European Contracting Manager (French Speaking) You must hold a full, clean UK driving licence Permanent Office-Based £30,000 £45,000 DOE Monday Friday 9:00am 5:30pm Location: Harrow-on-the-Hill
The Opportunity An established B2B tour operator specialising in
European
group and coach travel is seeking a
European Contracting Manager to join its London-based team.
This is a
business-critical, long-term role, replacing a team member who has been with the company for over 11 years. It offers the opportunity to step into a well-structured, respected position with real ownership of supplier relationships and European markets.
The role would suit an experienced
travel contracting / purchasing professional, although strong junior candidates with relevant travel or hospitality background will also be considered.
The Role European Contracting & Supplier Management This is a hands-on, commercial role focused on
hotel and ground service contracting for European tours, primarily supporting India-focused group travel.
Key responsibilities include:
- Contracting, negotiating, and managing hotels, transport providers, attractions, and ground services across Europe
- Owning and developing long-term supplier relationships, including regular face-to-face meetings
- Conducting rate negotiations, market research, and competitor analysis
- Attending UK and European travel trade events and workshops (e.g. London, Paris, Italy)
- Overseas travel for supplier contracting during peak periods (typically June September, in short stints)
- Working closely with internal operations and sales teams to ensure smooth tour delivery
- Maintaining accurate contracting, pricing, and supplier records
- Supporting continuous improvement of product quality and commercial performance
The role requires flexibility to travel for approximately
2 3 months of the year, usually in one-week periods.
About You - Experience within travel, tourism, or hospitality
- Exposure to contracting, purchasing, supplier negotiations, or product management
- Fluent French and English (additional European languages such as German or Dutch advantageous)
- Strong commercial awareness with confident negotiation skills
- Comfortable building relationships and attending face-to-face supplier meetings
- Organised, detail-oriented, and proactive
- Confident IT skills, particularly Excel and Microsoft Office
- Full, clean UK driving licence required
- Able to work in a fully office-based role
Strong junior profiles with the right industry background will also be considered.
Additional Information - Office located a short walk from Harrow-on-the-Hill station
- Interview process: video interview followed by face-to-face
- Supportive, collaborative team environment
- Long-term stability and progression within the travel sector
- Overseas travel and genuine ownership of European markets
