CAREERS
Looking for a career in sustainable tourism in Africa ?
If you are ready to be part of one of the most adventurous journey and share your passion with our guests, please send your application to contact@expeditions-ducret.com.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Expeditions Ducret is a premium expedition cruise line. Our singularity is to go where no one goes. We are pioneers in our destinations, opening new river or sea routes in the wildest or most closed regions of the world. Our first destination is the Congo Basin. Our expeditions take place in small groups (28 pax) in a 14 cabins environmentally friendly “Boutique Hotel” ship. Local communities are at the heart of our concerns to ensure that the fragile balance between tourism and preservation is maintained. We have clients around the world.
Period : starting now
Work Location: Europe
Overall Responsibilities:
The Business Development Manager is responsible for developing sales and creating demand for Congo Safari cruise. He is responsible for developing the brand image and turnover of Ducret Expeditions. To do this, he is in charge of coordinating the existing network and developing the network of BtoB resellers (specialized travel agencies, tour operators) located around the world. Evaluate account potential, develop account targets, and monitor performance on a frequent and consistent basis. Develop annual sales plans for the assigned accounts and manage implementation of the plan to insure revenue and passenger goal are met.
Duties:
- Being the privileged interlocutor of agencies and tour operators
- Identify new prospects, contact them and convince them to become reseller
- Communicate with prospects with new offers, incentives, enhancements, and other partner support.
- Develop, implement, and modify comprehensive sales plans to meet position objectives and strive for sales growth.
- Conduct business review meetings monthly with agency management/ownership to address performance of targeted accounts, agency needs as per sales plan. Frequency and method of contact determined by sales strategy.
- Develop long-term relationships with agency management/ownership and frontline agents to ensure that account revenue objectives are met or exceeded.
- Conduct product training workshops, webinars and presentations for targeted travel agents and related/partner organizations.
- Solicit new groups via trade, consumer, and co-branding leads.
- Participate in international trade shows, travel agent seminars, and other travel industry functions. (PURE, We are Africa, etc. )
- Escort travel agents on familiarization trips.
- Keep travel agents updated on promotions, incentives, policies, product enhancements, and brand positioning : newsletters
- Develop and manage cooperative marketing
Skills:
- Taste for adventure, expeditions and travels. Good knowledge of Africa ideally
- Eager to take part in a great adventure
- Self-motivated and operates independently.
- Possesses keen knowledge of travel agency business models and can determine how to best optimize performance with acceptable ROI.
- Ability to develop new relationships and identify solutions via commercial terms and/or new business development.
- Ability to interact, communicate and negotiate effectively with an international clientele
- Professional and articulate verbal and written interpersonal skills
- Native English speaking or fluent in English is a must. German or French a plus.
- Knowledge of sales and marketing initiatives to utilize cutting edge technology advances and relevant techniques to apply to each model.
- Applies analytical thinking to sales plan development and account management.
- Excellent time management skills.
- Ability to monitor to online sales, able to measure performance and gauge KPIs for ROI
- Can leverage computer and software skills to sell more effectively and efficiently.
Experience:
- Business development: 3 years (Preferred)
- Sales: 3 years (Preferred)
- Travel Industry: 1 year (Required)
Education / Degree
- Undergraduate Degree with a preference for education in Hospitality, Travel, Tourism, Business, or other relevant fields
- Ideal candidates have previous experience working in a luxury travel agency or tour operator as a travel or hospitality consultant or travel advisor
Compensation
- Competitive salary based on experience + Bonus or Monthly fixed contractor fee to be determined based on experience
Job Type
Full-time, Flexibility for working hours within European or US time zones and the opportunity to work remotely
If you are a motivated sales professional please apply, detailing why you are a great match in your cover letter. We look forward to hearing from you! send CV to nicolas@expeditions-ducret.com
Please send your application to contact@expeditions-ducret.com.
EXPEDITION LEADER-SHORE EXCURSIONS
Expeditions Ducret is a premium expedition cruise line. Our singularity is to go where no one goes. We are pioneers in our destinations, opening new river or sea routes in the wildest or most closed regions of the world. Our expeditions take place in small groups of 14 cabins on board a very elegant, environmentally friendly “Boutique Hotel” ship. Local communities are at the heart of our concerns to ensure that the fragile balance between tourism and preservation is maintained.
Period : From April 2024
Place : Republic of Congo (Congo – Brazzaville)
Description:
The Expedition Leader manages all onboard programming and off-vessel activities as part of the larger Vessel Management Team. The Expedition Leader (EL) manages the day-to-day activities while supervising a team of up to three Expedition Guides, who lead hikes, kayak trips, interpretive presentations and motor boat rides.
The EL has exemplary leadership, team building, management, and customer service skills. He/she manages program safety policy and procedures, and is well versed on destination topics including, history, culture and natural surroundings. The EL has a solid background in interpretive program development, group outdoor adventure leadership skills, and cooperative management skills.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
· Manages programming and scheduling for off vessel excursions, presentations, and meal times; communicates this to the guests and crew in an easy to understand and well documented manner
· Communicates with the Vessel Management Team (VMT) regarding routing and off vessel excursions, disembarkation/embarkation, meal times, docking and any onboard management issues
· Works closely with the Captain to coordinate any changes in schedule, route or special circumstances.
· Builds and develops the Expedition Guides into a strong and communicative team
· Supervises, trains, schedules, coaches and formally evaluates up to three Expedition Guides
· Oversees the execution of the daily plan by the Expedition Team, including timely departures/arrivals, safe and informative excursions, professional and educational interpretation in the field, formal onboard presentations, and gear maintenance
· Manages all administrative tasks assigned to the Expedition department including parks permit
logs, daily itinerary updates and guest briefings
· Maintains a current inventory of all resources aboard and requisitions needed materials as appropriate
· Upholds company standards and policy, including meeting and/or exceeding guest’s expectations.
· Maintains professional demeanor with guests, crew, staff, agents, officials, and the public
Requirements:
QUALIFICATIONS:
· Minimum two years of team management, leadership, and conflict resolution experience
· Minimum two years experience leading guests in the field on kayaking and excursions
· Preferred or equivalent experience: Safari guide education or minimum education of a Bachelor of Science in natural resources, biology, environmental education or policy, botany, forestry, environmental geography, anthropology, history, or other related field of study.
· Prior small ship cruise industry experience strongly preferred or African safari guide experience. Knowledge of Congo or Central Africa is a plus.
· Communication and writing skills that provide explanation of very complex or technical matters to people with little or no background in the area under discussion
· Polished social skills and maturity to communicate clearly, positively and calmly under stressful conditions to the Captain, crew, and guests
· Interpersonal skills that provide the ability to regularly deal with situations where opposing views are encountered and satisfactory resolution of issues must be achieved
· Outstanding customer service mentality and practice
· Supervisory capacity to manage highly educated and/or specialized individuals in a close, community setting
· Ability to train and provide guidance to others and/or to review their work in written and verbal evaluations
· Ability to speak French and English. German will be ideally.
· First Aid/CPR and Wilderness First Responder Certified
WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Duties and responsibilities are generally performed in a river Operations setting, primarily onboard a vessel.
Must be physically able to work 12 hours per day, seven days per week, for up to 9 months at a time and it is followed by a 3 months break. Between two groups, there is between 1 day and 3 days break. The boat sails on the Congo and Sangha rivers (12 days cruise) from May to January. The temperature is around 30 degrees all year round.
SALARY
Competitive salary based on experience + Bonus + Flight. Single accommodation
To apply, send CV to nicolas@expeditions-ducret.com