Product Executive - Brighton, East Sussex

Experience Education; Lewes; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist travel firm in the UK is seeking a Product Executive to manage accommodation and supplier relations. The role involves working closely with the sales team and requires strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills. Benefits include hybrid working, an annual bonus, and opportunities for overseas travel. Ideal candidates are adaptable and possess a methodical approach to tasks.

Benefits

Hybrid working pattern

Annual bonus scheme

Opportunities for overseas travel

25 days of annual leave plus public holidays

Access to online learning resources

In-house training opportunities

Regular social events

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Strong commercial acumen and flexibility under pressure.
• Knowledge of UK and worldwide sports participation.
• Ability to work under own initiative and prioritize workload.

Responsibilities

• Secure accommodation and manage bed stock.
• Maintain the Accommodation Tracker and manage options.
• Build relationships with overseas suppliers and negotiate rates.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Negotiation skills

Excellent communication

Organizational skills

Job description

Product Executive - Brighton, East Sussex

Edwin Doran Sports Tours are part of the Experience Education group who have a collection of the world’s most exciting specialist travel brands.

Edwin Doran are the market leader in sports travel and have taken more teams on tour than any other sports tour operator.

Our staff have the know‑how gained over years in the business to set up fixtures between equally matched teams.

>We use our extensive contacts to arrange billeting in host countries, so players on our school sports tours can really engage with the local people and culture.

The Role

Reporting to the Product Manager in the UK as part of the Edwin Doran Sports Tours team. The main role will be securing accommodation and managing the bed stock.

What you’ll be doing

• Accommodation requests for the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Caribbean, North America, Australia & New Zealand - the role involves working closely with the sales team sourcing and securing accommodation for provisional bookings.
• Maintain the Accommodation Tracker and manage the Option bookings for the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Caribbean, North America, Australia & New Zealand. Maintain the Netherlands Bed Stock excel document.
• Booking Confirmation – Monitoring accommodation bookings, confirming reservations and managing deposits and payments as appropriate.
• Responsible for checking invoices from suppliers to the ops team for payment.
• Working within the tour budget and making savings where possible.
• Working with the Commercial department to ensure all units and prices are loaded on the Reservation System.
• Ensuring this system is updated on an annual and ad hoc basis.
• Supplier Relations – Maintain good relations with our overseas suppliers and establish new contacts and new contracts.
• Monitor Product Inbox – sales and commercial requests. Assisting with researching and building the portfolio of excursions and rates for each destination.
• Continually develop tour portfolio with new hosts, excursions, charity links, pro clubs.
• Negotiating rates with Suppliers and ensuring Health and Safety Regulations are met at the discretion of the line Manager. It may be necessary to work additional hours as and when required.
• Perform other duties as required according to the needs of the business; a flexible approach is required to work duties.

What we are looking for

• The applicant needs to have strong commercial acumen, be adaptable, reliable and flexible, with a Responsible attitude and possess the ability to cope under pressure and respond to tight deadlines.
• Have a good understanding of UK and worldwide sports participation and the various needs of each sport, across a broad range of sports including one or more of; Rugby, Netball, Cricket, Hockey and Football.
• A “can do attitude” able to work independently and as part of a team. Knowledge or experience of Group Travel is advantageous.
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to build effective relationships.
• Ability to quickly learn systems, processes, and procedures.
• Excellent communicator coupled with the ability to deal directly with our suppliers by email & phone in a professional manner.
• Ability to work under own initiative and to prioritise workload.
• Excellent organisation and administration skills.
• High level of numeracy and accuracy ensuring attention to detail.
• A methodical & analytical approach to work.
• An understanding of Wordpress ideal but not required.
• Enjoys working with technology and problem solving.
• Ability to work well under pressure with a flexible approach to working hours – there will be a requirement to work some weekends and evenings.
• Desire to meet and exceed deadlines.
• Managing several tasks on the go.

Some of the benefits

• Hybrid working pattern between our office and homeworking.
• Annual Bonus scheme.
• Opportunities to travel overseas on familiarisation trips.
• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays and a bonus day off for your birthday; we also have a tenure based annual leave benefit, up to a maximum of an additional 5 days depending on length of service.
• Global recognition and reward programme.
• Access to extensive online learning resources.
• In‑house training opportunities.
• Regular social events.
• Various employee discounts and offers, including discounted trips with our brands.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We believe that people are happier and perform best when they are able to be their true selves and that diverse teams deliver better results.
We are committed to building an inclusive culture and embracing diversity in all its dimensions.
This includes inspiring change through increasing awareness of unconscious bias.
Together we will cultivate a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment, where everyone can flourish.