Global Business Travel Manager

This position manages the worldwide travel governance model and supplier ecosystem within a corporate environment, prioritizing simplicity, cost control, and a positive employee experience. It includes ownership of travel policy, oversight of global travel suppliers, and ensuring compliance, cost efficiency, and operational alignment across regions.

This position requires an experienced professional with a deep background in vendor management, travel program governance, and financial oversight. The ideal candidate combines deep knowledge of corporate travel ecosystems with analytical and leadership capabilities to influence stakeholders and establish global standards without relying on a large internal team.

The role operates in a highly cross-functional environment, partnering closely with HR, Finance, and global business stakeholders. As an individual contributor, the position carries end-to-end accountability for travel governance, vendor performance, and program effectiveness across regions and time zones.

Responsibilities:

Overall Accountability

Responsible for managing the global travel program, including vendor governance, policy ownership, cost control, and performance management, ensuring operational efficiency and compliance across the organization.

Operational Responsibilities

• Own and manage the global travel governance model end-to-end

• Oversee the global Travel Management Company (TMC) and associated travel vendors

• Define and maintain clear travel policies (air, hotel, car, per diems, approvals, exceptions)

• Ensure alignment between travel vendors, HR, Finance, and employees with no process gaps

• Establish structured, easy-to-follow guidelines for employees, managers, and executive assistants

• Ensure compliance with travel policies and duty-of-care requirements

• Collaborate with Finance on cost controls, expense coding, and compliance frameworks

• Support implementation and optimization of booking tools (OBT), integrations, and workflows

Vendor & Service Management

• Manage global travel vendors with strong governance and performance oversight

• Negotiate contracts, pricing, SLAs, and service structures

• Hold suppliers accountable for service quality, cost efficiency, and compliance adherence

• Manage consolidation and optimization of travel providers

• Conduct regular business reviews (e.g., quarterly reviews) to assess performance and define improvements

• Oversee escalation handling and make sure vendor-related issues are resolved promptly

• Promote ongoing enhancements throughout the travel ecosystem

Service & Performance Management

• Ensure delivery of KPIs and SLAs across all travel vendors and services

• Monitor service performance, traveler experience, and compliance metrics

• Conduct root cause analysis on performance issues and implement corrective actions

• Standardize global travel processes to ensure consistency and efficiency

• Partner with Finance to develop dashboards and reporting on travel spend and performance

• Identify cost-saving opportunities and support execution of cost optimization initiatives

• Detect spend leakage, out-of-policy behavior, and cost drivers, and implement corrective measures

Data, Analytics & Financial Oversight

• Analyze global travel spend patterns and trends

• Develop financial insights, forecasts, and cost models for travel programs

• Provide recommendations to reduce costs and improve efficiency

• Support company-wide cost reduction initiatives through travel program optimization

• Ensure transparency and accuracy of travel-related financial data

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Develop effective relationships with HR, Finance, procurement, and stakeholders across the global business

• Work with senior leaders and managers to support consistent compliance with travel policy requirements

• Communicate policy updates and program changes effectively across the organization

• Educate employees and stakeholders to ensure smooth adoption of travel guidelines

• Represent the travel program in governance forums and cross-functional meetings

• Promote alignment across regions and functions in a global, matrix environment

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Hospitality, or related field

• Demonstrated experience in global travel program management, category management, or vendor governance

• Extensive experience in managing global vendors, contract negotiations, and performance management

• Solid understanding of corporate travel ecosystems, including:

• Travel Management Companies (TMCs)

• Online booking tools (OBT), mid-office systems, and GDS integrations

• Travel policies and approval workflows

• Experience working in global or shared services environments is preferred

• Solid financial judgment, with experience in spend analysis, budgeting, and cost reduction

• Experience in process improvement, standardization, and transformation initiatives