Corporate Planning & Management, Global Procurement - EMEA Travel Manager, Vice President, Birmingham

OUR IMPACT 

The Corporate Planning & Management (CPM) division integrates financial planning, spend management, third-party risk management, product management and engineering teams to support strategic decisions across the firm.

Finance & Planning drives business planning, budgeting, and analytics across revenue, expense, liquidity, and capital. The pillar includes divisional CFOs providing strategic finance advisory, Product Finance managing non-compensation expense governance, and Corporate Insurance & Advisory overseeing the firm's insurance needs and risk mitigation.

Global Procurement strategically manages third-party engagement, optimizing value and mitigating risks across the supply chain. Key functions include Strategic Sourcing, Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM), Procure to Pay (P2P), Travel, and Sustainable Operations driving ESG initiatives.

Product & Reporting manages the product lifecycle for CPM technology platforms and delivers comprehensive reporting, dashboards, and analytics. The team oversees financial planning and analysis systems, spend management tools, and TPRM solutions while providing stakeholders with actionable insights for evidence-based decisions.

CPM Engineering provides engineering solutions enabling third-party spend management, data automation, budget planning, financial forecasting, and expense allocation aligned with strategic objectives.

CPM Management provides strategic oversight, operational support, communications and change management, and risk governance across the division.

YOUR IMPACT

Professionals in CPM have an analytical mindset, exhibit intellectual curiosity and are from diverse academic backgrounds. This role sits within the Spend Management pillar under the Travel department.  Travel is a critical enabler for our business and our travel professionals are responsible for strategic partnerships with key divisions and senior management across the firm to ensure a commercially effective global program that enables the flow of business and maximizes traveler efficiency.

The EMEA Travel Manager will be responsible for managing day to day travel operations with a primary focus on ensuring seamless delivery of services by key travel vendors including the Travel Management Company (TMC), airlines, hotels, and technology providers (including the travel booking platform).  The role will ensure consistent global operations, adherence to established policies and procedures identifying opportunities for process enhancement and efficiency, also handling escalation queries from internal and external stakeholders, resolving complex issues efficiently.  The role will own relationships with key internal client groups and is required to implement corporate travel strategies to align with organizational goals including optimization of the travel program with a focus on cost control, traveler experience, sustainability initiatives and duty of care measures to protect employees globally.

The role requires collaboration with different functions across the firm on a regular basis, an ability to work independently, and ability to interact with senior professionals across the firm. It also entails in-depth analysis and reporting for senior management, requiring diligence and a commercial and risk management mindset. The candidate is required to work closely with global counterparts. Should have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Job responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: 

• Oversee EMEA travel operations ensuring global consistency with other regions where applicable
• Manage escalations independently and update management, including root cause analysis and resolution
• Manage key vendor relationships with TMC, travel booking platforms and outsourced delivery teams to ensure a commercial program and consistent traveler experience
• Manage relationships across the firm to ensure policies and procedures are managed and traveler experience optimized
• Work with finance and procurement teams to deliver firmwide expense initiatives and policy changes in the region
• Work with internal risk partners (Compliance, Engineering, Legal, Risk, Tax, Controllers, Internal Audit) to manage risk profile and commitments for the function
• Participate in team’s efforts to identify areas to simplify, control and automate processes
• Analyze daily / weekly / monthly reports to highlight operational and commercial trends and escalate risks
• Provide support and guidance to Divisions around thematic issues and solutioning to address the same
• Participate and contribute towards implementation of strategic platforms including documentation of process and change management
• Understanding firm’s policies and procedures thoroughly to ensure the team is complaint
• Develop, manage, and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and influencing positive team reputation
• Work effectively in a team and contribute to a positive team environment

Qualifications:

• Graduate degree with 5+ years of experience in the travel industry or procurement
• Proven experience managing large-scale vendor contracts and travel programs
• Ability to challenge the status quo and seek dynamic operational, strategic and commercial solutions
• Excellent client management skills and extensive experience in managing multiple global stakeholders at all levels
• Expertise in analyzing and managing travel data and budgets
• Ability to collaborate with global team to streamline processes, ensure a follow-the-sun model and drive completion of deliverables
• Impeccable attention to detail, analytical mindset and focus on risk, commercials and control
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with exceptional multi-tasking skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal (written and verbal) skills
• Self-starter with the ability to multi-task and handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong work ethic and high level of motivation