Travelinfo

Job Description

Job Purpose:
 
A Product Supply Manager in a Corporate Travel Management Company plans, procures, manages, and coordinates travel suppliers and products (airlines, hotels, car rentals, ground transfers, visas, insurance, and other travel-related services). The role ensures a smooth, efficient, and cost-effective supply chain of travel services, focusing on competitive pricing, service reliability, and timely delivery while supporting client satisfaction and minimising costs.
 
Responsibilities:
Include supplier relationship management, Vendor setup and collation of all information for finance beneficiary opening, inventory management, cost, and data analysis to optimise operations and meet company goals. Strong skills in communication, negotiation, planning, problem-solving, and data analysis are essential for success in this role.

Key Performance Areas: 

1. Supplier Management 

• Source new suppliers, negotiate contracts and collect the information to send through to Finance/ the EFT Sure system.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with airlines, hotels, car rental companies, ground operators, visa partners, and insurance providers.
• Consider local and international supplier negotiations.
• To continuously evaluate negotiated corporate deals, fare discounts, overrides, and value-added benefits to maximise savings and service quality for clients, ensuring we have the most competitive pricing for our customers.
• Monitor supplier performance against agreed SLAs, resolving issues promptly.
• Review monthly and quarterly Supplier performance stats and compare to internal reporting for any shortfalls or anomalies
• Managing and formulating Contracts with Suppliers 

2. Vendor Setup 

• To evaluate and approve vendors and create these in the EFT Sure system, including obtaining relevant information for onboarding eg. Liability insurance confirmation, banking details.
• Seek alternative payment methods for international arrangements, ensuring productivity of consultants and ease of payment options is maintained.
• To verify vendors legitimacy and conduct background checks. 

3. Inventory Management 

• Monitor and control inventory levels to maintain optimal override deals, supplier spend, corporate deals preventing dilution of spend and managing over all spend,
• Regularly audit supplier content and availability to ensure accuracy and competitiveness.
• Manage the relationship with XL to ensure that the relationship is the most beneficial for TT. This will require constant reviewing of contracts drawn up by XL and comparing this with Thompsons Travel’s actual performance.
• Monitor and together with CEO & COO, drive performance to ensure we maximise revenue from these sources 

1. Logistics and Distribution 

• Optimise and coordinate the managing of spend through our booking channels (online and offline), including client distribution of supply and consultant bookings in order to ensure efficient and timely bookings and purchases are done in a controlled manner.
• Transaction Fee and Management of all Client Accounts:
  • Ensure Transaction Fees are calculated and distributed according to client volumes and the company achieves maximised profitability. 

2. Data Analysis 

• Analyse suppliers spend data to identify trends, track savings, improve efficiency, support strategic decisions, and reduce costs. 
• Provide insights to management and sales team to support decision-making and demonstrate value.
• Develop reporting on cost reduction, supplier performance and optimisation.
• Utilise this data to ensure maximum benefits are applied for Thompsons Travel clients.
• Work together with the Financial Analyst to obtain data analytics to enhance and enable savings, efficiency and optimal supply chain. 

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Work closely with other departments, such as finance, sales, and operations, to align supplier agreements and best pricing with overall business goals. 
• Partner with implementation teams to roll out new supplier programs and agreements to clients.
• Arrange client/supplier workshops, internal supplier activations and assessing the need of supplier product training for internal development. 

4. Demand Forecasting 

• Predict demand for products to ensure that the supply chain can meet customer needs. 
• Analyse client travel patterns and booking behaviours to forecast demand across airlines, hotels, and other services.
• Align supplier commitments with anticipated volumes to secure best pricing and availability.
• Client Fees to be analysed and seeking opportunities to increase fees and adapting to new trends i.e. NDC fee etc.

Availability

To be discussed during the interview

Salary

Negotiable and based on experience

Required Qualifications

8. Essential Skills and Qualifications 

• Communication
  •  Excellent verbal and written communication skills are crucial for interacting with suppliers and internal teams.  
• Negotiation
  • The ability to negotiate contracts, pricing and added value agreements with suppliers is a core skill. 
     
• Analytical Skills
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities are needed to make data-driven decisions and resolve issues. 
  • Ability to use travel data tools (i.e. back office, GDS, reporting dashboards) to support data-driven decisions.
     
• Planning and Organisation
  • Excellent organisational and planning skills are required to manage complex supply chains and numerous projects. 
     
• Technical Knowledge
  • Understanding of travel products such as airline, accommodation, transfers, visas, BSP, foreign exchange, travel insurance, OBTs /GDS systems, and inventory systems is necessary. 
  • General understanding of contract terminology, paying attention to fine prints (inclusions and exclusions)
     
• Leadership
  • The ability to lead supplier initiatives and coordinate teams is important for managing supply chain operations.

Location

Johannesburg

General Details

9.Why the Role is Important? 

• Cost Efficiency

Ensures clients benefit from negotiated savings while maximizing company profitability 

• Product Availability

They ensure that products are available when and where customers need them, meeting demand and remaining competitive in the market. 

• Quality Assurance

They maintain quality standards by working with suppliers and addressing any issues that arise.  

• Strategic Alignment

The role ensures that the supply chain operations are aligned with the broader company goals, contributing to overall business success.