Opportunities


Vice President, Product Planning

Our Client

Our Client provides worldwide electronic distribution of travel information, Internet products and connectivity, and e-commerce capabilities for travel agencies, travel service providers, and corporations. The company's three lines of business are travel supplier services, e-commerce, and travel distribution for the worldwide travel industry. Their reservations system provides approximately 16,000 travel agencies and other users worldwide with travel data and booking capabilities for hundreds of the world's leading travel service suppliers. They are the leader in e-commerce for the travel industry.  They process over 65 percent of online airline transactions made in the U.S. and processed by a global distribution system (GDS).

Vice President, Product Planning position description and responsibilities

We are seeking a candidate to provide general oversight and responsibility for all aspects of product planning.  This will include strategic product and business planning which results in global growth, increased market share, increased revenues, and reduced expenses based on continuous analysis of market and industry trends, competitive and contractual requirements, and customer needs.  The key aspects of this position are portfolio management, planning and strategy, managing the development and launch processes, and effectively executing product marketing plans with the focus on how to allocate resources to achieve the best return on investment.

The role will entail managing the day-to-day activities of assigned department employees in the identification and life cycle management of strategies, programs, and product offerings.  You will need to foster relationships with customers and internal departments that promote effective working relationships and the development and distribution of products and services that meet company objectives and timelines and result in customer satisfaction.  You will be responsible for overseeing the direction, strategic planning, profitability, prioritization, lifecycle management, positioning, and sunsetting of all new and existing products within product lines.

This position includes monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of plans on an ongoing basis, managing related budget(s), and recommending the appropriate modifications based on shifts in the industry and customer needs.  It is necessary to promote product awareness, create leverage and adoption in order to help the sales team meet revenue projections.  You will be responsible to ensure that global products and product delivery, programs, pricing, and promotions are in compliance with company policy and legal requirements.  This role requires participation in industry presentations, panel discussions and trade events to promote Worldspan and its objectives.

Key skills in this role will be innovation and creativity partnered with industry and customer knowledge to drive new products through the process on a quarterly basis.

This position requires the ability to solve problems quickly and effectively by working across the organization (including interfacing effectively with finance, customer service, technology, on-boarding, etc.), and creating and maintaining a work environment of continuous improvement by identifying deficient operations and processes.

This role includes the need to be skilled at assessment of development efforts in accordance with market and product plans while evaluating the need for unplanned work efforts.  This means responsibility for positive return on investment, ensuring delivery deadlines are met, and quality products are released in accordance with market needs, competitive requirements, mandates, contractual obligations and budgetary constraints. 

Education and Experience

The ideal candidate is an individual with high energy, a positive attitude, and outstanding people skills. 

Experience in and knowledge of travel/CRS industry including an understanding of industry issues, competitive environment and relevant business models.

Must have five to seven years of progressively responsible professional and managerial experience in program design and product line management.

Seven to ten years of progressively responsible management experience (must have managed more than 40 employees and have been responsible for P&L of more than $5 - 10 M).

Master's Degree in Business, Information Systems, Sales or Marketing or equivalent experience desired.

Must be articulate and possess excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills (at all levels of the organization) and be compelling in front of large and small groups (presentation skills).

Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem solving skills required.

Must be very commercially grounded and possess advanced business and financial acumen.

Must have excellent negotiation skills and the ability to assess the quality of business deals and manage large, complex contracts.

Must have strong operational and process improvement skills. 

Must be detail oriented and able to ensure follow through and accountability at all levels.

Must be a strong change agent, able to successfully bring others along as business needs evolve. 

Extensive experience with travel agency operations, GDS industry, messaging, fares and pricing product, sales and marketing procedures and products preferred.

Must be proficient with personal computers, including knowledge of technology, web applications and functionality, spreadsheet and presentation software.     

Must be able to travel up to 10% of the time including international travel.