass-market and MICE sectors, negotiating terms.
• Contracting and framework agreements for group tours and events.
• Partner acquisition and expanding the international network.
• Supplier management and development of long-term partnerships.
• Market screening, price comparison and sourcing opportunities.
• Economic assessment of proposals for cost-effectiveness and feasibility.
• Cross-functional collaboration with Sales, Product, Operations, and MICE.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Negotiation skills

Financial acumen

Strategic thinking

Hands-on approach

Cross-functional collab

English skills

Travel willingness

Independent decisions

Communication skills

Education

Degree in business administration

Degree in tourism

Job description

• A college degree, for example in business administration or tourism, vocational training in business or tourism, or a comparable qualification
• Several years of experience in strategic procurement, ideally in the tourism, MICE, or events industry, or with a tour operator
• Experience in negotiating prices, capacities, and contract terms
• A strong business acumen and a solid grasp of costs, margins, and bid comparisons
• Negotiation skills and a keen sense for sustainable win-win solutions
• Strategic thinking and a structured, committed, and solution-oriented approach to work
• A strong hands-on approach and a passion for taking the initiative to drive projects forward
• Ability to coordinate the various requirements of purchasing, sales, and operational implementation
• Excellent written and spoken English skills; knowledge of other foreign languages is a plus
• Willingness to take occasional business trips both domestically and abroad
• A confident and professional demeanor when dealing with international business partners
• A senior position as a Strategic Buyer at an international B2B travel agency
• A great deal of flexibility in selecting and developing our service partners
• Negotiations conducted independently within clearly defined business objectives
• Streamlined decision-making processes and an international work environment
• Attractive benefits, such as remote work, JobRad, professional development, employee discounts, or a company retirement plan

Remote work options depend on the nature of the role and operational requirements. There is no entitlement.

SR Travel is an internationally active B2B tour operator based in Giessen. We design and organize large- and small-scale tours, MICE projects, and customized group trips. To this end, we collaborate with an international network of hotels, DMCs, venues, and other tourism service providers.

To strengthen our team, we are looking for a strategically minded and skilled negotiator in the role of buyer who will further develop our partner network and create attractive terms for our travel products.

Ihre Rolle

As a Strategic Buyer, you will play a key role in selecting, negotiating with, and developing our international service partners. Her focus is on the strategic procurement of group and MICE travel.

They negotiate market-competitive terms, build reliable relationships with suppliers, and work with our internal teams to ensure that our travel products are cost-effective, marketable, and operationally feasible.

Your Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing for the Mass-Market and MICE Sectors:
  They identify suitable hotels, hotel chains, DMCs, venues, and other tourism service providers. You negotiate prices, capacities, option periods, and payment and cancellation terms with these partners.
• Contracting and Framework Agreements:
  They manage recurring agreements for group tours as well as individual purchasing projects for group travel, conferences, events, and incentives.
• Partner Acquisition:
  They identify and recruit new hotels, venues, and other tourism service partners. In doing so, you will strategically expand our international network in line with our product and procurement strategy.
• Supplier Management:
  They expand our international partner network, maintain existing business relationships, and further develop them with a view to long‑term, collaborative partnerships.
• Market Screening and Price Comparison:
  They monitor price trends, capacity, and market trends; compare offers; and identify new partners and sourcing opportunities.
• Economic Assessment:
  They evaluate proposals and contract terms in terms of cost-effectiveness, quality, and operational feasibility. In doing so, you always keep an eye on a balanced price-performance ratio.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  They work closely with Sales, Product Management, Operations, and MICE. Together, you ensure that the services we purchase are a good fit for our products and meet the requirements of our B2B partners.