Strategic Relationship Manager - Travel Industry

Role Overview

The Strategic Relationship Manager is the primary point of contact for a portfolio of clients and is responsible for managing relationships and delivering solutions according to client needs and objectives. The role drives value, efficiency, compliance, and excellent customer service within the travel industry.

Responsibilities

• Build multilevel relationships with travel bookers, PAs, CEOs, CFOs, procurement heads, decision makers, and influencers.
• Explore opportunities for organic growth and understand each client's industry, interests, acquisitions, and divestments.
• Communicate supplier updates, industry trends, shifts, destinations, and differentiated value to clients.
• Review presentations and surveys in line with client service-level agreements.
• Manage contract dates, client-fee negotiations, budgets, aged analysis, and debtor support.
• Maintain valid contracts, service-level agreements, handover documents, travel policies, and client records.
• Analyse management-information reports, submit recommendations, and ensure clients understand report value.
• Support new-business presentations, operational consulting, technology-solution sales, supplier relationships, client workshops, and contract renewals.
• Maintain POPIA adherence and ensure service delivery, reporting, and compliance obligations are met.

Requirements

• Matric or Grade 12 and a degree in Business Management.
• Minimum four to five years' experience in a similar strategic account or relationship-management role.
• Strong business acumen and ability to engage at multiple client levels.
• Sound financial knowledge to negotiate client fee models, understand margins, and interpret income statements and profit analysis.
• Ability to read management-information reports and turn them into clear client reviews.
• Sales, relationship-building, presentation, public-speaking, supplier-negotiation, and business-consulting capability.
• Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel proficiency.