Contracting Manager (Travel)

AES Global; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

AES Global in Cape Town is seeking a Contracting Manager to shape its luxury travel offering through strategic supplier partnerships and commercial negotiations. You’ll build partnerships with hotels, lodges, transport providers and activity operators, and negotiate agreements that protect the business and create value for guests.

Based in Cape Town, you’ll drive commercial performance through overrides, bednight commitments, and value-added opportunities while collaborating with internal teams

Qualifications

• 3–5 years’ minimum experience in procurement, contracting or supplier management within a DMC environment.
• Specialised experience with a travel booking system, and a strong analytical understanding of systems and data.
• An innovative mindset for using AI and automation to improve process efficiency.
• Exceptional negotiation, interpersonal and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain partnerships with hotels, lodges, transport providers and activity operators to secure rates and opportunities.
• Negotiate agreements that protect the business and create value for guests.
• Drive commercial performance through override agreements and value-added opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align agreements with business goals.
• Track supplier performance and contract profitability with data-driven recommendations.

Skills

Procurement experience

Travel booking system

Data analytics

AI/automation mindset

Negotiation

Interpersonal skills

Influencing skills

Education

Degree/Diploma in Tourism/Commerce/Contracting

Job description

We’re working with an established luxury travel company, and they’re looking for a Contracting Manager to help shape its travel offering through strategic supplier partnerships and commercial negotiations.

You won’t just negotiate agreements — you’ll secure the experiences, relationships and commercial opportunities that make exceptional trips across the continent possible.

What you’ll do

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with hotels, lodges, transport providers and activity operators to secure industry-leading rates, added benefits and commercial opportunities
• Negotiate agreements that protect the business and create value for guests, ensuring a seamless handover to the rates team
• Drive commercial performance through override agreements, bednight commitments and value-added opportunities
• Work closely with internal teams and supplier partners to align agreements with business goals and demand
• Track and analyse supplier performance, contract profitability and commercial outcomes, providing data-driven recommendations

What you’ll bring

• A degree or diploma in Tourism, Commerce or Contracting
• 3–5 years’ minimum experience in procurement, contracting or supplier management within a DMC (destination management company) environment
• Specialised experience with a travel booking system, and a strong analytical understanding of systems and data
• An innovative mindset for using AI and automation to improve process efficiency
• Exceptional negotiation, interpersonal and influencing skills
• Already based in Cape Town

Working model

Based in Cape Town — in office to start, moving to a hybrid model (three days in office, two from home).