About the Company

As we continue to grow our presence in the UK trade market, we’re looking for a commercially confident Senior Trade Sales Manager to lead our trade strategy, strengthen key partnerships, and inspire a high‑performing sales team.

About the Role

Reporting into the Product & Commercial Director, this standout opportunity is ideally suited to someone who thrives on building relationships, spotting commercial opportunities, and driving results. You’ll play a central role in how our brands show up across the UK travel trade.

Responsibilities

Lead, Inspire and Elevate the Team

• Coach, support, and motivate four Business Development Executives and one sales support executive
• Set clear KPIs and drive performance across all regions.
• Ensure regional plans are delivered consistently and effectively.
• Join BDEs for key meetings, events, and supplier engagements when needed.
• Build a positive, collaborative, high performing team culture.

Drive Sales Growth and Commercial Success

• Develop and deliver the annual UK trade sales strategy.
• Analyse performance to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities.
• Manage trade sales budgets and ensure spend supports commercial priorities.
• Work closely with the Product and Commercial Director to shape strategy.
• Lead initiatives that grow market share, revenue, and brand visibility.
• Oversee agent incentives and ensure digital activity supports field activity.
• Provide regular reporting, insights, and recommendations to Product and Commercial Director.

Strengthen Trade Partnerships

• Represent both brands at a senior level with key trade partners, consortia, and industry bodies.
• Manage agent credit arrangements and associated risks.
• Lead commercial negotiations including commission structures, overrides, and marketing agreements.
• Support the team in building and deepening agency relationships across the UK.
• Ensure consistent messaging and presentation standards at all trade events.

Bring Market Insight Into the Business

• Stay ahead of UK travel trends, competitor activity, and commercial shifts.
• Act as the bridge between the sales team and internal departments, sharing insight with product, marketing, commercial, and operations teams.

Champion the Brands Across the Industry

• Plan and oversee trade events, roadshows, fam trips, and conferences.
• Represent Canadian Affair and American Affair at exhibitions and overseas educational trips.
• Ensure the team consistently positions both brands as leading specialists in North American travel.
• Manage brochure distribution throughout the year.

What you Bring

Essential

• Strong leadership experience within the travel industry, ideally with a tour operator or trade facing background.
• Proven success managing a field based sales team and delivering measurable growth.
• Commercially confident, data driven, and able to influence strategy.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to build senior level trade relationships and negotiate effectively.
• Highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities at pace.
• Willingness to travel across the UK and internationally.
• Passion for North American travel and for championing both brands.
• Full, clean UK driving licence.

Desirable

• A strong network of UK travel trade contacts.
• Experience with digital sales channels or website commercial optimisation.
• Knowledge of Canadian Affair and American Affair destinations or product range.