Product development manager

Job Description

Product Development Manager

Position: Product Development Manager

Area: Product Development

Reports to: Vice President, Product Development

Location: Remote

Target Start: Immediate

Who are we, The Classic Difference:

Classic Vacations is the #1 rated luxury vacation wholesaler for Travel Advisors. We have one goal: to do whatever it takes to ensure that your clients are not just satisfied with their vacation but completely delighted. We are dedicated to helping you create the best possible vacation experiences for your clients. You can count on us to deliver world-class accommodations, exceptional privileges, and unparalleled service to your clients. That is the Classic® difference. It is the difference between a good vacation and a great one.

Position Overview:

The Product Development Manager turns the product vision, set by the director, into a reality working closely with the suppliers daily, weekly monitoring the financial results and executing on hotel marketing/merchandising plans. This position requires a detailed knowledge of the product, Classic’s strategies, operations, and the ability to use detailed financial information to make decision which drive sales and profits. Once the product model is determined, the PD Manager is responsible for maintaining relationships with the hotel sales managers and reservations managers, negotiating, and executing supplier, marketing plans, as well as monitoring and increasing product profitability.

Travel Requirements:

20%-30%; 2-4 Market Visits as needed, Industry tradeshows as determined with Vice President, all applicable company events

Responsibilities include:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Develop and maintain sales, marketing, reservations, and front office relationships to assure Classic service and contract standards
• Maintain positive internal relationships with all selling arms of Classic including Sales and Reservations
• Develop and maintain relationships with key tour and activity contacts within product line
• Develop Tourism bureau relationships as needed/determined by the Vice President
• Marketing Plans
• Secure marketing funds from as many hotel partners to participate in our most popular marketing
• Campaigns.
• Work closely with and in collaboration with Marketing to deliver marketing plans down to the individual hotel when applicable.
• Coach and drive suppliers to meet promotion and marketing timelines.
• Request marketable exclusive hotel promotions, review, and prioritize.
• Pricing
• Maintain our “Price Guarantee” and “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) status where no component of the vacation experience can be purchased at a lower price through any other distribution channel or buying direct.
• Secure consortia amenities for preferred hotels, or at the very least an alternate amenity.
• Merchandising:
• Monitor Top Picks Program shared among the Team members. Choose one Manager’s special, as required, and highlight the most compelling offer
• Exposure, above and beyond marketing tactics. – Provide free marketing opportunities to the most supportive partners and ensure this action is communicated to them on a timely basis with the dollar value associated.
• Profitability
• Serve as expert regarding contract terms and addenda for product line including:
• Rates, yields, room categories and associated margins
• Terms & conditions and how they affect Classic Vacations’ ability to conduct business
• Negotiate with hotels for items over and above contract (negotiate for load errors, extra inventory, reduce/waive cancellation penalties, etc.).
• Manage daily and weekly financial performance including:
• Managing pricing/margins to shift share and maximize revenues
• Maintain summary files for all contract information
• Evaluate Classic’s competitive position (margins, sales, etc.) while meeting plan requirements
• Determine and/or influence market trends by communicating monthly results with vendors
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity and provide analysis and recommendations to Vice President
• Ensure appropriate and consistent overall management of market
• Provide support to the Product Vice President
• Assist in the development of department objectives based on corporate strategies
• Coordinate and execute RFP Process
• Training:
• Train Reservations Agents on New hotels in your region
• Perform webinars to Travel Agents and others as required
• The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Qualifications:

• Travel Industry Experience Preferred
• Passion for products, trends, insights, possibilities, and development.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong customer relationships with internal and external customers
• Demonstrated ability to be highly organized while managing multiple projects to completion against tight deadlines.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced work environment.
• Be a team player and have a passion to support the team
• Thrive in a collaborative, matrixed environment, coordinating with multiple people and global functions.
• Strong Analytical and Mathematical Skills
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize and meeting deadlines
• Outstanding Relationship and Customer Service Skills
• Proficient computer skills, typing (50 WPM+)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Must possess problem solving skills as well as the ability to multi-task.
• Must be detail oriented

Communication Skills:

• Achieve a clear understanding of the Company’s Vision, Mission Statement, philosophy, goals, and objectives, and communicate them effectively to hotel and ground suppliers as well as Tourism Boards.
• Ability to further develop Luxury vision in existing destination.
• Communicate with vendors clearly and professionally, and able to effectively negotiate within company parameters
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to represent Classic Vacations’ policies and products to staff and vendors.
• Understand and clearly articulate the cause and effect of any action as they relate to other departments through a product life cycle.
• Effectively communicate problems and resolution options to all levels of staff within Classic Vacations Executives, Reservations, Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Vendor Payables as well as to the vendors
• Actively participate in departmental and company meetings, sharing best practices and helping to solve problems
• Ability to influence internal and external decision makers
• Represent Classic Vacations at designated industry events as needed in a professional and knowledgeable manner
• Share succinct feedback from meetings with hotel partners in writing when designated product manager was absent from the meeting.
• Make final decisions regarding client issues and vendor offloads
• Listen attentively to factual feedback from others and act in a manner conducive to resolving the issue or necessary action.

Terms of Employment:

• Hours: Full – Time Employment.
• Pay rate: USD Salary Depending on Experience Bonus Opportunity as well
• Remote with occasional offsite travel required

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K
• Life Insurance, LTD, STD

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• May be required to work on-call or long hours, if necessary, in case of business need.

Affirmative Action Statement:

It is the policy of Classic Vacations to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. This policy relates to all phases of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, employment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, reduction of workforce and termination, rates of pay, and all other conditions and terms of employment. EEOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

For more information, please contact Classic Vacations Human Resources @ [email protected]