Contracting Manager, Middle East & North Africa

Job description

About Us Let’s go on an adventure together! Hey there, we’re G Adventures. We’re one of the world’s leading small group travel companies, and we’ve always believed that travel isn’t just about where you go — it’s about how it changes you. For the last 35 years, we’ve set out to do things differently. No cookie-cutter tours. No giant buses or cruise ships. And not to mention, as few selfie sticks as possible. Just real humans, travelling your heart out across the world with open minds and a non-stop desire to make our planet better, simply by exploring it. At G Adventures, our DNA (or GNA, if you will) is built on belonging — where bringing your authentic self to work every day isn’t just accepted, it’s downright celebrated. For our office crew — you wanna rock a t-shirt with your dog’s face on it? We say go for it. For our Chief Experience Officers — you wanna hit the road and call some of the most epic places on Earth your home office? We love that — and we’ve got you. Wanna spend your days with people you genuinely like? Us too — and we’re pretty sure you’ll fit right in, wherever that is. Now about that career of yours — this is the kind of place where you can spread your wings and truly grow into your role. The best part? You get to do it all alongside a passionate, freakishly talented, one-of-a-kind bunch excited to produce top-notch work and spread a ridiculous amount of goodness at the same time. Feel like this could be the right fit? We think so too, and we’re already way too excited to meet you. About the Role As our Regional Contracting Manager, you are the strategic mastermind behind how we source, negotiate, and build supplier relationships across the region. You will lead a sharp, dedicated regional buying team, drive operational excellence while ensuring alignment of vendor agreements with the organization’s goals - including sustainability and ethical practices. Additionally, it oversees contract renewals, performance tracking and cross-functional training - while maintaining a focus on continuous improvement and stakeholder collaboration. What You'll Be Doing Drive the Buying Strategy: Develop and execute regional purchasing plans that maximize cost efficiency without ever cutting corners on quality. Build Epic Partnerships: Source new vendors, run RFPs, keep up with market trends, and manage relationships to ensure competitive pricing and high-quality service. Own the Contracts: Manage the end-to-end contract lifecycle (negotiations, renewals, and amendments), weaving our social enterprise values and legal standards into every deal. Captain the Squad: Lead, mentor, and inspire the regional buying team to hit their operational and performance targets. Share the Knowledge: Act as the go-to contracting expert for other departments, providing cross-functional training and support on best practices. Own the Numbers: Manage the regional travel budget, track expenditures, and dive into financial reports (like Trip Profitability and Balanced Scorecards) with senior leadership to find optimization opportunities. Mitigate Risk & Stay Compliant: Partner with our Legal team to ensure total alignment with corporate governance. Keep our centralized contract repository organized and spotless. Keep it Green: Fiercely protect our sustainability and ethical goals throughout the vendor selection and audit processes. What Is Required The Foundation: A Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a relevant field. Industry Veteran: At least 6 years of experience in Travel, Buying, and Operations specifically within the region. Deal-Maker Track Record: Proven experience negotiating large-scale contracts and managing complex vendor relationships. Market Expert: Deep, extensive knowledge of western and global tourism markets, competitor landscapes, and industry trends. Tech & Data Savvy: Highly proficient with contract management systems, internal tracking software, and advanced financial reporting tools. Linguistic Versatility: Advanced communication skills in English plus fluency in at least one additional regional language. Cool Under Pressure: Exceptional organizational and administrative skills, with a proven ability to juggle conflicting demands and tight deadlines without losing your attention to detail. What Do We Offer You? Competitive Total Rewards Package, including exclusive travel perks! Additional days off, including on your birthday! Vacation time for you to recharge Enhanced Parental Leave Meaningful Employee Recognition Program Learning and Growth Opportunities Employee Resource Groups *Applicable based on location* Please note that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used in the selection or interview process. G Adventures is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We consider all qualified applicants.