Global Travel Operations, Senior Manager

General/Position Summary

The Global Travel Operations, Senior Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day relationship with the Vertex Travel Management Company (TMC) vendor and the Travel Technology that supports it. This critical role will optimize vendor performance, drive operational efficiencies, monitor adherence to policies, and develop strong program controls to drive behaviors and policy compliance. The role will require significant global cross-functional collaboration to identify, build, and develop process efficiencies to enable scale and geographic expansion. The ideal candidate will possess advanced relationship-building skills, a proven ability to work with Senior Leaders, and navigate complex, high-pressure situations with professionalism and strategic insight.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the outsourced travel support model including vendor management of Travel Management Company (TMC) across all geographic locations, ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Act as the vendor manager and internal liaison between internal teams and TMC. Ensure TMC operational performance goals are met, and service level agreements are maintained.
• Monitor vendor performance and compliance through strategic data analysis, anticipating potential issues and addressing them proactively. Reviews & proposes vendor-specific process changes and ensures adequate management and mitigation of risk arising from vendors.
• In partnership with the TMC, drive supplier partnership & negotiations, exceptional customer service, cost savings, and reduced environmental impact where possible.
• Monitors traveler compliance of Vertex’s Global Travel & Expense policy, and proactively reviews and suggests policy recommendations as the business evolves.
• Proactively anticipates business needs and addresses them by taking an innovative approach developing processes and tools, to strengthen the program and enhance the customer service experience.
• In partnership with the TMC, drive refinement of Concur Travel configuration and establishment of scalable & centralized processes. Evaluate latest travel regulations, enhancements and capabilities that are fit for purpose globally.
• Responsible for maintaining comprehensive reporting mechanisms and PowerBi dashboards. Identify, analyze, and interpret travel data trends and patterns and prepare ongoing reports and data visualizations to support decision-making.
• Responsible for managing Internal Audit Team requests and addressing audit observations as needed.
• Design & implement key training materials to support travel operations process to enhance compliance to policy.
• Manage additional special projects and enterprise-wide initiatives,supporting the wider Corporate Services Team to drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to travel globally at least 20% of the time.

Required Education Level

• Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline

Required Experience

• Typically requires 7+ years of experience related to corporate travel, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Previous project management and vendor management required.
• Experience working in a global corporate environment within biotech or comparable regulated industry.

Required Knowledge/Skills

• Proven experience vendor managing a Global Travel Management Company, including oversight of an online travel tool (Preferably Concur).
• Strong analytical skills including experience with integration of multiple data sources.
• Exhibit analytical acumen identifying innovative insights that streamline processes and mitigate complexities across multi-functional, global teams.
• Advanced in senior leader presentations (written, PowerPoint, verbal), ability to use data driven insights to address business needs and challenges.
• Champion in customer service attitude enabling a highly collaborative environment toward internal and external vendors.
• Ability to lead and drive change in a developing business environment and coordinate processes involving cross-functional teams, complex systems, & tight deadlines across multiple time zones.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Excel and PowerPoint)
• Supplier vendor management experience
• Ability to navigate and champion company policies and compliance regulations.

Other Requirements

• Prior working experience with Online Travel Booking Systems (preferably Concur Travel)

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