Product Executive

Polar Routes Product Executive

As a Product Executive, you will have a key role in supporting the Product Manager in all aspects of product management. You will be the face of the company to our suppliers and a vital link for our sales team. Creating and maintaining great relationships with suppliers is pivotal to the success of the business. You will need to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills along with excellent negotiation skills, a firm hand at times, great attention to detail, perseverance and drive. It is vital you are passionate about expedition cruising to the Polar regions, as the primary focus of the role will be related to this area of the world, although there may also be requirements to assist with ad hoc projects for Latin Routes.

Key Responsibilities

Partnership Management

• Build and maintain relationships with our 22 cruise partners, with a focus on our Key Partners, being the main day-to-day contact for any queries.
• Negotiate with cruise operators for the most competitive rates, commissions and special offers.
• Monitor sales and booking trends and collate feedback from the sales team, to report to the Marketing and Product Managers to track partnership success. Set contracts with suppliers and negotiate the best terms for the company.
• Manage special projects for additional supplier partnerships, including costing specific packages, loading itineraries into our in-house system and reporting on enquiry and sales levels.
• Provide support to the Marketing team with product selection and negotiate special offers for partnership campaigns.

Other Responsibilities

• Provide support to the sales team with sales support tools, day to day product queries and organising supplier training.
• Work alongside the marketing team to keep the website updated, proofing and maintaining offers.
• Provide support to the Client Care team in liaising with suppliers and collating information to be communicated to clients.
• Plan and cost itineraries for the website, always considering new product and ways to improve or refine the current portfolio. and work alongside the marketing team to ensure content and offers are up to date.
• Look for and implement new product opportunities that the business can add into its portfolio.
• Keep up to date with commercial and product knowledge and changes, including hotels/flights/infrastructure in the Polar regions and any other relevant destination.
• Assist with negotiating and arranging staff fam trips as well as ship visits.
• Brochure production – assist in planning paginations, write, edit, and update copy, prepare briefs for external copywriters, source and select images, check pricing, and proof brochure for accuracy and detail.
• Ensure that Polar Routes has up to date health and safety information on all products. • Monitor FCDO Travel Advice and react to changes as necessary.
• Assist in operational matters arising from any situations in-destination, for example cruise itinerary or hotel changes, airport closures, local strikes etc.
• Investigate and assist in resolving complaints to improve customer service and avoid re-occurring issues. • Monitor and update Country Notes to ensure information is accurate for clients travelling.
• Write texts for cruise ships, hotels and excursions and load into the in-house system with accompanying images, and maintain existing system content with relevant updates.
• Represent the company at trade shows, evening functions, road shows, training sessions and meetings where required. • Conduct regular competitor analysis and market research.
• Assist in any other product related tasks as directed by the PM or Senior Management, including ad hoc projects or support for the Latin Routes brand.

Future Latin Routes Products / Brands

As the company grows your responsibilities may also be applicable to any additional holiday products, sub brands, sister companies or partners that the company creates.

Flexibility

During the development of the business and this new role, your flexibility is required to take up tasks not listed above, if deemed appropriate and practical by the management or the board. This will be discussed and agreed as and when necessary, About You The number one thing we look for is energy and enthusiasm. We want someone who will embrace what we are trying to achieve as a company and work hard to help us get there.

You will find an ideal candidate list below, but every point is not essential as finding the right person is most important.

• Assist in any other product-related tasks as directed by the PM or Senior Management, including ad hoc projects or support for the Latin Routes brand.
• Experience in contracting and/or rates negotiation • Commercially minded individual, with a drive to help the business grow
• Experience of the expedition cruise market or demonstrable interest in expedition cruises and/or adventure travel
• Excellent communication skills
• A good understanding of expedition cruising
• Experience of long-haul travel, ideally including expedition cruising
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Proactivity and a great level of problem-solving ability
• A helpful attitude to assisting all members of the team and management • A good geographical awareness of the Polar regions
• A strong understanding of the products that Polar Routes offers
• Clear enthusiasm and passion for travel
• Flexibility and adaptability
•  Pride in the company and confidence in themselves

The Details

The role is a hybrid one which includes 2 set days in our head office in Kingston Upon Thames, currently Tuesdays and Thursdays. This enables the team to be together for collaboration and support. For the other days, you are welcome to choose whether you work from the office or at home and currently, the majority of the team choose to work from home on those days.

Your flexibility will be required to work at any location across London on occasion (such as travel shows) and there may be the occasional ad-hoc requirement to work an additional day or two in the office. The hours are 42.5 per week, Monday-Friday, 9am – 5:30pm with 45 minutes for lunch. There may be the occasional requirement to work an additional weekend for specific events, but time for this is given back in lieu. Members of the Product team are also expected to attend evening networking events throughout the year where possible, but these are not frequent.

In return you will receive a competitive basic salary dependent on experience. Employees will also receive 24 days holiday (plus bank holidays and birthday), which increases with length of service. Please note we have a holiday embargo at key periods of the year for your department. Additional benefits include pension, a generous company discount for personal trips, free travel insurance, a volunteering day each year, as well as the opportunity for company fam trips to our destinations.

There is a bright and vibrant atmosphere in our office and the team regularly socialise both at company events and informally. We are looking for someone who would be looking to be involved with this side of company life. Our office is located within a 5-minute walk of the shops, bars and restaurants of Kingston Town Centre.

 Apply

If you like the sound of the above and would like to apply for the role of Product Executive, please send your CV and cover letter to ruth.franklin@latinroutes.co.uk.

To go back to our recruitment page please click here