Gulf Air
Director of Sales
- Permanent
- Muharraq, Bahrain
- Experience 10 - 15 yrs
Job expiry date: 10/10/2025
Job overview
Date posted
26/08/2025
Location
Muharraq, Bahrain
Salary
Undisclosed
Compensation
Comprehensive package
Experience
10 - 15 yrs
Seniority
Director
Qualification
Professional qualification
Expiration date
10/10/2025
Job description
The Director of Sales at Gulf Air will hold overall responsibility for maximizing company revenue through strategic sales initiatives across global travel markets. This role requires leadership of Regional Sales Managers, Country Managers, General Sales Agents, Travel Agents, and Retail Sales Outlets, ensuring alignment with worldwide policies and industry partnerships including IATA, non-IATA travel agents, and other airlines. The position includes developing and executing a global sales strategy, managing corporate customer portfolios, adopting New Distribution Capability to reduce distribution costs and personalize sales, and driving call centre, e-commerce, website, and app sales. The Director will coordinate with Revenue Management to ensure suitable capacity and pricing campaigns, while engaging with Marketing for market research and with Technology and Digital Services for IT software and hardware improvements to support sales teams. Responsibilities extend to developing regional business plans with KPIs, preparing annual budgets, monitoring competitor activities, managing government relations, collaborating with Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority for inbound visitor development including MICE opportunities, and overseeing promotional visits, sporting events, conventions, and group tours. The Director represents Gulf Air in trade, industry, and government meetings, leading participation in IATA coordination meetings to simplify fare structures, rationalize commission arrangements, and maximize yields. The position requires at least 10 years of sales and marketing experience, with a minimum of 5 years in managerial aviation sales roles, as well as a degree in Business Administration with specialized training in sales and marketing. Strong skills in strategy execution, team management, budget analysis, market research, and industry coordination are essential.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Manage all sales and services functions in Bahrain and overseas locations, directing Regional Sales Managers, Country Managers, General Sales Agents, Travel Agents, and Retail Sales Outlets in selling Gulf Air products
- Develop and execute a global sales strategy to strengthen the corporate customer portfolio
- Drive the adoption of New Distribution Capability to reduce distribution costs and develop personalized sales
- Coordinate and direct business development functions to support Gulf Air markets
- Direct and oversee worldwide call centre activities to drive call centre sales
- Analyze performance against approved plans and budgets by route and sales areas, reporting findings for corrective actions
- Direct the analysis of revenue from appointed General Sales Agents and Travel Agents, controlling reporting and remittance of Gulf Air money
- Develop, recommend, and negotiate revenue targets in General Sales Agency Agreements, Sales Agency Agreements, and Credit Card Plan Agreements
- Develop and implement regional business plans including business priorities, revenue and cost targets, and KPIs for commercial activities
- Exercise effective management and supervision of department staff in selecting, training, motivating, evaluating, and disciplining in liaison with HR
- Prepare the Sales Department’s annual plans, capital, and operating budgets
- Work with the Revenue Management Department to ensure suitable travel capacity and develop campaigns for revenue-positive pricing
- Work with the E-Commerce Department to develop, support, and drive sales through the website and app
- Liaise with Marketing to provide market research services to maximize revenue
- Collaborate with Technology and Digital Services to improve IT software and hardware for sales personnel
- Monitor competitor activities affecting sales performance and respond with initiatives
- Maintain liaison with government officers to incentivize passengers to use Gulf Air services
- Work with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority to develop inbound visitors and MICE opportunities
- Oversee promotional visits, sporting events, conventions, and group tour packages ensuring suitable flight availability and net yield value
- Represent Gulf Air in trade, industry, and government meetings to enhance the company’s commercial image
- Lead Gulf Air’s participation in IATA coordination meetings to shape policies on fare structures, commission arrangements, and yield maximization
Experience & skills
- Hold a degree in Business Administration and Management with specialized qualifications and training in sales and marketing
- Possess a minimum of 10 years of experience in sales and marketing, preferably in the aviation industry
- Have at least 5 years of managerial experience specifically within aviation sales, overseeing or performing sales operations at country or regional level
- Demonstrate proven ability to develop and execute commercial strategies in competitive markets
- Show experience in managing teams effectively to deliver measurable sales results
