We’re the airline that dares to be different, bold, down-to-earth and built around giving our guests real choice. Safety is our backbone, service is our heartbeat, and our people are our superpower.
At Virgin Australia, we’re on a mission to be Australia’s most loved airline, for our people, our guests and our owners and we’re looking for passionate talent to help take us even higher.
We’re vibrant, authentic and unapologetically human. Here, you can bring your whole self, your Virgin Flair and your ambition to a team that champions individuality, innovation and a whole lot of heart. If you’re excited by meaningful work, real opportunities to grow, and a culture where you can genuinely make a difference, you’ll feel right at home with us.
What you’ll be doing:
The Travel team at Velocity is building a loyalty-led Hotels & Holidays proposition designed to encourage our members to choose Virgin Australia and Velocity for more of their entire trip. Direct sourcing will be fundamental to that ambition, helping us create greater customer choice, stronger commercial outcomes and differentiated travel experiences.
As Manager, Direct Sourcing, you’ll lead the strategy and capability that underpins our direct hotel and holiday supply portfolio. Reporting to the Head of Travel, you’ll establish and grow strategic supplier relationships, lead complex commercial negotiations and build the frameworks and ways of working needed to create a scalable, high-performing direct sourcing function.
You’ll combine strong industry relationships with commercial judgement to secure the inventory, rates and partnership structures that support the continued growth of Velocity’s Hotels & Holidays proposition.
- Develop and lead the Hotels & Holidays direct supply strategy, operating model and roadmap.
- Define priority destinations, segments and sourcing opportunities to maximise direct supply coverage, customer value and commercial returns.
- Build and maintain senior-level relationships across the hotel and holiday supplier ecosystem.
- Lead supplier identification, engagement, negotiation, contracting and onboarding across priority markets.
- Secure competitive rates, commissions, margins, availability, inventory and trading terms with direct suppliers.
- Develop strategic partnerships that create differentiated supply, preferential access and long-term commercial value.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen commercial outcomes through volume commitments, promotions, exclusivity and other partnership structures.
- Establish the frameworks, processes and governance required to scale direct supplier acquisition and management.
- Own the commercial performance of the direct supply portfolio, including margin, availability, conversion, supplier economics and customer value.
- Partner closely with Trading, Product, Technology, Finance and broader Hotels & Holidays teams to maximise the value of direct supply.
- Lead and develop a small team, establishing clear objectives, performance measures and capability as the function continues to grow.
- Represent Velocity and Hotels & Holidays externally, strengthening our relationships and profile across the hotel and travel industry.
Please note: This is a 6 month opportunity with the potential to extend.
You’ll be great in this role if you:
- Bring experience in strategic sourcing, procurement or commercial supplier management within the hotel, travel and/or tourism industries.
- Have a demonstrated track record of building direct supplier relationships and negotiating complex commercial agreements at scale.
- Bring an established senior-level network across the hotel and holiday supplier ecosystem.
- Have exceptional commercial negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to create value while developing long-term strategic partnerships.
- Have deep knowledge of hotel and holiday supply economics, distribution models, contracting structures and market dynamics.
- Understand direct contracting models including rates, commissions, margins, inventory, availability, allocations, promotions and commercial incentives.
- Understand travel distribution and OTA economics and the role direct supply plays within a broader Hotels & Holidays strategy.
- Are commercially astute with strong analytical capability, commercial judgement and attention to detail.
- Can operate credibly and confidently with senior industry executives and stakeholders across all levels of an organisation.
- Have experience building a new function, capability or operating model from the ground up.
- Bring strong people leadership capability, with experience coaching and developing a small high-performing team.
- Are comfortable working in ambiguity and a fast-moving growth environment, with a focus on creating sustainable long-term value rather than simply securing the next deal.
What you’ll get from us:
- We’re committed to looking after you, with some of the best benefits and conditions in the industry – including (but not limited to):
- Heavily discounted air travel for you and your loved ones (including $1000 worth of travel credits per year)
- Flexible working arrangements (including work hours and work from home)
- Discounts on travel insurance, car hire, accommodation and experiences worldwide
- Discounted Virgin Australia Lounge membership
- Hospitality, retail, technology, beauty services and wellness discounts
- Wellness support, including the Converge digital wellbeing platform
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Program, which offers confidential coaching and support from qualified professionals for all aspects of life – physical, mental, social and financial
- Dress for Your Day – enjoy the freedom to wear whatever is appropriate for the type of work you do and the day you have ahead of you
Equality rules:
We’re all individuals. We love that. That’s why we encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability, those from diverse cultural backgrounds, our friends in the LGBTQI+ community, and anyone else who wants to join our family.
Ready to apply? We’re ready to hear from you. Apply now.
