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Careers at Ker & Downey® Africa

We are always interested to meet like-minded adventurers

If you’re as passionate about travel as we are, then please drop us a line, we’d love to hear from you. Take a look at the various career listings below. If you don’t see the job you’re looking for, feel free to send your CV and cover letter to [email protected]

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Calling expert Product & Contract Managers with a love for travel and creating lasting change

The Ker & Downey Africa Group is looking for a confident, ambitious and experienced Product & Contracting Manager for Southern & East Africa.

Ker & Downey Africa offers an unparalleled opportunity for truly exceptional candidates who thrive on challenges, dynamic change and non-stop growth. We are only interested in the very best candidates who have relevant experience and a proven network of supplier contacts across Africa.

You will hold one of the key positions within our company and be responsible for the day-to-day communication with our key suppliers to ensure access to the best products. You will be an ambassador for the company and play an important role.

Based on your experience in product procurement and your ongoing in-depth analysis of product, suppliers and destinations, you will plan and execute the selection of product, which will be featured across the Company’s portfolio of websites, social media & training material. You will ensure that the sales and marketing teams have access to sufficient product and supplier information to facilitate their day-to-day business.

Rules/responsibilities:

Negotiate best-in-industry terms & conditions with our product suppliers. Ensure alignment with Ker & Downey Africa’s standard payment terms & conditions.
Negotiate overrides and increase gross margin.
Research and communicate to the sales teams new and exciting product offerings, KDA specific specials, and combination deals to optimise profitability.
Run ongoing training programmes for the company to improve destination and key product / supplier know-how. You will schedule regular supplier training, site inspections and other familiarisation trips as necessary as well as test and monitor sales consultant’s knowledge and expertise.
Design, implement and manage product development strategies across various destinations and key source markets. Your approach to product management is analytical and you will optimise performance according to specific KPI’s to be agreed.
Management and maintenance of all product information, wherever it is found, including on the company’s website. You will be required to ensure that all product is “on-brand” and the pricing, logistics and related information is up-to-date and accurate.
Supplier contracts, training from suppliers and rates up to date in internal systems for consultants working closely with the Rates & System team.
Assist consultants with supplier issues/product queries and support them wherever needed.
Analyse and monitor our sales performance vs agreed targets with key suppliers and work closely with the sales and marketing teams to improve performance over time.
In tandem with our sales managers develop a product strategy for each of our key source markets and align the selection of products to the source markets.
Ensure all products used on social media platforms, websites and newsletters are brand-aligned.

Requirements:

5 years of relevant experience
Extensive supplier knowledge of Southern & East African destinations.
Thrives in a pressure environment
Team player
Enjoys problem-solving
Strong multi-tasker
Organised, punctual and well-presented
Analytical
Experience with source markets such as Germany, North America, Latin America, France and Asia are advantageous.
Travelyst/TourPlan experience is an advantage

To apply:

Submit your CV along with a cover letter to [email protected]
Please include references
Please explain why you specifically want to work for Ker & Downey Africa
Only suitably qualified/shortlisted candidates will be contacted
Should you not hear from us within 2 weeks of submission, please consider your application unsuccessful at this time