Senior Group Manager - Operations - REF93685B_2026224971 - Travel

The Senior Group Manager – Corporate Travel Operations is responsible for leading and optimizing end‑to‑end corporate travel operations across multiple regions or business units. This role drives operational excellence, traveler experience, compliance, cost optimization, supplier performance, and digital transformation while managing large teams and multiple service lines.The position acts as a strategic partner to internal stakeholders (HR, Finance, Procurement, Risk, and Leadership) and external vendors (TMCs, airlines, hotels, technology providers) to ensure seamless, compliant, and cost‑effective travel operations.Key Responsibilities1. Strategic Leadership & GovernanceOwn and execute the corporate travel operations strategy aligned with business goalsDefine global/local travel operating models, governance frameworks, and performance metricsDrive standardization, scalability, and continuous improvement across regionsAct as escalation point for critical incidents, service failures, and traveler risk situations2. Operations ManagementLead end‑to‑end corporate travel operations including booking, ticketing, fulfillment, changes, cancellations, invoicing, and reportingEnsure 24x7 operational coverage where requiredManage SLAs, KPIs, productivity, quality, and cost efficiency across teamsOversee travel policy adherence and exception management3. Stakeholder ManagementPartner with internal stakeholders:Finance: cost control, billing accuracy, auditsProcurement: contracts, negotiations, supplier performanceHR & Business Leaders: traveler experience, mobility needsRisk & Security: duty of care, crisis responsePresent operational performance, insights, risks, and improvement roadmaps to leadership4. Vendor & Supplier ManagementManage Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and third‑party vendorsMonitor vendor SLA performance and conduct quarterly/annual business reviewsLead issue resolution, penalty enforcement, and contract complianceSupport sourcing and RFP processes for travel suppliers and technology platforms5. Cost Optimization & AnalyticsDrive travel spend optimization initiatives and savings strategiesUse MIS and analytics to identify trends, leakage, and improvement opportunitiesEnsure accurate reporting of travel spend, savings, and complianceSupport budgeting and forecasting for travel operations6. Process Excellence & TransformationLead process re‑engineering, automation, and digitization initiativesDrive adoption of online booking tools (OBT), expense systems, and mobile solutionsImplement best practices such as self‑service, straight‑through processing, and AI‑enabled supportChampion Lean, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement methodologies7. People Leadership & Capability BuildingLead and develop managers and large multi‑layered teamsDrive performance management, talent development, succession planningBuild a culture of accountability, customer centricity, and high performanceSupport hiring, onboarding, training, and competency development8. Compliance, Risk & Duty of CareEnsure compliance with company travel policy, regulatory requirements, and data privacy lawsOversee duty of care programs, traveler tracking, and emergency response protocolsWork with security teams on geopolitical, health, and safety risks affecting travelersKey Performance Indicators (KPIs)SLA and quality adherenceCost per transaction and productivity metricsTraveler satisfaction / NPSCompliance rate and policy adherenceVendor performance and savings deliveryOperational stability and risk response effectiveness

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