Inflight Retail Trading Manager

TUI Group is the world’s number one integrated tourism business. Within TUI Group, TUI Airline regroups all airline activities across UK, Nordics, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Morocco, France, and the Dutch Antilles. Customer, Cabin and Inflight Services (CCIS) is a function within our airline organisation responsible for development and delivery of our Inflight customer proposition. The Inflight Retail and Supply Chain function operates as a multi-disciplinary team of experts driving product innovation, retail solutions, operational performance and supply chain resilience across the TUI Airline network.

As Inflight Retail Trading Manager, your focus will be to define and deliver the Inflight Retail and pre-order proposition with specific focus on product, innovation, selling and commercial performance. Working closely with the wider Supply Chain function, Customer and Finance teams, the role will be responsible for retail product innovation in line with the customer proposition and managing supplier relationships to deliver targeted availability. You will have the combined skills required to deliver strong commercial performance and develop sales growth through multiple selling channels in line with a clear Inflight Retail strategy.

In this role, you’ll report to the Head of Inflight Retail and Supply Chain and manage a team responsible for category management, commercial performance, sales development, master data and sales development including Crew and trade union engagement.

**This role can be based in Luton, Hanover, Stockholm, Rijswijk or Brussels and offers flexible virtual working arrangements.**

**Applications close on 1st March 2024**

ABOUT THE JOB

As Inflight Retail Trading Manager, you’ll be responsible for:

Retail Strategy – Play a lead role in defining the Inflight Retail strategy for TUI Airline inclusive of product categories and sales channels to drive revenue and margin in line with the future service proposition and customer expectations

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Commercial Performance – Responsibility for defining and delivering the overall Inflight Retail budget and P&L considering sales and margin performance of both current and future sales channels. Optimise revenue and margin growth in line with other key cost considerations (product and operational), waste targets and customer satisfaction. Responsible for all outsourced Retail models including commercial contracts and supplier relationship management. Identify and target sales performance and growth opportunities in line with the customer proposition. Interface into TUI Airline Finance and TUI Airline SM&P (Supplier Management and Procurement) to fully align the approach and detailed requirements required for budget planning, subsequent revisions and business evaluation.

Product Development – Identify new and innovative products to compliment the onboard range that will appeal to our customers and contribute significantly to their overall Inflight experience. This focus will balance the successes of today with potential benefits of future opportunities. Decision making will be based on commercial performance, market data, product trends and customer insight combined with sound judgement.

Product Sourcing and Supplier Management – You will manage product selection and sourcing decisions to ensure that range proposals are both relative to market and delivered on time. You will manage the overall supplier relationship with a clear focus on cost price, performance expectations, sustainability principles, product innovation and future focus. You will ensure that the appropriate master product data is accurate and fully aligned with the requirements of the wider team.

Operational & Sales Planning – You will work closely with Supply Chain and Finance colleagues to define seasonal planning cycles and develop accurate sales forecasts and sourcing and inventory plans that will deliver high availability to maximise sales. You will balance range performance expectations with the restrictions of merchandising onboard an aircraft with limited space and play a part in ensuring full control and understanding of end-to-end financial reconciliation of stock and sales performance.

Technology & Compliance – You will ensure that the wider Trading team consistently uses data and insight to develop the proposition and manage overall commercial performance. You will help to define future digital and analytical innovation that can be adopted to help drive revenue growth. The team will demonstrate a clear focus and understanding of safety legislation, compliance standards, ethical sourcing requirements and CCIS sustainability objectives.

Selling & Engagement – Responsibility for a robust group promotional plan to complement the performance of the core retail offer. Define a clear approach for driving sales through enhanced crew engagement whilst ensuring appropriately detailed and timely communication is shared with relevant stakeholders. You will also be responsible for ensuring that Inflight Retail fully exploits both current and future opportunities to interface directly with our customers in the quest to promote products and drive sales.

Developing the Trading Team – you will develop a high performing Retail Trading team with clear accountabilities and a continuous improvement mindset. You will lead by example, develop structured and clear ways of working within the team and ensure full and consistent alignment with other key CCIS and Finance stakeholders. You will understand and define a path forward from the selling channels of today towards a future landscape that fully considers sales, operations and customer proposition.

ABOUT YOU

• Proven Trading / Buying / Category Management experience in a Retail business coupled with clear evidence of the leadership skills required to successfully navigate a critical portfolio of responsibilities.
• Vision and confidence to contribute significantly to the development of a Retail strategic plan
• Strong commercial expertise coupled with financial acumen and strong analytical skills
• Ability to develop excellent supplier relationships with strategic partners
• A creative thinker who can build a clear vision and motivate the team on that journey
• A leader who can build an aligned team to deliver high performance in a fast-paced environment
• A structured, well organised individual who is comfortable managing a challenging agenda
• Confidence to contribute and align accordingly with wider team priorities and objectives
• Creative and progressive thinker who delivers commercially referenced and customer focussed change
• Excellent communication, analytical and negotiation skills
• Self-motivated to break down boundaries, successfully influence others and deliver results
• Strong business English (written and spoken)
• Flexibility to travel throughout Europe on a regular basis

ABOUT OUROFFER

Work in the largest global tourism group with international projects and teams
Fantastic holiday benefits including discounts & special offers
Development & career opportunities
Health and wellbeing support
Flexible working (understandably, some roles operate out of a specific location & to a set working pattern)
Plus lots more benefits relevant to the local market that you’ll be based in

We love to see your uniqueness shine through and inspire the future of travel. If you would like to read more about what Diversity & Inclusion means to us simply visit Our DNA.

We really value your interest in TUI and will be back in touch with you shortly after the application closing date.

Please Note: Airline roles will be managed by an international Talent Acquisition team and therefore your application may be viewed by TUI colleagues outside your home country. If you have any questions, please contact the Recruiter for this role via the contact information next to this advert.