China Programme Manager

Inside Travel Group | B Corp™; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

25 days leave

Birthday off

Parental leave

Pension plan

EAP

Volunteer leave

Learning time

Flexible working

Staff travel discount

Staff socials

Job summary

Inside Travel Group is seeking a dynamic leader to own and grow the InsideAsia Tours China programme from concept through to sustained commercial success. You will shape the product range, build supplier networks and align teams across the business around a successful launch.

You will drive bookings, revenue and profitability post-launch, using customer insight and market performance to optimise the programme. Mandarin skills and China travel experience are beneficial to this leadership role.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of China travel market and product development.
• Strong ability to turn knowledge into practical, profitable travel offerings.
• Experience building or significantly developing a destination programme or product portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead the China programme from concept to launch, ensuring product, supplier terms, rates, documents and operations are ready.
• Set the China product strategy and phased roadmap aligned with InsideAsia Tours’ positioning.
• Source and manage ground handlers, hotels, guides, transport and partners with strong commercial terms.
• Own the programme budget, booking targets and P&L, monitor revenue, margin and profitability.

Skills

China knowledge

Commercial mindset

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Job description

The role: This is an opportunity to build and lead the InsideAsia Tours China programme from development and launch through to long-term commercial growth. Become the owner of an incredible destination that will become a key part of the ITG portfolio.

The role: This is an opportunity to build and lead the InsideAsia Tours China programme from development and launch through to long-term commercial growth. Become the owner of an incredible destination that will become a key part of the ITG portfolio. As our China destination and business lead, you will shape a distinctive Cultural Adventure product range, create a reliable supplier network and bring teams across the business together around a successful launch. After launch, you will own the programme’s booking targets and P&L, using customer insight and commercial performance to improve revenue, margin, profitability and customer satisfaction. If you combine deep China knowledge with commercial drive and enjoy building something from the ground up, we would love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the China programme from concept to launch, ensuring product, systems, supplier agreements, rates, customer documents and operational processes are ready.
• Set the China product strategy, customer proposition and phased roadmap, aligned with InsideAsia Tours’ Cultural Adventure positioning.
• Source, contract and manage ground handlers, hotels, guides, transport and experience partners, negotiating strong commercial terms.
• Own the China programme budget, booking targets and P&L, monitoring bookings, revenue, margin and profitability and acting where performance falls short.
• Coordinate Product, Sales, Marketing, Customer Experience, Impact, Systems and suppliers around one delivery plan and shared outcomes.
• Equip Travel Consultants with training, tools and up-to-date product knowledge so they can confidently quote and sell China.
• Work with Marketing on go-to-market plans, campaigns, PR and accurate destination content that grows awareness, enquiries and bookings.
• Build customer support, Health & Safety and responsible travel standards into the programme, resolving issues and improving the product as it grows.
• Travel to China as required to research product, strengthen partner relationships and review quality.

What we are looking for from you:

• You will be a commercially minded and enthusiastic destination leader, able to combine China expertise and creative product thinking with the discipline needed to build a safe, reliable and profitable programme. You will be comfortable shaping strategy, influencing senior stakeholders and driving the detail yourself.
• Deep knowledge of China and the ability to turn that knowledge into inspiring, practical and profitable travel product.
• Experience building or significantly developing a destination programme or product portfolio.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to coordinate complex work across teams and locations.
• Commercial confidence, including an understanding of bookings, revenue, margin, profit and business cases.
• Effective supplier management and negotiation skills.
• Clear cross-cultural communication, stakeholder management and sales enablement skills.
• A self-directed, resilient approach and the ability to prioritise in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment.
• Willingness to travel internationally as the role requires.

It would be beneficial if you also have:

• experience developing China travel programmes
• Mandarin language ability
• extensive experience living, working or travelling in China
• an established supplier network
• destination-launch experience
• knowledge of China travel demand in the UK, US or Australian markets

You don’t need to meet every requirement. If you’re motivated, passionate, and think you’d be a great fit, we would love to hear from you. As an equal opportunities employer, we're committed to making our recruitment process inclusive, accessible, and welcoming for everyone. If you require any adjustments or accommodations to support you during the recruitment process, please let us know.

What you get in return:

• Annual discretionary bonus linked to individual and company performance.
• 25 days annual leave, rising by one day each year to a maximum of 28 days.
• Day off on your birthday
• Enhanced parental leave
• Employer pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Program
• Volunteering leave
• Designated learning and development time
• Flexible working in line with company policy and the needs of the role
• Discounted travel for staff, family and friends
• Regular staff socials

Why work with us:

At Inside Travel Group, we value Knowledge, Friendliness, Passion, Determination, Quality, and Integrity. We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome, supported, and inspired to do their best work. We celebrate the different cultures, perspectives, lifestyles, and experiences that shape our team, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities.

Closing Date: Tuesday 1 December