Regional Director of Contracting

Who are WebBeds

WebBeds is the fastest growing and most significant accommodation supplier to the travel industry. We are a global company offering ground services (hotels transfers tours activities) to travel professionals. Our products help our partners and customers to create amazing Travel experiences.

Our Products range from a Retail Online platform Integration Connectivity hub and distribution APIs to name but a few and our systems are 100 cloud hosted processing up to 5.0bn search requests daily. We deliver amazing outcomes using leading edge technology through innovative and creative thinking.

WebBeds is a subsidiary of Web Travel Group (ASX: WEB) an ASX 200 listed company operating a global digital travel business.

What makes us stand out

• We are a wholesale global travel organization
• We have 1500 people speaking 50 languages in 120 cites across 50 countries
• We partner with over 430000 properties in more than 15000 destinations
• We work with more than 44000 travel companies in 139 source markets
• We have an amazing Technology team focused on delivering valuable outcomes using innovative tech and creative & lateral thinking

What will you do on your journey with WebBeds

WebBeds is the worlds fastest growing provider of accommodation distribution services to the travel industry. Our products incorporate distribution APIs payment integrations ERP integration Data Lakes User Interfaces and others. Our search API reach peaks of more than 50.000 requests per second each one consisting of tens or hundreds of hotels with continued expansion.

We design deliver and support innovative solutions through engagement collaboration and a fearsome passion for creating customer value is our mission as an IT organization.

With this in mind we strive to be at the leading edge of technology when it comes to build the platform that meets the needs of our Supply partners and customers. This translates to the use of latest technology including .NET Core versions K8S microservices architecture clouds hosting and orchestration CI/CD pipelines automated testing Proactive monitoring and alerting systems to name a few.

Our delivery teams have the creativity and freedom to express themselves by building innovative solutions to often complex problems and are challenged to reach higher levels daily. Our teams consist of product owners QA engineers Software Engineers and people from across the business all working collectively and collaboratively. We have a very strong technical team from which you will be able to learn but are encouraged by new ideas and fresh thinking that you will bring with you.

In this Role you will:

Lead and inspire a team of contract and product managers by setting clear performance indicators and company objectives. Conduct regular performance appraisals encourage feedback and hire new team members to ensure continuous growth and commercial progress.

Ensure timely contract renewals and address service level issues with suppliers. Represent the company at trade shows and workshops network with relevant associations and conduct regular review meetings to ensure effective communication and maximized sales with Webbeds clients.

Develop and manage the products within assigned territories focusing on key hotel partnerships. Maintain strong commercial relationships with senior hotel chain representatives and ensure procurement requirements are met reporting key issues and opportunities to head office.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage & motivate a team of contract and product managers.
• Set key performance indicators clearly convey company objectives and initiatives to the team.
• Set standards grow and develop the commercial awareness of the team.
• Constantly monitor performance carry out appraisals and encourage feedback.
• Hire new team members.
• Regularly meet with the contracts managers focusing on the key points to maximise revenue.
• Carry out pre- and post-business trip briefings agree targets and analyse performance taking remedial action where required.
• Working within company aims contribute to the product portfolio in assigned territories identifying and delivering key hotels.
• Represent WebBeds at senior level amongst key hotel chains and partners in the region developing close commercial relationships.
• Be fully aware of key procurement requirements in the region.
• Report to Head office regularly on key issues and opportunities for the business.
• Take ownership of commercial relationships with hotels liaising closely with other departments. such as operations and key accounts as issues and opportunities arise.
• Achieve targets and P&L.
• Ensure continuity of product through timely contract renewals ensuring contracting trips are scheduled to hit targets for new and renewal hotels.
• Advise on preferred partner hotels in the relevant destinations.
• Ensure any issues with suppliers are addressed and resolved as required.
• Target workshops and trade shows network with both to enhance the companys profile.
• Improve company profile by networking with workshops and trade shows and register with relevant tourist boards and associations.
• Register with relevant tourist boards and other associations to gain information and to increase company profile.
• Conduct regular review meetings with the team and management as required.
• Ensure issues & successes are communicated effectively.
• Liaise with key accounts team to open lines of communication to maximise sales with WebBeds clients.
• Implement procedures to ensure internal communications regarding product are effective and useful to the sales and key accounts departments.

The skills we would love to see in your suitcase!

• 5 10 years of experience in a procurement or contract management role.
• 5 years experience in people management.
• Business level fluency in English.
• Fluency in another European language.
• Proven experience of successful engagement with external stakeholders at senior leadership level.
• Excellent commercial orientation: ability to identify develop and implement best-in-class procurement strategies and partnerships and build supplier relationships to maximise revenue growth and profit.
• Proven experience managing and motivating teams setting performance indicators and conducting appraisals.
• Experience in a similar role in the travel sector.
• Proven track record of achieving targets and quotas.
• A high level of analytical skills and the ability to make comparisons and draw conclusions from data sources and present the results in a clear and concise manner.
• Advanced knowledge of contracting principles and practices methods and procedures used in competitive procurement including value analysis and source selection techniques.
• Familiarity with the organization including its infrastructure goals mission rules policies guidelines etc.
• Advanced written verbal and interpersonal communications.
• Advanced organizational presentation and negotiation skills.
• Ability to educate and train diverse teams in the understanding of the contracting workflow and process.

Why choose us as your next destination

We are super proud of our dedicated team of friendly energetic & passionate professionals. Our people are key to the success of our business & everybody at WebBeds has their own unique role to play as we continue to drive the company forward.

Over 50 different languages are spoken by our workforce but whether working from offices in Dubai or London or out in the field in Johannesburg or Buenos Aires we all share the common goal to take pride in what we do & to deliver our partners with unbeatable service & support.

• International highly skilled group of experts from all around the globe
• Dynamic environment with the chance to grow influence & impact change
• Disruptive fast-growing market leader within travel & endless possibilities
• Culture built on collaboration empowerment and innovation

Find out more about the WebBeds business at - #LI-Hybrid