Head of Travel - Warsaw Hub

External

Cliffordchance · Warsaw, Poland

Full-timeOn-site1d ago

ComplianceLeadershipNegotiationRisk Management

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About the role

The Head of Travel is accountable for the overall global travel programme, including its strategy, governance, financial performance, supplier model and team leadership. This role is the single global owner of the travel programme, responsible for setting direction, evolving the operating model and ensuring the firm's travel approach supports business needs, risk management and sustainability objectives. Who you will work with This is a global role requiring engagement with stakeholders across multiple offices and functions. The role works closely with Procurement, Risk, Sustainability, Finance, office travel managers, business stakeholders, fee earners, and regularly engages senior stakeholders up to Executive Director level to influence travel strategy, governance, investment decisions and programme outcomes. What you will be responsible for The Head of Travel is accountable for the overall performance and direction of the Global Travel programme. In particular, the role will: Own, evolve and enforce the Global Travel Policy and overall programme direction, ensuring the travel operating model remains aligned to firm priorities. Lead programme development, including platform consolidation, governance, service model design and continuous improvement. Own the global travel budget, spend visibility and financial governance, including identifying and delivering programme-level cost saving opportunities. Own strategic supplier relationships across travel, airline, hotel, risk and insurance partners, including contract negotiation, commercial management, service performance and return on investment. Provide leadership to the travel team and set clear priorities, accountabilities and standards for delivery across global travel services. Collaborate with Sustainability and strategic vendors to embed emissions reduction and sustainability objectives into programme design and decision-making. Act as the firm's senior travel subject matter expert, influencing stakeholders at all levels and representing travel as part of Procurement's broader value proposition. This role provides strategic direction for the programme and accountability for its outcomes.

Responsibilities

As a member of the wider Procurement team, the Head of Travel leads the Global Travel programme, ensuring policy, supplier performance, financial outcomes and service delivery remain aligned to firm priorities.

Set the roadmap for travel platforms, service models, policy compliance and programme optimisation.

Use spend data and management information to identify trends, manage costs and deliver measurable programme value.

Manage the firm's global travel service provider and related travel partners, driving accountability, service improvement, commercial value and return on investment.

Lead the travel team and provide clear direction to those responsible for operational travel management, ensuring day-to-day delivery is effective, controlled and aligned to programme objectives.

Oversee programme governance and risk management, including escalation of complex travel matters and articulation of recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Act as the senior escalation point for complex travel issues, providing leadership on issue resolution, removing barriers to effective service delivery and ensuring significant matters are addressed promptly and appropriately.

Maintain and evolve travel management information to support compliance, decision-making, behavioural change and continuous programme improvement.

Work in partnership with Sustainability and internal stakeholders to ensure travel choices, supplier strategies and traveller engagement support the firm's sustainability agenda.

Engage stakeholders up to Executive Director level, providing clear recommendations on complex travel matters and programme priorities.

Your experience

Strong experience leading a global or multi-regional travel programme, with clear accountability for strategy, governance and performance outcomes.

Strong understanding of travel best practice, process and tools and how to apply them within a complex professional services or comparable organisation.

Demonstrable experience delivering significant cost, governance and service improvements at programme level.

Strong experience leading complex global supplier engagements, including contract negotiation, commercial management and service oversight.

Experience owning budgets, interpreting spend data and using insight to support decision-making, savings delivery and financial governance.

Experience managing, influencing and challenging senior stakeholders and suppliers in a global environment.

Strong communication skills with experience presenting complex recommendations to senior leadership teams, project committees and executive stakeholders.

Knowledge and experience of change management techniques to support behavioural change, policy adoption and service improvement in a Partnership environment.

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Head of Travel - Warsaw Hub

About the role

Responsibilities

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Company Intel

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