Careers

Careers at Canadian Affair

Canadian Affair is the leading tour operator selling tailor made packages to Canada. Want to be the best in the travel industry? We are!

So if you are looking to join one of the youngest, most dynamic hard working teams, then read on.

With an average age of 28, over 80 staff across 2 fabulous offices locations: Paddington in London & Glasgow City Centre, you'll not only enjoy what you do but also love where you work.

We have a passion for Canada, selling, being the very best as well as enjoying our jobs. Canadian Affair knows how to look after its staff, so you'll enjoy a great salary and benefits package that includes staff travel, contributory pension scheme and private health care and progression is always possible, as is the ability to move around our different office locations.

As highlighted in the Plimsoll Portfolio Analysis of the top 1500 travel companies Canadian Affair are ranked as follows:

• • Sales/employee 4th place
• • Remuneration/employee 8th place
• • Sales growth 29th place
• • Pre tax profits 30th place
• • Overall Canadian Affair are among the top 50 companies listed as best trading partner.

So think you fit the bill? Want a new challenge? Are prepared to work hard and reap the benefits? Then send us your CV to (careersUK@transat.com) and perhaps you could be joining our dedicated team soon!

Please note that due to the anticipated high level of demand it may not be possible to respond to all applications.

Sales Adviser

Role

We are looking for experienced full time Sales Advisers who have a passion for travel and providing customers with friendly service.
The successful candidate will have a flair for selling and inspiring a dream in their customers. They must be willing to work hard, be a proven team player and very self-motivated with the experience of delivering targets in a challenging travel industry. They will be capable of handling customer queries and complaints whilst still able to stay motivated to sell.

Key Accountabilities and Activities

Selling the dream

• To be passionate on every call about the brand and the product we sell

Effective Communication

• To be inspired by the customer’s ideas for what they want from their holiday and to be able to translate that into an actual recommendation for a holiday

• To be passionate on every call about the brand and the product we sell

• To handle customer queries that involve admin which is not selling

• To handle customer complaints and resolve at first point of contact whenever possible

Target Driven

• An understanding of selling principles and to be able to close the deal

• To be focused and driven to achieve targets

• To maintain a positive mindset to overcome challenges and barriers to selling

• To be able to naturally respond to competition effectively and manage own expectations

• To be able to manage rejection of a sale so that you can move on without letting it effect you and your performance

Call Handling

• To achieve call handling quality targets by delivering the best service you can give

• To be focused on the customer demand as if they were in front of you by responding to busy periods quickly and effectively

• To be adaptable to change in shifts to accommodate business needs

• To put the customer at the heart of everything you do

Team Work

• Respect all team colleagues and provide a comfortable and friendly working environment

• To be willing to help and support your colleagues at all times

• Be strong in supporting and encouraging others to achieve their goals

• To be flexible to change to meet business needs and demands of the customer

Essential Experience, Educational and/or Training Qualifications & Certificates

• Experience in the contact centre environment preferable but not essential

• Experience in communicating with staff from different cultures and/or countries

• Strong selling skills

• High achiever

• Excellent communication skills

• Understanding of the travel/airline industry

Preferred Experience and Knowledge (type of experience)

• MS Excel/Word/Outlook & PowerPoint

• Experience in the Travel industry

• Experience in using travel systems

Necessary Technical/Functional Skills

• PC skills: Demonstrates familiarity and ease with use of PC equipment and software

• Communication skills –verbal and written-: Communicates effectively with customers and colleagues over the phone and in written transactions

• Language skills: English essential

Locations:London & Glasgow

Shift Pattern:You will be required to work within our shift pattern which are varied on a rotation between 08:30 – 21:00 Monday to Thursday, 08:30 – 20:00 Friday, 09:00 – 18:00 Saturday and bank holidays and 10:00 – 17:00 Sundays.

To apply: Please email your CV and covering letter to: careersuk@transat.com

Digital and Web Content Executive

Role

Content creation

• • Create content and images for BAU emails (3x weekly) and upload to ESP (Responsys)
• • Ensure the online content is engaging, up to date, on-brand and effective to the target audience to help achieve the business goals.
• • Manage the image/video bank/gallery
• • Have excellent experience in writing and creating web content for the various websites.
• • Create new content for new sections/web pages
• • Prepare for new product launches/promotions by creating the content plan.
• • Work to deliver high organic ranking on all websites and web pages.

