Holiday Product & Contracting Manager

Inntravel Limited; Whitwell-on-the-Hill; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday discount at Inntravel holidays

Extra annual leave when swapping plane

Career pathing and development

Workation up to 6 weeks per year

Volunteer days

Well-being resource hub and health/dex

Hybrid working

Enhanced family leave

Job summary

Inntravel is seeking a Senior Product Leader to shape our future growth by managing a portfolio of European destinations, negotiating supplier contracts and driving innovative product development.

You will lead a Product Executive, collaborate with Marketing, Commercial, Sales and Operations, and ensure holidays are presented compellingly with strong supplier partnerships.

Qualifications

• Experience at manager level in a product, contracting or commercial role, ideally with a tour operator.
• Good knowledge of the travel industry and how customers buy holidays, with the ability to turn market and consumer insight into new and improved product.
• A passion for designing commercially viable product that also delivers an excellent customer experience, with plenty of ideas on how to improve our portfolio and make the most of market trends.

Responsibilities

• Line manage a Product Executive, set clear objectives, hold regular 1:1s and support their development.
• Manage a portfolio of destinations, owning their product, performance and supplier relationships.
• Negotiate and manage supplier contracts, rates, availability and service levels, including hotels, transfers and local partners.
• Review product performance regularly, deciding what to grow, improve or retire.
• Develop new holidays and improve existing ones, using market, customer and competitor insight.
• Visit destinations to inspect accommodation, check routes and build strong supplier partnerships, working with Marketing on content, pricing and descriptions.

Skills

Product management

Contracting

Commercial awareness

Line management

Supplier negotiations

Travel industry knowledge

Sustainability

Job description

Inntravel is leading the way in walking holidays - that’s because we’ve walked every step, eaten at every restaurant, and slept in every hotel. For 40 years we have been uncovering and curating the most remarkable locations around Europe. Whether it’s a gentle walk along the South Devon coast, or a hike through the hill-top towns of Tuscany, Inntravel will guide you on a walk that’s worth it. Sustainability and responsible tourism is at the core of everything we do and should be a passion for all of our people.

We recognise and celebrate that every employee is an individual. Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace is reflected in the range of benefits we offer, with some of the key highlights being:

• Enjoy 50% discount off of Inntravel holidays and across our sister brands

• Additional annual leave when you choose to swap a plane for a train

• Career pathing and continuous development opportunities

• Opportunity to take a workation for up to 6 weeks per year and work from anywhere in the world

• 2 volunteer days each year to give back to what is important to you

• A well-being resource hub, online lunchtime yoga classes, annual Steps challenge, employee assistance programmes, cash back health and dental plan

• Hybrid working

• Enhanced family leave allowances

This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 2 days per week in our Whitwell-on-the-Hill office. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are mandatory office days. Due to the beautiful remote location, access to your own transport is essential. This is a full-time position, however work life balance is important to us and so we are open to discussion on flexible working patterns (minimum 4 days per week).

Salary: £45,000 - £50,000p.a.

About the role:

This role sits at the heart of our customer proposition and plays a key role in shaping our future growth and success. It ensures we deliver our strategic goals as a business and is instrumental in creating the experiential holidays that Inntravel is famous for, and which our customers adore. No two weeks are the same. You’ll scan the market for travel, consumer and competitor trends, visit destinations, secure the best rates and availability for our customers, and make sure our holidays are presented at their best.

You will review existing products and develop new ideas, using your industry contacts, insight and commercial awareness. You’ll be part of a team that leads the business on future strategy, working closely with Marketing, Commercial, Sales and Operations through regular planning meetings.

• Line manage a Product Executive, set clear objectives, hold regular 1:1s and support their development.

• Manage a portfolio of destinations, owning their product, performance and supplier relationships.

• Negotiate and manage supplier contracts, rates, availability and service levels, including hotels, transfers and local partners.

• Review product performance regularly, deciding what to grow, improve or retire.

• Develop new holidays and improve existing ones, using market, customer and competitor insight.

• Visit destinations to inspect accommodation, check routes and build strong supplier partnerships. Work with Marketing to make sure holiday content, pricing and descriptions are accurate and inspiring.

• Work with Operations and Sales to resolve supplier issues and make sure holidays run smoothly for customers.

• Make sure products meet our sustainability standards and support our commitment to responsible travel.

Am I the right person? We are looking for your application to demonstrate:

• Experience at manager level in a product, contracting or commercial role, ideally with a tour operator.

• Good knowledge of the travel industry and how customers buy holidays, with the ability to turn market and consumer insight into new and improved product.

• A passion for designing commercially viable product that also delivers an excellent customer experience, with plenty of ideas on how to improve our portfolio and make the most of market trends.

• Experience of line managing and developing others.

• Experience and confidence in negotiating contracts and managing service levels with suppliers.

• Strong communication skills, so that conversations with colleagues and suppliers are clear, concise and effective.

• The ability to manage several tasks at once and hit deadlines.

• A genuine commitment to sustainability, with the ability to balance people, planet and profit.

• A collaborative approach, working well with Commercial, Sales, Operations and Marketing.

• Positive, creative and self-motivated, with a flexible ‘can do’ attitude and the ability to shift priorities as the business needs.

• A clear passion for travel, especially in Europe: the outdoors, culture, traditions and heritage.

• The ability to travel regularly to overseas destinations is essential.

• Fluency in at least one European language (in addition to English) is desirable.

We aim to inspire individual discovery and our values will be close to your heart.

Diversity is to be celebrated. Life would be dreary, and change would be slow, if we all thought the same way. We challenge our ideas, each other, and our business partners - always with respect and kindness.