AddressPlease note that this role requires understanding of airport eco-system.
Collinson Group is a global leader in driving loyalty and engagement for many of the world’s largest companies. Predominantly through the provision of travel related benefits within a market leading digital travel ecosystem. The group offers a unique blend of industry and sector specialists who together provide market-leading experience in delivering products and services across four core capabilities: Loyalty, Lifestyle Benefits and Insurance.
The group provides unrivalled insight and expertise around affluent consumers and frequent travellers, creating and delivering products and services now accessible to over 400m end consumers.
We have more than 25 years’ experience, with 28 global locations, servicing over 800 clients in 170 countries, employing 1,800 people.
We have been bringing innovation to the market since inception – from launching the first independent global VIP lounge access Programme, Priority Pass to being the first to sell direct travel insurance in the UK through Columbus Direct and creating the first loyalty agency of its kind in the travel sector with ICLP. Today we still invest heavily in innovation to ensure that we continue to deliver superior customer experiences.
Key clients include: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, LATAM, Flying Blue, Accor, EasyJet, HSBC, Chase, HDFC.
Our mission is focused on doing good beyond profit, which for us means we seek out opportunities for our people to share in our success and that we give back to the communities and people within which we work.
Never short of ambition, the success of our business is delivered through the diverse and talented team of over 1,800 colleagues globally.
Purpose of the job
Within the role you will lead a team of Partnership Managers, providing guidance, and support in achieving partnership targets and goals. You will lead with experience in building a high-quality experience ecosystem, able to conceptualize and co-create experiences with partners at lounges and at airports where we face capacity, price, or quality challenges.
You will have direct accountability for some of the strategic partners, and bring a deep understanding of airport eco-system to drive new lines of revenue. Strong commercial acumen drives real competitive advantage by securing competitive commercial terms to enhance margin and securing exclusivity where appropriate to restrict competitive activity. Motivate, inspire, and lead with a passion for leading customer experience.
Working to support the EMEA Director of Partnerships, your role will require you to collaborate with internal teams (Commercial, Procurement, Finance, Product, Operations, Data Insights, Technical Delivery and Marketing teams) to deliver strategy, establish frameworks, evidence strong prioritization planning, ensure governance and inform key strategic projects and strong team leadership to ensure the business meets the strategic goal of increasing the size and value of our market leading travel experience ecosystem driving a loyal client, partner, and consumer base.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategy– Development of strategic plans, considering market trends and competitors. Fullfill and align the EMEA strategy for Lounge & other Inventory across the travel ecosystem working collaboratively to ensure the team and direct reports deliver on this strategy and inform new proposition and drive strategic and financial success for the region
- Commercial Account/Contract Management – Foster and maintain strong, long-term relationships with existing and potential partners. Provide guidance and modelling on negotiations ensuring efficiency, alignment and governance across the team.
- Commercial Negotiation – ensure optimum commercial terms and conditions for new strategic partnerships as well as strengthening and leveraging the terms and scope of current relationships.
- New Business – source, prospect, negotiate and win new relevant & financially rewarding commercial partnerships to broaden the scope, size and value of our airport experience ecosystem.
- Analysis and Reporting – Develop and implement metrics to track the performance and effectiveness of partnerships. Analyze and provide analytical insight into the performance of the partner portfolio and its potential growth and strategic development; lead by example sharing outputs and honing use of key analysis tools across the team to drive relevant & financially rewarding partnerships.
- Content Management – Ensure the integrity and accuracy of partnership content and inform new efficiencies to manage and broaden scope of content to market.
- Marketing – collaborate with Marketing to plan and enable partners to have the best exposure through different channels. Inform and cooperate in the strategic marketing plan to ensure best in class marketing and brand support across the travel experiences ecosystem.
- Collaboration and Support: Work closely with Partnerships & Market Experience Director – EMEA and liaise with him before taking strategic and high level commercial decisions.
Key knowledge, skills and experience required
- Experience in Commercial Account & Contract Management are essential to the role
- Relevant sector experience essential – across relevant industries to include but not limited to Airline and Airports.
- Essential highly numerate with sound analytical skills
- Strong networker and communicator and able to work across departments and comfortable working with multiple activities in parallel
- Strong understanding of Salesforce desirable, willing to develop strong understanding of Salesforce essential
Person Specification
This person will be proactive and diligent with a positive collaborative leadership with a passion for driving business success. A natural self-starter with high drive, lots of enthusiasm and a strong personality to match. Commercially savvy and passionate about partnerships, can evidence strong strategic mindset and is driven by financial success and coaching and developing team performance. Strong negotiator, forward-thinking, highly analytical with good communication & listening skills and a team player.
Collinson is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes differences in all their forms including: colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, family status, age, individuals with disabilities and people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences as we strongly believe this contributes to our on-going success.
We are focused on continually evolving our purpose driven, high performing culture, providing an environment where our people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and do interesting and meaningful work. Our company values are: Act smarter, Do the right thing, One team and Be insight led. These help guide everything we do internally in terms of how we think, act and interact, right through to how we deliver value to our customers and clients.
In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example - she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).
If you need any extra support throughout the interview process, then please email us at ukrecruitment@collinsongroup.com
We also have our very own Beacons (Domestic Abuse Advisors) supporting within each of our global offices. Our Beacons will be your point of contact if you or someone you know needs support.
