View Vacancy – SRR – Travel Trade Manager (HEO)

The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for Travel Trade Manager under VisitBritain (VB), job grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO), on a fixed-term contract for two (2) years with a possibility of renewal.

Based in the British Embassy in Riyadh, this role will lead on the development and execution of VisitBritain’s trade engagement strategy in Saudi Arabia. The role will have a focus on leading on key account management and engagement, building effective relations with key travel trade partners and prominent UK industry stakeholders such as tourism suppliers, associations and DMCs. The role will lead on analysis of the travel trade landscape to determine the appropriate VisitBritain intervention as well as product development and distribution, tailoring programmes accordingly to ensure Britain product is being sold to the right customer at the right time. The core focus is on delivering VisitBritain corporate priorities whilst living the company values.

In addition, the role will lead on the development of the aviation strategy across KSA, liaising closely with the aviation lead at the British Embassy Riyadh and local Consular representatives, identifying innovative channels to promote initiatives such as inaugural flights and route development.

As part of the wider VisitBritain Middle East Asia (MEA) team, the jobholder will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team covering GCC, China-Northeast Asia (NEA), and India, as well as close collaboration with the London Head Office team(s).

Duties and responsibilities:

– Strategic understanding and profiling of the market

• Lead and deliver the B2B business plan for Saudi Arabia – optimising VisitBritain’s trade engagement with key trade partners, with a focus on growing new business, product development and increasing value.
• Comprehensive understanding of the travel trade landscape across the market, with maintenance of a fully profiled database to classify partners and using this analysis to optimise market engagement.
• Maintain strong relationships with trade partners through a robust key account management program, ensure all engagement including F2F and online interventions are recorded in VisitBritain’s CRM.
• Use an evidence-based approach to identify prospective travel trade partners in market, using a customised pitch to select partners and ensuring VB’s strategic objectives are met.
• Identify destination and product gaps within trade partner UK travel programmes. Implement a strategic plan to grow product and increase market footfall/spend to the UK.
• Closely monitor competing destination B2B and B2C activities, identify risks and challenges, and make recommendations based on market intelligence to ensure the UK maintains and enhances its competitive advantage.

– Aviation-airline liaison

• Manage airline accounts operating in Saudi Arabia with routes to Britain. Thorough understanding of business and audience mix, booking channels, route development, challenges, and opportunities.
• Identify new areas for business development and best prospect opportunities to support airline promotional activities at low/no cost.
• Liaise with the British Embassy Aviation Lead and Consular PR/Event representatives to support local airline initiatives.
• Monitor air route landscape including frequency and seat capacity from all KSA to all UK gateways.

– Strategic interventions with partners: Travel trade, UK industry, and Public Diplomacy Partners

• Assemble and co-ordinate priority key accounts, making strategic interventions to increase the promotion and sales of Great Britain. Activities include but not limited to: programme of agent training sessions; educational trips to increase destination awareness and product growth; sales missions; collection of consistent and high-quality market intelligence; regular (monthly) development and distribution of the B2B newsletters.
• Build strong relations with VisitBritain’s strategic partners (London & Partners, VisitScotland, and Visit Wales) as well as Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and UK/European trade associations.
• Build strong relations with Public Diplomacy Partners (PDPs) and be the first point of contact for our partners in the British Embassy in Riyadh, British Council, Department of Business and Trade (DBT), and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
• Provide support to the Senior Manager GCC and London B2B team with online and offline engagement tools for the UK industry; identify external opportunities for VisitBritain for participation in trade events, sourcing buyers for the VisitBritain missions and events programme.

– Research and insights

• Report regularly on market intelligence from the travel trade industry.
• Ensure that key market insights are communicated to the MEA and central London teams.
• Use these insights to make strategic and informed decisions that shape the KSA business plans.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible as specific responsibilities could change in the future and this would be at the discretion of the line manager or head of section. The job description may be reviewed to meet changes in business needs. The jobholder may also take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating in the Embassy’s emergency planning and any other response to a crisis.

Key behaviours required:

• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.
• Seeing the Big Picture – Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
• Delivering at Pace – Taking responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
• Making Effective Decisions – Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications, and risks of decisions.
• Leadership – Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.

Eligibility:

• The successful candidate must be able to secure a local residence and work permit in Saudi (iqama) OR already have the right to work and reside in Saudi.
• The British Embassy provides visa sponsorship. The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the Embassy’s sponsorship.

• Solid experience in sales and/or commercial background with a thorough understanding of tourism sector or related sector.
• Experience of key account management in the local KSA market, together with strong negotiation, influencing, and representational skills. Strong customer focus and ability to deliver quality service.
• Good knowledge of Britain’s tourism offering (destinations and product) and network of contacts across travel trade in KSA. Collaborative approach to colleague and stakeholder partnerships.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to influence and network confidently with industry leaders, government officials, and senior businesspeople.
• Team player who is capable of working on their own initiative and manage others. Ability to effectively work and collaborate across teams and stakeholders based across multiple locations.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
• Excellent organisational skills, including ability to organise and prioritise workload, organise records, and meet deadlines and changing priorities whilst maintaining close attention to detail and without compromising the quality of the work.
• Strong IT skills and well-versed in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).