Product & Purchasing Manager - Touring

Job Introduction

At Saga, our people are our business. Within our travel and cruise businesses we believe that if you are going to do it, do it properly. That is why we offer opportunities that match our vision, to inspire and enable possibilities.

This role is an important part of the Product & Purchasing team who strive to facilitate, to help and support the travel function of the business.

The ideal candidate will be capable of taking full commercial and operational ownership of their product portfolio. Responsibility for the product will extend through its entire life cycle, from development and rate negotiation, ensuring its ongoing operational effectiveness and commercial strength to optimising its presentation and promotion to the market.

Experience with contracting and negotiation, extensive product knowledge and an ability to work well with multiple parts of a business are necessary. Touring experience, and some destination expertise is important to carrying out this role effectively.  

Role Responsibility

• Develop new, innovative and commercially successful product aligned with Saga’s segmentation strategy that appeals to both our existing market and first-time-buyers.
• Refine and reengineer existing product to optimise performance.
• “Champion” your areas across the business, establishing yourself as the primary point of contact for anything related to your destinations.
• Be fully aware of the UK travel marketplace, competitor activity and customer insights and accordingly identify and implement commercial opportunities.
• Ensure that supplier contracts are negotiated at rates that position Saga product as highly competitive in the UK market.
• Negotiate special offers, overrides, marketing funds and other commercial advantages.
• Negotiate tourist board funding for destinations included in your remit.
• Work closely with the Commercial teams to ensure that tour capacity levels are maximised and the financial impact of understrength tours is minimised.
• Ensure all product is operationally efficient, correctly contracted/loaded and customer service issues are dealt with effectively.
• Prevent and resolve operational issues
• Manage holiday component changes to minimise disruption to the customer
• Achieve all production deadlines to ensure optimised speed to market.
• Collaborate with the wider team and colleagues at Titan to negotiate strategically aligned DMC partnerships with superior commercial terms and service delivery.
• Be constantly aware of the commercial performance of your product portfolio and take action to address any concerns or negative trends.
• Ensure that all relevant areas of the business are fully briefed and trained on your product, and regular training takes place to update on new products.
• Work closely with Marketing and Studio to ensure all promotional literature does full justice to the contracted product.
• Ensure that all product meets Quality Guidelines and customer service delivery is monitored and maintained.
• Represent Saga at the highest levels with supplier organisations, political bodies and trade contacts.
• Ensure the timely and full completion of all relevant briefing forms, paperwork and contractual documentation.
• Work closely with the Aviation team to ensure Saga’s products have the best flight options at the most competitive rates.
• Optimise opportunities within SPINS and solos to drive and enable further growth in line with Company objectives
• Be proactive in mentoring and developing the Product Execs
• Lead and motivate your team to achieve commercial targets, and inspire their passion in the products.

The Ideal Candidate

Capability, Knowledge and Experience:

• Previous relevant purchasing experience within a travel environment
• Excellent Product and destination knowledge
• An established network of contacts across relevant DMCs, Tourist Boards and Hoteliers
• Some experience across the travel business would be preferred especially Sales and Marketing

Personal Characteristics:

• Excellent leadership and organisational skills with proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and to adjust to frequent changes to project priorities
• Excellent negotiation, persuasion & influencing skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Fluency, both written and verbal in at least one relevant language
• High level of numerical and literacy skills
• High level of commercial and operational experience
• Initiative, diplomacy, tact and sound judgement
• Ability to work on own initiative and remain calm under pressure
• Ability to follow through targets and objectives
• Flexibility to travel, sometimes for extended periods and sometimes at short notice
• Able to be a senior ambassador for the company

Package Description

The standard benefits when you join Saga include:

• 28 days holiday
• 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 Interim results for the six months ended 31st July 2018

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