Product Destination Manager – East Africa

In brief

Overview This role with Wilderness is for a Product Destination Manager focusing on East Africa. The position is based in Johannesburg. The primary purpose is to drive the company's 3rd party products and destinations in East Africa to expand the Destination Management Company (DMC) offering, aligning with business strategy, and to foster the growth and development of FIT (Free Independent Travelers), Groups, and Owned Brands. The manager will coordinate relationships between various internal teams (Sales, Reservation Managers, Operations Reservation Managers, Travel Designers) and 3rd party suppliers, define strategic preferred suppliers, and build strong relationships through regular meetings and trade shows. The ideal candidate is described as a strategic thinker with a passion for driving business growth and a strong background in the travel industry. What you will do * Drive East Africa 3rd party products & destinations to grow the DMC offering in line with business strategy. * Contribute to the initiation, growth & development of FIT, Groups, and Owned Brands. * Coordinate and develop relationships between the Sales team, Reservation Managers, Operations Reservation Managers, Travel Designers, and 3rd party suppliers. * Clearly define strategic preferred and other suppliers. * Build strong relationships with key suppliers by arranging regular meetings, attending online and physical trade shows. * Communicate and share information with various divisions and travel shops. * Investigate, source, review, and compile information for special interest products and new products. * Assist with the planning and coordination of Fam Trips, presentations, and workshops together with Product Coordinators. * Collaborate with the training department to develop destination and product updates. * Monitor industry trends and competitor offerings to ensure products remain competitive and innovative. * Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, suppliers, and partners. * Analyze market trends and customer feedback to identify areas for improvement in the DMC offering. * Compare and analyze rates and products of competitors to ensure market competitiveness. * Communicate findings and recommendations to Management for strategic decision-making. * Monitor and report on progress towards AP strategy goals. * Investigate and resolve queries, complaints, and comments from guests, agents, and staff members in collaboration with the Travel Analyst team. * Continuously seek ways to enhance the DMC offering and improve customer satisfaction. * Negotiate rates, margins, overrides, terms and conditions with 3rd party products for strategic and preferred categories at Wilderness Travel Shops. * Clearly define strategic preferred and other suppliers, ensuring they align with the company’s goals and objectives. * Monitor and track supplier performance, ensuring they meet agreed upon terms and conditions. * Collaborate with internal teams to ensure supplier agreements are in line with company strategy and objectives. * Provide regular updates and reports on supplier negotiations and performance to management. * Update and maintain supplier information in the Wilderness Window system together with Product Coordinator. * Work closely with the RARA department to ensure accurate rate loading and highlight any contractual changes. * Vet all services to ensure they meet Wilderness guidelines for insurance coverage. * Promote and develop circuits internally based on the assigned region. * Participate in ad hoc supplier negotiations to ensure competitive rates and high-quality services. * Attend regular management meetings to discuss day-to-day issues, assisting in finding solutions and possible areas of strategic importance, constructive feedback and best practices across the Wilderness group. * Collaborate with other departments to ensure seamless communication and guest experience. Requirements (from the original advert) * 7-10 years’ experience in the travel & tourism industry. * Exposure to suppliers in Southern & East Africa preferably in operations or in product development. * Experience in interaction with agents & suppliers. * Personal or educational travel experience. * Working knowledge of TourPlan, Wilderness Window and WISH or similar booking/operating system. * Proven track record of driving sales and revenue growth. * Ability to negotiate contracts with suppliers and agents. * Must have a valid passport. * Must have a valid driver’s license & own personal vehicle. * Knowledge of travel industry trends and best practices. * Experience with information gathering, analysis, and reporting. * Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint. * Proficiency in AI tools. * Ability to work independently and as part of a team. * Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. * Excellent communication and presentation abilities. * Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Who should apply The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a passion for driving business growth and a strong background in the travel industry. They should possess experience in the travel and tourism industry, with specific exposure to suppliers in Southern & East Africa, preferably in operations or product development, and experience interacting with agents and suppliers. A passion for wildlife and a commitment to sustainability and conservation is also desired. Experience with information gathering, analysis, reporting, and proficiency in relevant industry systems and MS Office is important. Knowledge of the travel industry and DMC operations is considered a plus. Deadline 30 October 2026 Reference Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/product-destination-manager-east-africa-wilderness Source: myjobmag

Summary drafted with AI assistance from the original advert. The advert itself is the authority — how we use AI.

At a glance

• At least 7 years of experience.

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office

Extracted automatically from the advert; confirm requirements on the original listing.

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