Head of Product - Cape Town Verfied

Salary Negotiable Cape Town, Western Cape Cape Town, Western Cape more than 14 days ago 08-08-2018 10:01:52 AM
06-09-2018 1:58:08 PM
Head of Product for Africa – Travel Industry

Location: CBD, Cape Town
Salary: R50k – R55k per month negotiable
Benefits: Pension, Medical Aid, flight discounts for direct family, flexi-time work environment

About the Role:
Opportunity for a senior Product and Commercial Development specialist to join our company (listed on the JSE) at a senior management level for the launch of our new luxury inbound tour operator. We are looking to recruit a Head of Product for Africa, to build, nurture and manage a team of Product Specialists across the continent. This is a high-profile position, where the applicant needs to be able to drive the business forward, utilizing our network of current travel service and accommodation suppliers (we are currently the largest hotel accommodation reseller in Southern Africa), along with the applicants’ network of luxury service and accommodation suppliers across Southern, East and Central Africa, while continually developing new relationships with emerging travel services.

Requirements:
A minimum of 3 years' product or account management/development experience, within a travel, hotel or sports-related business, with a proven track record of success and a subsequent 3 years' experience of managing a team of people in a commercial performance role
The candidate must be educated to degree level (a Diploma in Travel and Tourism would also suffice)
An excellent people manager, with strong communication skills.
Strong delivery focus, excellent attention to detail, having the tenacity and resilience required to flourish in a pressurized and constantly evolving environment
Pragmatic and hands-on, the candidate must also have an affinity with the product, and an appreciation of the sales process
Prior experience in FIT sales is preferred
The applicant needs to understand tailor-made luxury and experiential travel, with an ability to define commercial models and projections, create product offers in line with sales metrics, and will have a proven track record in building and managing high performing teams in a modern workplace. Skill in managing remote employees, understanding how to maximize performance in a flexi-time work environment, maximizing team outputs, and creating and meeting targets is imperative to this position.
Local and international experience in travel product and sales management
Excellent continent-wide geographical and first-hand product knowledge is a must
Proven commercial understanding and experience
Well known in the African luxury travel and safari industry with a high-profile networking ability
Have confidence with senior decision makers with the ability to establish and maintain relationships with suppliers, alliances and partners, including managing and sourcing international operators for the provision of DMC services
Exceptional leadership and organization skills with proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and to adjust to frequent changes in project priorities

Duties:
Responsible for the development of the Africa product team, including sourcing, interviewing, hiring and managing product specialists
Develop, maintain and continually refresh tailor-made products in Africa
Ensure a balanced range of product, with a core of high volume/high profit
Design itineraries to make the most of flight routings and schedules, guest budgets, season brands, offers and special event
Manage supplier relationships to include global contracting, rate negotiation, DMC tenders where required, exclusive special offers, overrides, marketing agreements and health and safety requirements
Foster strong supplier relationships with Key Partners and ensuring that the sales team are aware of our key partners and selling our preferred partners as a priority
Highlight potential revenue generation with key suppliers through sponsored e-shots and targeted overrides with key hotel providers
Responsible for recognizing market trends, new destinations and sourcing new suppliers who can provide exclusive "experiential" tailor-made trips
Responsible for product training and continual development
Collaboration with the marketing and media team to create and market the appropriate content dependent on the travel calendar
Liaise with the marketing and media team in the production of all product sales materials both print and electronic
Define and then coordinate the travel arrangements for the marketing, media and sales teams
Responsible for product pricing and margin management to ensure sales targets and profit budgets are achieved
Responsible for management of accurate rates and pricing in our systems
Coordinate training and familiarisations for the company's sales force and if appropriate for third-party distribution offering on-going product and destination knowledge support
Provide assistance in organising and operating marketing and promotional activities, where appropriate providing representation at events
Attendance at product and marketing events as required