Head of Product & Purchasing - Touring

Job Introduction

The travel business is at the heart of the Saga brand and it is from these origins that the business evolved. We take guests all over the world on package holidays, escorted tours, river cruises, and ocean cruises with Saga Holidays, Saga Cruises, Titan Travel and Destinology. For our own people, we offer inspirational opportunities and careers that are full of possibilities…

As Head of Product & Purchasing for our Touring products, you will have true ownership and accountability for the touring product lifecycle. With an entrepreneurial spirit, you will strategically drive and transform the department and use your strong commercial acumen to manage supplier relationships to drive best value result for our tour guests.

You’ll lead a great team that is accountable for product development and innovation, contracting, product delivery and operations. You’ll also work closely with peers across the department to champion our brand and to bring the Saga Way to life in everything you do.

Role Responsibility

• Reporting to the Director of Product & Purchasing and working as part of the leadership team for the business, focussing on building and delivering against core business goals and ownership and responsibility for the P&L of Touring
• Contributing to the Saga Holidays strategy and owning the delivery of relevant programmes or work streams involving the Touring product
• Drive & deliver the exciting growth plans for Saga Holidays in line with budget targets by creating an added value proposition for our customers
• Ownership of all third-party supplier relationships, including our DMC relationships in resort from a Touring perspective
• Ensure the delivery of high performing, efficient and compliant operations and driving customer service arrangements that deliver excellence and enhance the Saga brand
• Create a culture within which all fully understand the need for exceptional customer service and inspire full commitment to The Saga Way by making customer experience and operational excellence central to our core DNA
• Promote and deliver excellent performance management practice, ensuring targets are achieved and services are consistently excellent, encouraging all employees to deliver to their best
• Creating a culture and environment of improvement, within the constraints of legislation and meeting customer needs and expectations
• Effective delivery of good risk management, embedding the culture of risk management throughout the Touring team
• Working with all internal and external stakeholders to shape, develop and implement Touring product strategy
• Formulate strategic product buying plans for Touring, to include ground and transport requirements, ensuring that growth targets are achieved, whilst significantly reducing commitment exposure
• Closely monitor pricing & yield management of Touring, ensuring passenger sales, profit and growth are achieved in line with business targets
• Use customer insight and trends, historical learning’s and market information to ensure product is in line with demands/trends and positioned well against competitors
• Provide commentary and analysis on reporting to the business on the performance of the product area and to provide key management information that will highlight potential issues allowing corrective action to be taken
• Ensure unrivalled levels of customer service and quality are delivered to our customers and to internal customer, achieving agreed quality scores as defined by the business

The Ideal Candidate

Capability, Knowledge and Experience:

• An excellent understanding of the Tour Operating industry from product innovation through to service delivery
• A proven P&L Owner who drives results and has strong strategic planning skills
• Able to think strategically and support prioritisation of multiple projects to ensure the right plan is put in place to deliver required business results
• A talented senior employee with relevant operations experience, who can lead a diverse team of professionals
• Creative flair, with an ability to think outside the box and reach appropriate solutions to challenging problems
• Ability to set and follow clear targets and objectives
• Stakeholder management experience, with the ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple and effective manner
• Experience of managing risk across a multi-faceted team
• Willingness to Travel to our resort destinations as required by the needs of the business

Education & Qualifications:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Proficiency – both written and verbal – in at least one relevant language would be an advantage (e.g. Spanish / Italian)

Personal Characteristics:

• Innovative and solutions orientated, very ‘can do’
• Strength of conviction and ability to influence and negotiate
• Courage to challenge and do things differently
• Customer focussed and passionate about building an exceptional customer service ethos
• A natural leader with a desire to have a broad impact across the brand
• Able to rally and inspire a remote workforce
• Exceptional planning and organisational skills

Download the full job description below.

Package Description

The standard benefits when you join Saga include:

• Option to purchase a further 5 days annual leave per year
• Free private medical insurance after 1 years service
• Pension
• AXA Be Supported
• Apples Nursery (Folkestone only and on a waiting list basis)
• Free fruit 
• Give as you earn
• Free eye tests
• Honeymoon benefit
• Sharebuy
• Salary finance
• Discounts on Saga holidays and insurance products
• A range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
• Long service awards

About the Company

When you join Saga you will see that we are committed to treating all employees fairly and to offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement. 

We value diversity not just because it is the right thing to do, but because diverse teams perform better. Creating a culture in which everyone feels welcome and offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement is incredibly important to us. Fair consideration is given to applications from all applicants, including those with disabilities. If you need support at any point with your application please let us know as we will be happy to help.

Learn more about the Saga business by watching our Saga plc 2019 AGM film below:

To all recruitment agencies: Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the HR Recruitment Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.

Saga Group