Established in 1984, KE Adventure Travel is one of the UK’s leading independent adventure tour operators running trekking, walking, discovery, climbing, cycling, & family adventure holidays worldwide. Our spacious modern office is centrally located in the small but busy town of Keswick right in the heart of the Lake District National Park.
We are currently seeking a well-travelled, motivated and enthusiastic person to head up our busy product management team. This is a rare and excellent opportunity for someone passionate about adventure travel and the outdoors to develop their career in one of the most beautiful areas of the UK
ROLE
As head of our product management team consisting of 5-6 managers, you will be responsible for coordinating all aspects of product management and development. This includes creating new adventure holidays and continually monitoring and improving our existing product range. You will work closely with our ground agents’ abroad building on and maintaining existing working relationships and making new ones. Dependent upon past experience, you will be given various geographical areas to look after. You will also work closely alongside our operations, sales and marketing teams with challenging targets to meet.
KEY TASKS:
• Oversee all aspects of product management including product development
• Set the standards required for all product managers
• Monitor and analyse KE sales figures, and enquiries to help determine appropriate marketing strategies and coordinate your team to do the same for their areas
• Analyse demand and trends for holiday destinations and use this to increase sales
• Follow, and update when necessary, guidelines for all product managers to adhere to
• Maintain positive working relations with KE agents worldwide
• You will also have responsibility for your own specific product areas and will fulfil the duties of a product manager accordingly
• Researching, developing and implementing the launch of new holiday programs
• Negotiating prices with ground operators
• Writing sales literature
• Finalising contracts
• Ongoing quality management of existing programs
• Liaising with and briefing the operations, sales and marketing teams
• Keeping up-to-date with market trends and competition
SKILLS:
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to write good copy
• Ability to work under pressure
• Attention to detail
• Outstanding personal organisation
• Ability to lead and work well within a team
• Creative and innovative with the talent to solve problems
• The unique skill of knowing what holidays work
• The ability to travel overseas regularly on KE trips
EXPERIENCE:
• Previous travel industry experience is essential
• Product knowledge through extensive personal travel
INTERESTS:
The ideal head of product should have a genuine passion for all things related to travel and the outdoors. KE has built up an enviable reputation for walking and trekking holidays but would also like to expand in all other areas of the outdoors.
HOURS:
A normal working week is 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 5.00pm on a Friday, with half an hour off for lunch, 39.5 hours over 5 days per week.
BENEFITS:
Salary dependent upon experience.
Rewards Scheme.
Travel discounts.
HOW TO APPLY:
Email your CV with a covering letter explaining what you have to offer KE and why you think you are suitable for the job to: gemma@keadventure.com.
Please include a full list of all travel experience, your salary expectations and when you would be available to start.
CLOSING DATE:
We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible and we will consider applicants as they apply. The closing date for applications will be 7th February 2017.