Product Admin Team Leader

Job Title: Product Admin Team Leader

At Jules Verne, were entering an exciting new chapter and we want you to be part of it. With a proud heritage, a trusted brand, and a bold vision for the future, were growing our team with newly created roles that offer real opportunity to make an impact.

We are looking for a Product Admin Team Leader to manage our small but perfectly formed team of Product Assistants.

This is a full time opportunity based in Great Suffolk Street, London and offers hybrid working (minimum of 3 days in the office required per week).

Please submit your CV, covering letter and answer the required application questions. We aim to get back in touch with 14 days.

We are dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all candidates feel welcomed and supported. To ensure everyone has an equal opportunity throughout the application process, we welcome you to get in touch. Our team is here to assist you at every step, whether you require additional information, or support to navigate the application process. We believe that promoting diversity and inclusion enriches our organisation, and we are committed to helping all candidates showcase their talents and potential. Please contact [email protected] should you need assistance.

About Jules Verne:

Jules Verne is a leading tour operator forming part of DERTOUR UK, one of Europes leading travel groups, renowned for crafting exceptional, small group escorted tours that offer unique and immersive travel experiences. With over 45 years of expertise, we are dedicated to curating thoughtfully designed itineraries that combine cultural discovery, historical depth, and authentic encounters across the globe.

Our passion for travel and commitment to excellence ensure that every journey with Jules Verne is inspiring, enriching, and meticulously planned. As a team, we take pride in delivering outstanding service and unforgettable adventures, making us a trusted name in the travel industry.

The Role:

As Jules Verne looks to grow, this role will lead a small team of Product Assistants who are central to the efficient operation of the team. The Product Assistants support the Product Managers in developing and managing our touring portfolio, ensuring they adhere to quality standards and meet customer expectations. This role is for someone who has extensive experience in working in a senior product administrator position who can drive change and is always looking for the optimum way to get things done.

Leadership expectations

As a people manager at Jules Verne, you are expected to lead by example, inspiring your team to achieve their best through creativity, innovation, and data-driven decision-making. Mentor and coach your team, identifying skills gaps and supporting their development. Foster collaboration within your team and across departments, communicating openly and respectfully. Plan effectively, utilising resources efficiently to achieve excellent results, and maintain a psychologically safe environment that encourages learning and growth. Build positive relationships within your team and the organisation, ensuring a cohesive and fun team atmosphere. Monitor key performance indicators to drive continuous improvement and high performance and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.

What you'll be doing:

• Managing a small team of Product Assistants, taking responsibility for their growth and development.

• Responsibility for the costing process, working with the Product Managers to develop a robust and transparent costings cycle which works to a set timeline and supports the accurate input of pricing and cost data to ensure profitability and transparency in product offerings.

• Ensure that the process for contracting future trips is market leading, using relevant templates and technology to assist both partners, product managers, the finance and commercial teams in all aspects of operations. This will involve reviewing and amending the current processes.

• Communicating with local partners and being responsible for the information which they receive prior to the operation of a trip including ground releases and rooming list to ensure smooth on-ground operations and a seamless customer experience.

• Developing a process to sending sales updates to local partners - Provide timely updates on bookings and sales trends to partners, helping them prepare for upcoming departures and maintain service quality.

• Managing the process of loading relevant product content into the system, including contracted rates, and hotel information. This will involve helping to check, create, and load product-related content. Ensure all product information is accurate and up to date across internal systems and customer-facing platforms.

• Managing stock control of rooming allocations with local partners - Monitor and adjust room allocations to optimise availability and avoid overbookings, supporting operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

• Working with the relevant team to communicate operational changes to customers (via email and phone) - Proactively inform customers of any changes to their tourssuch as itinerary adjustments or accommodation updates.

• Keeping tour status updated on the booking system - Regularly update tour availability and status to reflect real-time changes, supporting accurate sales and customer service interactions.

• Monitoring the Product email inbox - Respond to and triage incoming queries efficiently, ensuring timely communication with internal teams and external partners.

• Liaising with Sales and Customer Experience teams on queries - Collaborate cross-functionally to resolve customer and sales team queries, ensuring a smooth and informed customer journey.

• Ensuring that there is cover for Product Assistants during annual leave or absence - Step in to support the wider Product team when colleagues are away, ensuring continuity of service and consistent workflow across the department.

General Duties

• Demonstrate a commitment to the core company values and mission in all actions and decisions.
• Act as a brand ambassador, positively representing the group both internally and externally.
• Support and promote a diverse and inclusive workplace, respecting perspectives and backgrounds, to foster a positive work environment
• Contribute to a strong team spirit.
• Champion sustainable practices by integrating environmentally responsible actions into daily tasks and decision-making processes, contributing to the company's sustainability goals.

About You:

Essential

• Previous experience in managing and developing a product administration team.
• Demonstrable results in building and improving processes relating to the contracting, costings and delivery of product.
• Extensive experience of relationship building with overseas suppliers.
• Experience in working across teams to develop new and efficient ways of working towards the same goal.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively.
• Familiarity with booking and operations systems and a demonstrable ability
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Experience in the travel industry with an in-depth experience of booking and operations systems

Desirable:

• Knowledge of sustainability practices and initiatives.

Personal Qualities:

• Strong leadership qualities
• Proactive and self-motivated, driven to be constantly better
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Enthusiastic and positive attitude.
• Natural team player.
• Can-do attitude.

Jules Verne Benefits:

• Contribute to the success of Jules Vernes unique tours
• A dynamic and supportive working environment
• Access to exciting travel experiences
  
• Hybrid working policy
• 23 days holiday, plus bank holidays (increases with length of service capped at 27)
• Flexi time (including option to bank hours giving an additional 4 days off per year)
• Birthday day off
• 2 volunteer days per year
  
• Holiday concessions for personal trips and discounts for friends & family
• Company matched pension scheme and life assurance
  
• Cycle to work scheme
• Octopus EV scheme
• 24-hour access to our Employee Assistance Programme and remote GP service
• Travel season ticket loans
• In-house social and wellbeing team with mental health first aiders and menopause champions
• Bring your dog to work day (Fridays)
• Drinks trolley, Thirsty Thursday and regular social events
• Access to Perkbox (with 50 flexi points per month, wellness, celebration and reward hubs)