Content publishing

• • Create the content in the CMS for up to 4 websites.
• • Creating landing pages where needed in CMS e.g. PPC, Organic, Social,
• • Quality Assurance of sites or additional sections prior to launch e.g. UX testing, regression testing
• • Ensuring consistency of presentation of content
• • Assist with training requirements for the Content Management System
• • Publish blogs/videos into website and social media channels according to timelines

Technical requirements

• • Amend existing content and enter new content into the Content Management System.
• • Assist in the development of web management processes and procedures
• • Assist with the Rollouts of new Digital Projects.
• • Be the expert on the in-house CMS system (training provided).
• • Technical skills preferred: Wordpress, Photoshop, HTML
• • Develop the blog in wordpress
• • Research new technologies to advance the content of the websites and any 3rd party plug ins e.g. Trip Advisor etc.

The Candidate:

• • Understanding of SEO (content creation and technical knowledge) website analytics including Google Analytics, Search Console, Moz and screaming.
• • Experience of working with agencies and third parties to achieve targets.
• • Working closely with the marketing and product team to fulfil the website needs.
• • Liaise with 3rd party web developers for development changes, fault logging (Jira)
• • Support Marketing Team members when needed e.g. proof reading, occasional social post scheduling/replying to followers.
• • Works well under pressure
• • Analytical and comfortable working with numbers
• • Customer focused with a passion for delivering a great online experience.
• • An inquisitive mind who is motivated to work both individually and as part of a team. A hands-on problem solver.
• • Natural planner, looking ahead, anticipating and escalating issues before they arise, providing solutions and meeting deadlines.
• • Working knowledge of online development and frontend design.
• • Use and knowledge of ecommerce content management systems.
• • Passionate, proactive and can-do approach.
• • Creative thinker able to ‘think outside the box’.
• • Meticulous, attention to detail.
• • Excellent time management and ability to multi-task.
• • Passionate about travel and discovering new cultures.
• • Knowledge of Canada/travel to Canada: advantageous.

Locations:London

To apply: Please email your CV and covering letter to: careersuk@transat.com

Sales Support Executive

Role:

A great opportunity has arisen for someone to join our busy Sales Support department, based in our London office. We are looking for someone who enjoys administrative duties; has great attention to detail; can effectively prioritise their own work load and in general, has a positive outlook. The role involves working closely with the sales team as well as liaising with suppliers daily and so confidence and strong communication skills are very important. If you thrive under pressure and enjoy working in a fast paced environment we are the company and team for you.

Key responsibilities:

• Ticketing, Issuing / Reissuing / Refunds tickets in Galileo

• Run and manage reports to ensure quality control

• Issuing clients documentation i.e. car vouchers, transfers, excursions, cruise etc

• To process all on request booking components and mange ground queues

• Manage allocations & host to host bookings – ensuring confirmations are received within a reasonable time and checking that all details are accurate

• Work through supplier request responses from the mailbox and updating confirmations to the bookings

• Maintaining and developing strong working relationships with our suppliers at all times whilst delivering a professional and courteous service

• Sense check bookings to ensure bookings flow and are processed correctly

• Communicating with reservation agents and providing support to get bookings confirmed and if required investigate further into alternative options

• Liaising with suppliers to check the progress of bookings on request and challenging any denied requests

• Ensuring any special requirements are booked for passengers

• Responsible for cancellation of ground components and no shows

• Re-arranging components affected by any schedule changes or flights delays

• Despatch schedule change documentation

• Assist in schedule change management

• Dealing effectively with in resort issues and speaking to the clients directly

• Attending team meetings and sharing best practice with colleagues

• Maintaining operational databases

• Assist in schedule change management from initial notification through to customer advisory

• Providing support to other business functions as required

Skills / Experience / Requirements:

• General working knowledge of Galileo

• A strong work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond

• Excellent attention to detail

• Problem solver

• Organised, flexible & punctual

• Able to work on own initiative as well as part of a team

• Ability to multi-task and work under pressure to meet tight deadlines

• Thrive working within a fast paced environment

• Self-motivated

• Highly process driven

• Shift work is required – shift times 08:30-17:00, 9:00-17:30 and 12.30-21:00. Two weekend days' work will also be required on a rotational basis.

Location: London

We offer a competitive salary with excellent benefits and a rewarding working environment. Full training will be provided.

To apply: Please email your CV and covering letter to: careersuk@transat.com

Contact Centre Manager - Glasgow

Department: Sales
Location: Glasgow

Purpose of the role

To develop and guide the Team Coaches & Sales Agents to optimise every sales opportunity and to identify as well as address areas requiring further development. You will achieve this by instilling our Values:

Respect: We work as a team, with openness to the ideas and expectations of our colleagues, our customers and our partners.

