Contracting Specialist, East Africa

About Us

G Adventures is the world’s largest small-group adventure travel company and we’ve been making epic travel memories happen on all seven continents for over 30 years.

Our mission is simple: to change lives through travel. And not just our travelers’ either. Since day one, our tours have been built to establish meaningful relationships with local communities, directly benefiting the people and places we visit at every step of our tours.

With the demand for travel coming back strong, we are set up and excited for this next chapter in our company’s story — and we’d love for you to be a part of it.

Our DNA revolves around building, nurturing, and developing a diverse culture of people and a true sense of belonging, where everyone is encouraged to bring their authentic self to work each and every day. You’ll have the opportunity to grow your career, and yourself, alongside a passionate, talented, and welcoming community that works hard to spread goodness around the world.

If all that sounds like your kind of thing, well, we can’t wait for you to join us.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director, Buying for the region, the Contracting Specialist is responsible for executing their region’s Buying strategy, keeping a focus on costs and service quality. This includes conducting and supporting the research and execution of the strategy set by the Region’s Director Product with the support of the Director, Buying. This role works closely with the Director, local Operation Managers and Tour Staff Managers to generate the most optimal content flow, budgets, vendor selection and product content recommendations. As a member of the region's destination team, you must be able to effectively partner and maintain consistent communication with all stakeholders, internally and externally, to ensure the objectives of their region are achieved.

This role is based out of our office in Cape Town, South Africa where a set number of days is required in office by the region.

What you'll be doing

• Execution of the region buying strategy that meets the organization's cost objectives and service standards.
• Building relationships with existing vendors and sourcing new vendors as required; and using relationships to encourage new ideas and innovative solutions to challenges.
• Negotiating vendor contracts while maximizing cost value and ensuring G Adventures is preferred.
• Working with stakeholders to optimize our purchasing and utilization in the region.
• Communicating results (costs and cost estimates) to meet deadlines.
• Updating budgets accurately and in a timely manner.
• Building vendors and vendor contracts in our system following business rules.
• Develop and build awareness of competitive marketplace via local market intelligence.
• Providing Content Coordinator with accurate and detailed tour details as needed.
• Encouraging and promoting our social enterprise purpose through vendor engagement.
• Monitoring customer feedback and vendor Standard Operating Procedures to ensure contracted services are meeting expectations and safety standards.
• Conducting the Audits for their region.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Skills & Experience

• 2+ years or more of relevant travel, contracting/buying and operation experience in their region.
• Proven experience negotiating rates and services and managing vendor communication.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in relevant discipline.
• Solid knowledge of western tourism markets.
• Experience with buying, Tour Leading and operations cycle and processes.
• Experience collaboratively with cross-functional groups.
• Advanced communication skills, both oral and written in English and a local language.
• Proven experience in administrative and management skills.
• Ability to travel as the role necessitates up to 25% - 30% of the time.

What do we offer you?

• Competitive salary commensurate with the role.
• Competitive benefits package.
• Birthday day off.
• Vacation time for you to recharge.
• Enhanced Parental Leave.
• Learning and growth opportunities.
• Employee Resource Groups.

*Applicable based on location*

G Adventures is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We consider all qualified applicants.