Senior Manager, Trade Marketing & Sales Operations (FTC 12 Months)

Carnival; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cruise company based in Southampton is seeking a Senior Manager to oversee Trade Marketing & Sales Operations. You will lead the strategy, manage a team, and build partnerships to enhance sales performance. The ideal candidate has strong marketing communication skills, commercial acumen, and excellent relationship management abilities. This position offers a flexible hybrid work model and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Employee Discounted Cruising

Annual bonus

Extensive learning and development opportunities

Minimum 25 days leave plus bank holidays

Company paid private medical and dental insurance

Employee Shares Plan

Onsite restaurant

Qualifications

• Strong experience in marketing communications across multiple channels.
• Proven commercial acumen with effective budget management.
• High analytical and numerical literacy for clear messaging.
• Excellent relationship management skills with trade partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and execution of trade marketing and sales operations.
• Manage and develop a team for effective delivery of marketing activities.
• Oversee trade marketing budget ensuring ROI.
• Build relationships with internal teams and external partners.

Skills

Marketing communications

Commercial acumen

Analytical skills

Relationship management

Job description

Carnival UK is in search of a Senior Manager, Trade Marketing & Sales Operations who is crucial in supporting our Cunard brand direction and nurturing a high-performing team.

Role Overview

The Cunard Sales and Marketing team is instrumental in the success of Cunard and our aim to be the benchmark of luxury travel. Our Sales team finds new routes to market for our brand, develops existing partnerships, and works closely with our ship-based Sales Managers. They also manage communications, systems, and events to ensure our travel trade partners are at the centre of all that we do. Our Marketing team — covering advertising, CRM, brand, PR, digital, guest loyalty and our creative studio — maximises opportunities and creates focused, meaningful communications that grow existing audiences and attract new ones. Trade Marketing sits within this team, ensuring that our travel trade communications are aligned with brand strategy and resonate with our target guests.

Sitting at the intersection of Sales and Marketing, our Trade Marketing and Sales Operations team acts as the bridge between these departments. They ensure that Cunard’s brand and commercial activity is translated into effective tools, campaigns and support that empower our travel agent partners to confidently sell Cunard to the right guests.

Key accountabilities

• Lead the strategy and execution of trade marketing and sales operations, including trade communications, training, and events.
• Manage and develop a team, ensuring effective delivery of trade marketing activities and professional growth of direct reports.
• Oversee the budget for trade marketing, ensuring effective investment and return on investment (ROI).
• Build strong relationships with internal teams, travel agents, and external partners to enhance Cunard’s brand and sales performance.

Positioned within our internal structure from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President), this role is classified as a CUK06, offered as a full-time or part-time position, on a fixed term basis for 12-months, we offer hybrid work including up to two days from home.

Requirements: Your Expertise and Leadership

To thrive as a Senior Manager within the Cunard Marketing team, we\'re looking for:

• Strong experience in marketing communications across multiple channels, including web, social, email and print.
• Proven commercial acumen, with the ability to manage budgets effectively and make data-driven decisions.
• High analytical and numerical literacy, with the ability to translate complex business information into clear, compelling messaging for external audiences — particularly within a B2B context.
• Excellent relationship management and influencing skills at all levels, with a strong track record of working with trade partners and stakeholders in a business-to-business environment.

About You: A Catalyst for Change

We believe that diversity enriches our team. We\'re interested in candidates who:

• Speaks up and encourages open communication within the team.
• Builds inclusive relationships and supports the wellbeing of others.
• Drives continuous improvement and promotes collaboration.
• Acts as a role model, communicating values and priorities clearly.

Why Join Us?

Working with us is about more than a job. It\'s about creating unforgettable holiday happiness for our guests and a fulfilling career for you.

Read our employee experience guide to learn more about life as a Carnival UK colleague.

CUK-employee-experience-guide-July-2025.pdf

Benefits

• Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
• Annual bonus
• A friendly welcome with help settling in
• Regular office events including live entertainment, lifestyle events and charity partner fundraisers
• Extensive learning and development opportunities
• Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
• Employee-led networks
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
• Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
• Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
• Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
• In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
• Life Assurance
• Parental and adoption leave
• Employee Shares Plan
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Onsite restaurant offering range of healthy cooked and grab and go meals
• Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal

Ready to Lead?

If guiding a guest experience team to new heights excites you, we\'re eager to hear from you. Apply now to start your journey with us, where your performance-led leadership will make a difference in our shared success.

Recruitment Journey

For more information on your recruitment journey, please visit 2025 pdf: CUKCandidateJourney

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#Job Functions: Management; Marketing; Sales

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