Rigour: We are professionals on a constant quest for excellence, tackling challenges methodically, efficiently and with integrity.

Responsibility: We go beyond our obligations to our customers, our colleagues, society and the environment.

Key Responsibilities

Development of the Team Coaches

• • Hold weekly discussions with each Team Coach to understand their workload, challenges and priorities
• • To support and develop the Team Coach in reaching full potential by being a positive and supportive role model
• • Identify any areas for improvement or development and plan in necessary actions to support the Team Coach
• • Spot check Team Coach call evaluations and observe 1 call feedback session per month
• • Observe 1 coaching session per Team Coach per month – more for those less experienced or that require further help

People Management

• • Work in a collaborative way, being positive and open minded to opinions from the team & presenting feedback in constructive manner
• • To keep communication open and supportive being mindful of individual needs and styles
• • Ensure you always follow up on any agreed actions
• • Ensure you are aware always of the overall sales team performance and discuss areas with team Coaches that require improvement
• • Ensure you and your team are always respectful, work as a team and place the customer at the centre of everything we do
• • Manage and maintain the delivery of quarterly 1:1’s, analysing feedback, identifying any themes requiring improvement and proposing plan(s) of action      
• • Co-Chair the 3-weekly department feedback sessions and follow up with relevant plans of action
• • Work with the Team Coaches to create an inspirational environment using incentives and team activities to keep morale high

Responsibility & Customer Satisfaction

• • To be on hand to support the Team Coach with any customer escalation they are unable to handle and be prepared to take over
• • Take ownership in knowing our customers opinion both from a satisfaction & commercial perspective, always with a mind-set of continuous improvement   
• • Remain actively aware of the business sales performance and areas of sales that require improvement and initiate plans to improve 

Resource Management

• • Maintaining appropriate team resource, both short & long-term   
• • Generate & develop operational reports as and when required
• • Identify and develop efficiencies     
• • Manage all SLA’s, making recommendation for improvement where appropriate

Key Skills & Experience

• • 2+ years experience of managing a contact centre sales team within the Travel sector
• • Proven track record of Coaching & Developing individual performance
• • Experience of successfully delivering new channels into the Call Centre e.g. Web Chat
• • Customer centric mindset  
• • Adept at both thinking creatively and executing the solution 
• • Both confident & competent to an intermediate level in computer applications:  Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and CRM)

Work pattern: Flexible working in a shift pattern with late nights and weekend working is required.

Please e-mail your CV and covering letter to careersuk@transat.com.

Sales Executive - UK

Sales Executive - UK
Reports to: Travel Trade Manager

Who we are

Founded in 1995, Canadian Affair are the UK’s leading tour operator to Canada.
Being part of the Transat group we’re Air Transat’s number one partner in the UK.
We launched to the travel trade on the 5 November 2018.

Our mission to the travel trade: together we will provide your customers with the best holiday at the lowest prices with the highest personal care. We offer holiday expertise to every part of Canada; therefore, we will have something for everyone!

Role purpose

We are looking for an enthusiastic and energetic sales executive to help support, maintain and expand the growth of our B2B business in the South of the UK. We need someone that is self-motivated with strong relationship building skills who understands the art of trade sales partnerships to help drive the sales of an established and thriving brand.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain regular contact with portfolio of key accounts through retail field sales
• Attend trade/consumer shows as required independently or as part of the Canadian Affair sales team
• Implementation of any incentive programmes with our retail trade partners
• Apply a 'can-do' attitude - including willingness to go the extra mile to achieve desired results and must have a goal driven attitude
• Join weekly sales meeting via Skype to identify market trends, highlighting sales opportunities and recommending any corrective action required
• Escorted familiarization trips as and when required Experience
• At least two years previous sales experience with a proven track record of achieving results
• An extensive knowledge of high street agencies and their distribution channels
• A strong presenter and relationship builder

Knowledge

• Proficiency in MS Office (primarily Excel & PowerPoint)
• Knowledge of high street agencies and their distribution
• Desirable - knowledge of Canada Affair products
• Desirable - knowledge of our competitors' product in relation to Canadian Affair

Competencies

• A team player with the ability to work unsupervised
• Able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
• Client relationship building
• Results focussed
• Projects enthusiasm and motivation
• Overnight travel will be required on a regular basis
• Excellent communication skills
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written
• Possesses tact, diplomacy and an understanding of business confidentiality
• Responsive to organisational and team needs

Work environment

• Regular domestic travel within the South of the UK
• International travel to Canada will be required
• ¼ visits to the London office to attend Culture Workshop and sales meeting
• Must hold a full and clean driver licence

To apply: Please email your CV and covering letter to: careersuk@transat.com

Flight Consultant (Portuguese)

Role:

We are looking for experienced full time Flight Consultant. Based at our offices in London, the successful candidate will have a flair for providing a great service over the phone. They must be willing to work hard, be a proven team player and very self motivated with the experience of delivering a quality service. They will be experienced in handling customer queries and complaints whilst still able to stay motivated.

