Product Manager, Africa

The Travel Corporation; Glendale (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Travel Corporation in Glendale, CA seeks a Product Manager to design, develop, and optimize a portfolio of African travel products, including luxury safaris and custom itineraries. You will source experiences, build supplier relationships, and influence commercial strategy to drive growth.

Responsibilities cover product design, supplier negotiation, pricing strategy, and cross-functional collaboration with sales, marketing, and operations to ensure high-quality, memorable journeys for

Qualifications

• 3-6+ years in African travel product development, contracting, or tour operations.
• Experience working with African DMCs and safari suppliers.
• Strong negotiation and contracting skills.
• Commercial and analytical mindset (pricing, margins, forecasting).

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a portfolio of African itineraries (luxury, premium, and experiential).
• Create packages across destinations such as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
• Design specialized experiences (Big Five safaris, honeymoons, family travel, rail journeys, cultural tours).
• Monitor pricing, partnerships, and product performance.
• Coordinate with sales, marketing, and operations to ensure seamless delivery.

Skills

Negotiation

Contracting

Pricing

Multi-country itineraries

Communication

Influence

Customer focus

Adaptability

Attention to detail

Decision making

Education

Degree in Tourism

Degree in Hospitality

Degree in Business

Job description

Description

ABOUT US

At TTC, we are Enriching lives by connecting people and places. For over 100 years, we've been bringing the world closer together by crafting journeys that create lasting memories, lifelong friendships and meaningful cultural connections. Across more than 70 countries and our award-winning brands, we design and deliver travel experiences that go beyond sightseeing - they change perspectives. Behind every unforgettable journey is a passionate team making it happen. That's where you come in.

OUR VALUES

Everything we do is guided by our five shared commitments:

• Value Every Voice - We put people first.
• Act With Integrity - We do what's right.
• Explore Beyond Boundaries - We're driven by curiosity.
• Own the Outcome - We take responsibility for our decisions.
• Succeed Together - We've got each other's backs.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Are you passionate about creating unforgettable travel experiences and bringing destinations to life? We're seeking a Product Manager to design, develop, and optimize a portfolio of African travel products, including luxury safaris, custom FIT itineraries, and small group journeys. This role combines destination expertise, supplier partnerships, commercial strategy, and product innovation to deliver high-quality experiences that inspire travelers and drive business growth.

What makes this role unique? You'll have the opportunity to turn your passion for Africa into exceptional travel experiences. From sourcing new experiences and building supplier relationships to influencing commercial strategy and launching innovative itineraries, you'll play a direct role in shaping memorable journeys for travelers.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Product Design and Innovation

• Develop and maintain a portfolio of African itineraries (luxury, premium, and experiential)
• Create packages across destinations such as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe
• Design specialized experiences (Big Five safaris, honeymoons, family travel, rail journeys, cultural tours)
• Continuously refresh products based on trends and customer demand

Supplier and Partnership Management

• Contract and negotiate with lodges, camps, airlines, and local DMCs
• Maintain strong relationships with key African partners and tourism boards
• Conduct FAM trips to inspect properties and experiences
• Ensure product quality aligns with brand standards (luxury, service, sustainability)

Pricing and Commercial Strategy

• Build and manage pricing structures (net rates, commissions, markups)
• Account for seasonality, park fees, and currency fluctuations
• Ensure profitability targets while maintaining competitive positioning in the North American market

Product Performance and Optimization

• Monitor booking trends, conversion rates, and customer feedback
• Analyze product performance and identify gaps or underperforming itineraries
• Optimize offerings to improve margins and customersatisfaction

Sales and Marketing Collaboration

• Partner with marketing teams to develop brochures, digital content, and campaigns
• Support sales teams with training on destinations and itineraries
• Ensure product content is accurate, compelling, and aligned with brand storytelling

Operational Coordination

• Work closely with operations teams to ensureseamless delivery of trips
• Manage updates, cancellations, and supplier changes
• Ensure compliance with travel regulations, insurance requirements, and safety standards

Requirements

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• 3-6+ years in African travel product development, contracting, or tour operations
• Experience working with African DMCs and safari suppliers
• Deep knowledge of African destinations and safarilogisticsStrong negotiation and contracting skills
• Commercial and analytical mindset (pricing, margins, forecasting)
• Ability to manage complex, multi-country itineraries
• Communication & Influence - Clearly communicates ideas, builds rapport, and influences others to achieve effective outcomes.
• Customer Focus - Understands customer needs and delivers solutions that create a high-quality, consistent experience.
• Adaptability - Responds effectively to change, adjusting priorities and approach to meet evolving needs.
• Quality & Attention to Detail - Ensures accuracy, consistency, and high standards in all work, minimising risk and rework
• Courage & Decision Making - Makes confident, timely decisions and challenges the status quo to improve outcomes.

NICE TO HAVE

• First-hand travel experience in Africa (highly preferred)
• Degree in Tourism, Hospitality, Business, or related field (highly preferred)

TRAVEL & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Travel: Up to 4 international trips and 4 domestic trips per year
• Location: Hybrid, Glendale, CA (Preferred) | Remote U.S. Considered

The Travel Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against race, color, creed, sex, gender, religion, marital status, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws or ordinances. The Travel Corporation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We not only encourage and support diversity in the workplace, we celebrate it! If you feel you have the skills and experience to thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment, we want to hear from you!