Product & Contracting Manager (Travel Industry)

Product & Contracting Manager (Travel Industry) for Southern and East Africa, targeting confident and experienced professionals with a strong network of supplier relationships and a knack for driving growth. Below is a summary and key insights about the role:
Role Overview
The position requires a strategic individual to serve as the primary liaison between the company and its suppliers. The focus is on curating premium product offerings, negotiating competitive terms, and supporting the sales and marketing teams with insights and training. The successful candidate will be instrumental in optimizing the company’s product portfolio and fostering supplier relationships.
Key Responsibilities
Supplier Negotiations & Contracts:
Secure competitive terms and conditions, ensuring profitability and alignment with standard payment practices.
Negotiate overrides and work to increase gross margins.
Product Curation & Knowledge Sharing:
Identify and communicate attractive offerings, specials, and combination deals.
Lead regular training programs, site inspections, and familiarization trips for staff.
Performance Optimization:
Use data-driven strategies to evaluate and enhance product performance.
Collaborate with internal teams to manage product information across platforms.
Market-Specific Strategy:
Tailor product development for key source markets in collaboration with sales managers.
Ensure brand alignment in all product-related marketing efforts.
Requirements
Experience:
Minimum 5 years in product and contracting management.
Extensive supplier knowledge in Southern and East Africa.
Skills & Traits:
Excellent problem-solving under pressure.
Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
Analytical mindset with a collaborative approach.
Advantages:
Knowledge of source markets such as Germany, North America, Latin America, France, and Asia.
Familiarity with travel systems like Travelyst or TourPlan.
This position is ideal for someone passionate about travel, skilled in product management, and eager to shape the product strategy for a dynamic and growing company.