VP, Supplier Relations
- Full-time
Company Description
Ensemble Travel Group is a leading travel agency consortium of top-tier agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada that was established in 1968. Acquired by Navigatr Group in June 2022, Ensemble provides members with access to exclusive offers, unique hosted tours, partnerships and superior marketing opportunities with best in class suppliers, and proprietary travel platforms such as ADX that offers agents instant commission visibility, one click insurance and more to improve efficiencies and earnings. Ensemble maintains offices in Toronto and New York.
Job Description
The VP, Supplier Relations is accountable for Ensemble’s entire portfolio of preferred partners. The ideal candidate believes in the consortium’s vision, takes ownership and pride in their work, and wants an opportunity to work collaboratively to drive meaningful and exciting change in the travel industry.
As a strategic planner and thinker, this individual will have a large focus on establishing the company's supplier mandate to ensure maximum value and revenue to Ensemble’s membership base. Reporting directly to the SVP, Operations, they will provide leadership by developing strategic plans, delegating tasks to management staff, and ensuring the integration of those plans with company operations. This role requires a strategic, analytical, and flexible candidate who has a roll-up-their-sleeves attitude and is comfortable with a hands-on position involving significant change management.
This position will oversee management of existing programs along with the creation of new programs and is responsible for a comprehensive review of both. Key success factor will be driving attachment across all travel verticals, shifting share to preferred partners and deployment of promotions, incentives and other tactical elements to membership. As a member of the senior leadership team, this individual will work collaboratively across functional areas both internally and externally, to define and execute Ensemble’s strategic vision and objectives.
Essential Job Functions
Develop and implement overarching vision and direction for Supplier Relations department, establishing high-level goals while also planning, organizing, and controlling the end-to-end procurement cycle
Ownership over the department’s ability to meet KPIs associated with supplier programs by delivering strategy to shift share and increase adoption
Evaluate and streamline business processes to maximize efficiency and effectiveness both within the department and across other departments to ensure company objectives are met
Build process around the deployment of products and programs across the membership
Lead a team of industry professionals and foster growth in their respective verticals through coaching, strategic results meetings, comprehensive reviews, and day-to-day support
Constant collaboration across the wider organization to ensure effectiveness of programs
Provide strategic input into the development of new programs and products through external research, out-of-the-box thinking, and strong relationships with partners
Build strong relationships with supplier partners and Ensemble members, representing the company values in every encounter
Qualifications
5+ years of experience in contract negotiation with travel suppliers
Experience in change management
Cultivated connections within the travel industry, especially key suppliers
Experience in strategic and tactical program development and deployment
Problem solving skills and ability to deal with complex issues
Good business judgment with an ability to challenge plans and assumptions and an
appetite to question the “status quo”Strong leadership skills, and experience in managing and motivating a team
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills and an ability to communicate at the highest executive levels in the organization
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, to meet tight deadlines, and to adapt quickly to shifting priorities
Upbeat personality, team player, self-starter with the ability to communicate with multiple constituents, all with a foundation of kindness
Proven business acumen with a data-driven approach to decision making and analysis
Ability to build process and structure around strategy
Additional Information
We thank all candidates for their interest however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
We are committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodation due to a disability at any stage of our hiring process, please advise us when completing your application.