Key responsibilities:

➢ To book flights for our Air Transat customers
➢ To be passionate on every call about the brand
➢ To maintain a positive mindset to overcome challenges and barriers
➢ To handle customer queries and resolve at first contact
➢ To handle customer complaints and resolve at first point of contact whenever possible

Skills / Experience / Requirements:

➢ Strong customer service background
➢ Competent and confident in the use of systems (an understanding of flight reservation systems an advantage)
➢ Experience in the contact centre environment desirable but, will consider other customer service environments
➢ Experience in communicating with staff from different cultures and/or countries.
➢ Fluent in English and Portuguese essential
➢ Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
➢ Able to converse in Spanish or Italian beneficial
➢ Competent numeracy skills
➢ Highly motivated
➢ Pro-active and able to manage own workload effectively

The shift patterns are varied on a rotation between 08:00 – 21:00 Monday to Thursday, 08:30 – 20:00 Friday, 09:00 – 18:00 Saturday and bank holidays and10:00 – 17:00 Sundays.

To apply: Please email your CV and covering letter to: careersuk@transat.com

Air Transat Digital Manager

Responsibilities

Lead the execution of paid digital marketing channels (SEM, Display/Programmatic, Paid Social, Third party email, etc.) to support retail campaigns, focusing on qualified traffic.
• Develop UK&I digital media plan in collaboration with HQ, based on knowledge of commercial objectives and market characteristics
Present and execute small to large scale targeted retail activities, provide timelines, communicate updates and obtain proper approvals of go-to-market plans.
• Listen and proactively seek competitive activities in order to provide recommendations accordingly.
• Work with internal teams to deliver quick-to-market strategies
• Build strong cross-functional relationships with internal teams (Data & Analytics, e-Commerce, Brand Marketing, Social, Revenue Management and Pricing, Product and
Sales) that will help deliver on digital marketing tactics.
• Manage external agency partners: perform monthly and quarterly reviews, hold them accountable on strategic delivery, ensure weekly budget and target reporting both
for retail and brand activities.
• Build relationships and work with top advertisers (i.e. Google, Facebook) to stay on top of trends, tools and resources at your disposal.
• Build revenue forecasts per paid channel and make recommendations on spend to meet and exceed revenue targets.
• Work closely with the Marketing and e-Commerce team, continuously optimizing campaigns to determine the optimal brand/retail mix as well as ensuring campaigns are
complimentary.
• Work with external agency partners and tools to determine the right channel mix.
• Forecast, measure, and deliver on-time reports on digital marketing performance across all channels against documented objectives, including sales comps, conversion
metrics, and web and app traffic.
• Proactively participate in the improvement and troubleshooting of retail processes.
• Proactively participate in the integration of retail elements into brand marketing and digital projects.
• Manage, maintain and report on your respective digital marketing budget.
• Manage email marketing campaigns with HQ collaboration
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Air Transat Marketing Manager

Marketing Manager Responsibilities:

• Lead the execution of traditional marketing channels (radio, print, OOH)
• Develop UK&I media plan in collaboration with HQ, based on knowledge of commercial objectives and market characteristics
• Budget management of entire UK&I marketing spend across all channels
• Formulate, direct and coordinate marketing activities to promote products and services, raising awareness of key USPs
• Develop and promote brand initiatives consistent with corporate objectives
• Ensure that all products, services and other offerings conform to brand identity; conduct ongoing brand management in all B2C and B2B channels
• Management of Air Transat’s trade (B2B) marketing campaigns
• Monitor market trends & provide recommendations to improve brand awareness
• Coordinate and participate in promotional activities and trade shows, working with local PR agency
• Analysis of customer research, current market conditions and competitor information
• Prepare and deliver reports on the status of all marketing programs and initiatives to the senior management
• Working directly with the sales and commercial operations teams to support all strategic initiatives
• Communicate and negotiate with promotional partners as needed for joint marketing activities
• Performs other related duties as assigned

To apply: Please email your CV and covering letter to: careersuk@transat.com