Commercial Operations Executive - Travel and Tourism

ROLE: Commercial Operations Executive

LOCATION: Stellenbosch

REPORTING TO: Commercial Operations Manager

SHIFT PATTERN: 40 hours per week working 9:00am – 6:00pm between Monday – Friday (which

includes a 1-hour unpaid lunch break). Once the departments are on

weekend schedule and working hours will be following customer services’, you

will cover 1 Saturday and 1 Sunday in every 4-week period (rota basis) with a

day off in the week to compensate for this.

CONTRACT: Permanent

SALARY: Market related with benefits

OVERVIEW

Our client uses bespoke tech which provides market-leading flight booking systems for the world's leading airlines to the travel trade to book the world’s most recognisable travel brands. Their service is legendary in the industry (for all the right reasons) and thanks to this foundation, their growth continues to skyrocket with new, exciting products launching regularly, from cruise packages to luxury hotel booking services.

While their Head Office is in Cheshire in the UK, they have an ever expanding operation based in Stellenbosch in Cape Town, and they are looking for exceptional talent to join them, to succeed with them, and to grow with them.

JOB PURPOSE

The commercial department is the hub of new opportunities where relationships with suppliers are forged and nurtured. Our astute commercial minds are the first port of call for travel suppliers seeking to distribute to our broad-spanning market, whilst also managing the relationships from initial project scoping through to day-to-day performance reporting. The key purposes of the role are to….

• Maximise the efficiency of the commercial team, ensuring the best product available for sale and to offer expert fares support and advice to internal and external customers.
• Assist the department to be more proactive in identifying and realising commercial opportunities.
• Provide cover to ensure SLAs are always maintained.

KEY OBJECTIVES

• To make available online, to set Service Levels, appropriate airline fares
• To communicate new fares, changes, updates to relevant internal and external customers
• To respond quickly to fare queries from internal customers
• To be able to distribute and price fares across 4 main GDS
• To identify outstanding fares that will be commercially beneficial for the business to promote
• To help reduce losses from airline ADMs
• To obtain profit from unused tickets
• To help and assist GDS bookers with GDS related matters/Fare loading and training.
• To foster good relationships with airline contacts
• To ensure better coordination between Fares – Sales – Marketing

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

These include, but are not limited to:

• Monitor Fares Dept. e-mail inbox
• Sense-check incoming fares & contracts
• Correspond with airline fares support teams over queries/errors
• Log and investigate airline ADMs, and liaise with Customer Support to rectify and identify regularly occurring errors
• Collate all data needed to set up new airlines or revenue streams
• Have a comprehensive understanding of each airlines nett fare structure and rules
• Make airline fares available online & via NDC/GDS to SLAs
• Become proficient in all 4 GDS fare distribution tools
• Answer airline fare and product queries from internal or external customers
• Communicate clearly and effectively to set SLAs to internal or external customers
• Have a good understanding of each airlines’ products, routes and USPs
• Be fully conversant with the booking systems, raising cases to fix issues related to airlines revenue streams.
• Carry out checks and testing of fares released, and bookings subsequently made
• Create good relationships with airline suppliers
• Liaise effectively with Marketing & Customer Support teams
• Be able to produce accurate reports from the company's reporting system and/or update excel data supplied by airlines
• Update website notifications board
• Process refunds and follow up with Finance and Flights Teams on queries related to UTTER refunds.
• Create airline/fare user guides for GDS and company intranet

Other support areas:

• System testing for new functionality releases
• Establishing fares in response to marketing dept. requests
• System notifications

General

• Be a committed, enthusiastic, and supportive team member
• Be aware of company’s goals and aims and strive to achieve at every opportunity
• Deliver an efficient and professional service to TIG’s internal and external customers
• Attend and contribute in a positive and objective manner at team meetings or any relevant departmental/company meetings
• Acknowledge correspondence within set standards and timescales
• Assist other departments when and where necessary to ensure business continuity and minimum standard performance
• Maintain systems to ensure quality control
• Strive to continuously improve the quality (presentation, accuracy, and coverage) of information relevant to the business
• Keep accurate records, data information and filing systems.

REQUIREMENTS

• GDS skills (in at least 1 GDS recently)
• Understanding of airlines fares, in particular net fares and cat25/35 pricing
• Understanding of flight sales market/tour operator market
• Ability to communicate positively and effectively
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail
• Able to work on own initiative
• Knowledge of MS Office – particularly Excel

INTERESTED?

Time is of the essence in applying for this excellent opportunity. Send your CV along with supporting documentation (certified copy of ID, qualifications, testimonials, and a recent pay slip) soonest.

Please note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and psychometric assessments may be required.