Employment

For nearly 50 years Sundowners Overland, the parent company of Vodkatrain, has been crossing Asia from India to Europe and most places in-between and is the most highly regarded Asia Overland travel company, offering the most extensive choice of overland journeys from fully escorted tours to tailor made journeys across the region and through our youth brand, Vodkatrain. Our continued success is due to our focus on just one continent: Asia, and our commitment to providing experiences that Share Asia Overland. Differently.

Advantages of working for Sundowners Overland/Vodkatrain:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Varied and challenging responsibilities
• Spacious, modern CBD offices
• Opportunity to work for an established niche specialist in unique and exciting travel destinations
• Exceptionally friendly and vibrant working environment offering great support and a strong focus on teamwork

With growing awareness of Asia Overland regions Sundowners Overland / Vodkatrain is currently looking for:

Agency Sales Manager – Australia & NZ - MELBOURNE

Position Objectives and Responsibilities:
• To grow and develop agent sales business across all products in Australia and New Zealand to deliver company sales targets
• To develop and maintain high level relationships with all agency groups in Australia and New Zealand
• To manage sales representation activity in Australia and New Zealand
• To provide exceptional customer service to internal and external customers.

Agent Relationship Management
• Develop and maintain high level relationships with domestic agent groups
• Contract and override management
• Monthly reporting management
• Monitor agent satisfaction and feedback
• Manage agent grading system

Agent Training
• Manage sales representation activity in Australia and New Zealand
• Create standardized training presentations for agent groups (web / presentation)

Campaign Management
• Lead generation through targeted agency groups
• Manage special groups via agencies
• Manage agent incentive programmes
• Generate and deliver plan to increase repeat / refer business

Sales & Reporting
• Set and deliver agent sales targets
• Provide exception reports on agent sales

Systems
• Ensure all agent data is updated in CRM and Reservations system
• Ensure quality of data in CRM system pertaining to sales representation activity
• Maintain commission structure sin all systems

Competitor Analysis
• Provide regular feedback of competitor activity
• Provide regular feedback of new product / agent requests / emerging trends
• Provide regular feedback on impact of market changes to sales targets

Essential Attributes:

• Focused on delivering and exceptional customer experience to all our clients and agents
• Proven ability to deliver to sales targets and grow high value business
• Understanding of the Australia and NZ agent sales markets
• High level of attention to detail whilst retaining the ability to see the ‘bigger picture’
• High level of numeracy and strong analytical skills
• Process driven with strong organizational skills – logical approach to decision making
• Proven ability to meet deadlines under pressure, demonstrate flexibility and be able to act on own initiative
• Proficient in all Microsoft Office packages and in particular Microsoft Access and Excel
• Ability to build relationships with agent groups and work together to build sales
• Effective communicator to manage external and internal relationships
• Ability to follow through leads and build pipeline of new business opportunities
• Strong team player as well as ability to work alone
• Passion for Adventure Travel and an ability to develop an in depth knowledge of Sundowners Overland’s products
• Tertiary qualification preferably in this area
• At least 12 months experience in a similar role would be advantageous

Please apply including cover letter, CV and references to our Managing Director, Liz Anderson liz.anderson@sundownersoverland.com

Tour Leader - Sundowners Overland

Although Vodkatrain doesn't have Tour Leaders you can still apply for a position with Sundowners Overland.

•Travel the Trans Mongolian Railway
• Explore the Silk Road through Central Asia
• Start April 2012 onwards

Sundowners Overland is a leading international operator of small group, overland journeys (max 24 clients, 12 - 45 days) to incredible destinations with the aid of well trained, enthusiastic and knowledgeable Tour Leaders.

This position requires hard work, commitment, responsibility and dedication to delivering outstanding client experiences.

Think you can do it?

Our Tour Leaders come from a wide variety of backgrounds so don’t count yourself out if you haven’t done anything like this before! We will provide you with in-depth training to assist you in obtaining the relevant knowledge to be a successful Tour Leader.

There are just a few essentials we do need from you though…

• Able to start in April '12, finishing October '12
• Commitment of two operating seasons
• Travel experience to exciting and challenging destinations
• Basic accounts skills with a high level of accuracy
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
• Impeccable customer relations
• Consistently high quality on road services
• Ability to make difficult decisions by yourself
• Plenty of enthusiasm and drive

Sundowners Overland’s clients come from all over the world so you must be able to mix well with groups of people from diverse backgrounds – not to mention with all the locals along the way!

Our service standards are second-to-none and our Tour Leaders are crucial to helping us maintain our reputation.

SOUND LIKE THE JOB YOU ARE AFTER…?
Please send an email to
my-vien.trinh@sundownersoverland.com for an application form and job description. Resumes alone will not be accepted.

Sales Representative - VICTORIA 

Sundowners Overland and Vodkatrain are specialists working in unique destinations across the Trans Siberian Railway and Central Asia. We currently have an exciting opportunity for a high achieving Sales Representative to join our Australian team to maintain and develop relationships with travel agents, identify opportunities for generating future sales as well as managing sales and marketing projects within Victoria.

The role will suit someone with a true passion for travel and our destinations, who likes to work autonomously with responsibility for their own territory and who enjoys working in a highly competitive sector of the industry.

In this dynamic role you will be responsible for:

• Training travel agents about our journeys to build their confidence, knowledge and enthusiasm for our products;
• Representing Sundowners Overland and Vodkatrain at travel shows;
• Working ‘on the road’ to build credibility and opportunities to promote Sundowners Overland and Vodkatrain;
• Providing exceptional service and support to our agents;
• Achieving agreed company sales targets.

Experience within the travel industry is ideal but not essential. In return you will be offered an attractive remuneration package and will be working with specialists in unique and exciting travel destinations as part of a friendly and vibrant team.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• A successful track record of achieving sales targets in a competitive industry;
• Confidence and skills in presentation, communication and negotiation;
• An understanding of the Australian and in particular Victorian market;
• Ability to perform data analysis and evaluate opportunities;
• Strong IT skills with a comprehensive understanding of web and social media;
• Ability to self motivate and to work autonomously;
• Ability to articulate product benefits;
• A passion for pursuing targets and achieving excellent results;
• A real sense of fun and passion for our product and destinations.

If you are interested in applying for this role please email your resume and covering letter to liz.anderson@sundownersoverland.com .