Product Manager, Africa

The Travel Corporation

$75K — $95K *
Hospitality & Recreation
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3-6+ years in African travel product development, contracting, or tour operations
  • Experience with African DMCs and safari suppliers
  • Deep knowledge of African destinations and safari logistics
  • Strong negotiation and contracting skills
  • Commercial and analytical mindset focusing on pricing and margins
  • Ability to manage complex, multi-country itineraries
  • Strong communication skills to influence and motivate teams
  • Customer-focused approach with a commitment to high-quality experiences
  • Attention to detail ensuring product quality and compliance

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain a portfolio of African itineraries including luxury and experiential travel
  • Create vacation packages across various notable African destinations
  • Design specialized experiences such as safaris and cultural tours
  • Negotiate contracts with suppliers including lodges and airlines
  • Cultivate relationships with key partners and tourism boards
  • Monitor booking trends and customer feedback for product optimization
  • Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to create compelling training and promotional materials

Benefits

  • Opportunity to transform passion for Africa into impactful experiences
  • Hybrid work model with the potential for remote work
  • Travel opportunities including international and domestic trips
  • Collaboration with knowledgeable professionals in the travel industry
  • Engagement with high-quality suppliers and partners to lead innovative travel offerings
Full Job Description
Job Type

Full-time

Description

THE OPPORTUNITY

Are you passionate about creating unforgettable travel experiences and bringing destinations to life? We're seeking a Product Manager to design, develop, and optimize a portfolio of African travel products, including luxury safaris, custom FIT itineraries, and small group journeys. This role combines destination expertise, supplier partnerships, commercial strategy, and product innovation to deliver high-quality experiences that inspire travelers and drive business growth.

What makes this role unique? You'll have the opportunity to turn your passion for Africa into exceptional travel experiences. From sourcing new experiences and building supplier relationships to influencing commercial strategy and launching innovative itineraries, you'll play a direct role in shaping memorable journeys for travelers.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Product Design and Innovation
  • Develop and maintain a portfolio of African itineraries (luxury, premium, and experiential)
  • Create packages across destinations such as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe
  • Design specialized experiences (Big Five safaris, honeymoons, family travel, rail journeys, cultural tours)
  • Continuously refresh products based on trends and customer demand

Supplier and Partnership Management
  • Contract and negotiate with lodges, camps, airlines, and local DMCs
  • Maintain strong relationships with key African partners and tourism boards
  • Conduct FAM trips to inspect properties and experiences
  • Ensure product quality aligns with brand standards (luxury, service, sustainability)

Pricing and Commercial Strategy
  • Build and manage pricing structures (net rates, commissions, markups)
  • Account for seasonality, park fees, and currency fluctuations
  • Ensure profitability targets while maintaining competitive positioning in the North American market

Product Performance and Optimization
  • Monitor booking trends, conversion rates, and customer feedback
  • Analyze product performance and identify gaps or underperforming itineraries
  • Optimize offerings to improve margins and customer satisfaction

Sales and Marketing Collaboration
  • Partner with marketing teams to develop brochures, digital content, and campaigns
  • Support sales teams with training on destinations and itineraries
  • Ensure product content is accurate, compelling, and aligned with brand storytelling

Operational Coordination
  • Work closely with operations teams to ensure seamless delivery of trips
  • Manage updates, cancellations, and supplier changes
  • Ensure compliance with travel regulations, insurance requirements, and safety standards


Requirements

WHAT YOU'LL BRING
  • 3-6+ years in African travel product development, contracting, or tour operations
  • Experience working with African DMCs and safari suppliers
  • Deep knowledge of African destinations and safari logistics Strong negotiation and contracting skills
  • Commercial and analytical mindset (pricing, margins, forecasting)
  • Ability to manage complex, multi-country itineraries
  • Communication & Influence - Clearly communicates ideas, builds rapport, and influences others to achieve effective outcomes.
  • Customer Focus - Understands customer needs and delivers solutions that create a high-quality, consistent experience.
  • Adaptability - Responds effectively to change, adjusting priorities and approach to meet evolving needs.
  • Quality & Attention to Detail - Ensures accuracy, consistency, and high standards in all work, minimising risk and rework
  • Courage & Decision Making - Makes confident, timely decisions and challenges the status quo to improve outcomes.


NICE TO HAVE
  • First-hand travel experience in Africa (highly preferred)
  • Degree in Tourism, Hospitality, Business, or related field (highly preferred)

TRAVEL & OTHER REQUIREMENTS
  • Travel: Up to 4 international trips and 4 domestic trips per year
  • Location: Hybrid, Glendale, CA (Preferred) | Remote U.S. Considered


Salary Description

$75,000 - $95,000

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