Senior Manager, Trip Development
National Geographic
Chicago, ILThis was removed by the employer on 5/24/2018 5:05:00 PM PST
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Full Time Job
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Director of Trip Development, manages the Trip Development team. This team is responsible for developing new group Expeditions and Private Expeditions for National Geographic Expeditions.
Responsibilities
• Management: Manage the trip development team. Conduct weekly meetings with staff and ensure that they are on task, producing accurate work, meeting deadlines, and working toward and meeting goals. Approve itineraries, budgets, and pricing recommendations for all proposals. Counsel on difficult work situations. Identify opportunities for improvement, and develop and train on new procedures when needed. Write and deliver performance reviews for direct reports and recommend professional growth opportunities. Advise manager of staff progress and issues. Hire and train new Trip Development staff as needed. Support and enforce National Geographic Expeditions systems, policies, procedures and productivity standards. Manage staff time-off requests to minimize impact on team operation. High functioning team, where team goals are on target.
• Trip Development: Successfully develop itineraries for Series departures (groups and Private Expeditions) on all 7 continents. Secure costs from multiple operators for each program, negotiate rates, create trip budgets, research NGS/NGM databases to identify NG content, write proposals, and detailed itineraries for each program. Make modifications to proposed itineraries as needed. Travel to scout new destinations or inspect new itineraries as needed. For programs that are accepted, secure space, negotiate terms, finalize contracts, provide marketing materials/support to the client as needed, provide sales materials/training to reservations team. High quality programs that are appealing to NG travelers.
• Operator Relationships: Identify new operators for National Geographic Expeditions Trip Development team. Ensure all operators are properly vetted and approved before being used. For approved operators, track insurance information and ensure all information is current and accurate on a monthly basis. Address concerns with any operator that is not meeting National Geographic Expedition's expectations/standards. Travel to conferences and trade events as needed to meet with current and potential suppliers. Strong suite of vetted and preferred suppliers across the world to support programs.
Qualifications
• B.A. degree and 7 years of related experience and/or training. Background in trip development, event planning, or logistics. Extensive international travel experience, covering 5 or more distinct regions of the world.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Candidates should also have the ability to clearly and effectively correspond with suppliers overseas where English is likely not their first language. Foreign language skills are a plus.
• Proficient in Excel for program budgeting. Demonstrated ability to anticipate problems, find creative solutions to challenging situations and present complicated information in a clear and simple manner.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Office, Excel, PowerPoint and common Internet browsers and applications. A background using QuickBase or other databases or CRM software is a plus.
• The candidate must be highly organized, able to multitask, manage a team, and develop several proposals at the same time, across multiple destinations. Attention to detail is critical. Unwavering accuracy, excellent and systematic organizational skills and flawless attention to detail is necessary. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. The candidate must be willing to lend a hand with any urgent task that may arise. A willingness to be involved in every aspect of the trip development process is important.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable law.