Sales Manager

dnata Travel; Knutsford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel discounts

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Healthcare options

Job summary

Travelbag, part of the dnata Travel family, invites applications for a Branch Manager in Knutsford. You will lead a high-performing sales team, deliver strong customer service, and manage local operations and budgets. The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, KPI delivery, and brand-aligned excellence across retail and service channels.

The position offers full-time hours (37.5h/week), a competitive salary with performance-based incentives, and career development within a growing travel group.

Qualifications

• Experience at a strategic level in inbound sales, including retail or call centre environments.
• Strong operational management background with cost control and budget awareness.
• Industry familiarity with travel and holidays products.
• Solid commercial mindset with ability to manage revenue and costs.
• Proven people leadership and development capabilities.
• Ability to set and monitor KPIs and performance metrics.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead sales performance to maximise revenue while upholding brand standards.
• Manage day-to-day operations, budgeting and local supplier relationships.
• Drive local marketing and customer experience initiatives.
• Coach and develop team members to deliver high service levels.
• Collaborate with departments to implement new working methods and tech.
• Monitor reports and act on insights to improve performance.

Skills

Inbound sales leadership

Operational management

Travel industry experience

Commercial awareness

Resource optimization

People management

KPI setting

Communication skills

Team coaching

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Title: Branch Manager - Knutsford

Location: Knutsford Travelbag Shop

Salary: Up to £33k DOE + £3k retail allowance +uncapped commission. OTE in year 1 £55k - £60k

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Travelbag began back in 1979 and we wanted to offer more than just package holidays. That’s why over 40 years later we’re still tailor‑making long‑haul holidays and putting our customers at the heart of everything we do - we aim to make out there, easy. We are part of the dnata family one of the world’s largest air and travel services providers

We are now recruiting for a Branch Manager to deliver sales results whilst championing the Travelbag brand. Taking the brand guidelines and delivering on them both externally and internally. Holding overall responsibility for financial performance of location through sales achievement as well as localised marketing spend and cost control, contributing to the management of the profit and loss account. This role requires a hands‑on approach and a “lead from the front” attitude

Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week

Job Accountabilities

Sales:

• Maximise revenue from a strong sales and customer service focus in line with brand guidelines
• Consistently manage, deliver, monitor and improve sales team KPI’s
• Manage enquiries from an all sources in accordance with company policy including timely responses and follow up
• Drive sales performance through the management and review of the Sales Incentive Plans within the team and adapt and implement training plans to take corrective action where necessary
• Ensure that all department progress reports and MI reports are delivered timely, highlighting successes and areas of concern with a proposed course of action
• Ensure sales teams are adhering to company policy in terms of data recording, along with product and marketing strategies

Service:

• Always deliver the agreed levels of service and quality ensuring company targets and goals are achieved
• Work in partnership with the post -sales teams - e.g. ticketing - ensuring a high-quality end-to-end service to the customers at all times

Operations:

• Direct and manage area of control and responsibility within agreed operational and financial budgets. Actively reduce cost base to a minimum operational level to maximise revenue opportunities
• Review the existing internal and external business processes offering innovative solutions for improvements where necessary
• Assume overall responsibility for day to day running of location including but not limited to, health and safety, banking, local relationship with suppliers allowing for delegation to team members
• Pre-empt any caveats and barriers to success by on-going analysis of operations, taking appropriate action to resolve Team Development Marketing

Team:

• Lead the Team in a dynamic and inspirational manner
• Engage with other departments to develop and introduce new methods of working and technology to deliver a high level of customer experience
• Co-ordinate with management team to manage and plan available resource for the provision of call flow with a one brand approach
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with senior staff

Development:

• Lead, develop and motivate direct reports and staff by proactively identifying and delegating development opportunities to encourage succession planning
• Lead, develop, train, assess, and manage all direct reports to meet operational requirements

Marketing:

• Engage with marketing and other sales departments to drive enquiries to the team through increased footfall, local events, improved end to end customer experience and championing of individual staff knowledge and experience
• Propose plans for localised revenue generation, including targets, costs and resource management and ongoing performance analysis
• Contribute to and attend brand events

To be considered for this role, we need you to have the following skills, experience and qualifications:

• Extensive experience of working at a strategic level in an inbound Sales environment whether call centre or retail
• Sound operational management experience with a proven track record of adherence to schedules and achievement of SLAs
• Travel industry experience
• Strong commercial awareness and financial management
• Thorough understanding of resource optimization and delivery
• Excellent team player, with the ability to contribute and challenge, providing leadership and coaching opportunities within the scope of the performance management process
• Resilient with the ability to overcome challenges to consistently meet and exceed targets Inspirational leader who engages employees to achieve results
• Self‑motivated and approaches work with a mature and positive attitude
• Ability to introduce meaningful and stretching KPIs and maintain focus on achievement thereof
• Excellent people management skills
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office – Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to create dynamic and high‑performing teams through selection, motivation and development
• Excellent communication skills - both written and verbal
• Excellent influencing skills at a senior management level
• Excellent understanding of relevant internal systems, software and departmental procedures
• Results-focused and committed to high personal standards and a desire to achieve
• Behaves responsibly and efficiently in use of resources and services, ensuring compliance with Health and Safety and expenditure within budgetary controls

Critical Competencies:

• Collaboration
• Engaging others
• Providing direction
• Team Coach
• Developing talent
• Judgment and analysis
• Business thinking

Travelbag operates 8 retail stores and a virtual call centre in the UK and is owned by dnata Travel, part of the Emirates Group. In the UK, our brands also include Gold Medal Travel.

We have some fantastic benefits, making usa great placeto work:

• Travel discounts – we have a dedicated Staff Travel Team to help you plan your next adventure
• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 28 days after 5 full years of service (+ bank holidays)
• Additionalannual leave purchase scheme – so you can pursue your love of travel
• Company pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Low-cost health care for you and your family
• Employee Assistance programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Ongoing development – we have an in‑house People Development Team
• Industry/social events – including supplier events, office socials &partiesand pop-up shops
• Cycle to work scheme
• Reward & recognition programme
• Belong programme - Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that play a crucial role in implementing our DEI strategy
• Volunteer days – one day’s paid leave each year to volunteer with a registered charity
• dnata4good – supporting the local communities we work,liveand thrive in
• Refer a friend scheme
• Free eye care tests
• Free Taste Card membership– offering discounts on dining out, movies, attractions,takeawaysand online shopping
• Free tea and coffee, break out area with free Wi‑Fi