Executive Job Description | I. POSITION SUMMARY:
The Travel and Meetings Director is accountable for the overall strategy and management of the clients global travel and meetings program. This newly created position is responsible for the consolidation and rationalization of existing travel and meeting resources, operations, technologies, services and suppliers. The scope of this $60M annual program includes team leadership, event execution and supplier management of transient travel, group travel, meetings and events, conferences, sourcing, and travel and meeting technologies. Supplier management spans suppliers such as airlines, hotels, ground transportation, rental cars, meeting management companies, travel management companies, destination management companies, convention and visitors bureaus, audiovisual and production companies. Operationally, incumbent is responsible for consolidation and leverage of travel and forecast events, matching of venues and services to available business partner budgets, process improvement, metrics, reporting and input to company policies.
The Travel and Meetings Director is tasked with insuring achievement of:
The highest levels of service and productivity delivered by suppliers and resources
Processes that are streamlined and simplified for greatest efficiency and enhanced control
Performance metrics that are benchmarked against leading industry standards
Maximized cost reduction and avoidance opportunities
The Travel and Meetings Director must have a strong leadership presence and deep travel and meeting management industry knowledge. The role significantly influences business leaders with respect to initiatives and strategy.
The Director is sought out as an industry expert.
II. PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Develop and maintain the travel and meetings program including the strategy, resources, processes, technologies, suppliers and metrics
Consolidate existing resources and develop an organization structure that best leverages staff and skill sets in the delivery of business partner requirements
Operationally, incumbent is responsible for consolidation and leverage of travel and forecast events, matching of venues and services to available business partner budgets, procedure/process improvement, metrics, reporting and input to company policies
Standardize and simplify all travel and meeting processes and systems focusing on improving efficiency, enhancing controls and increasing value
Select and use technologies to automate and streamline processes (hotel negotiations, meeting management, online booking tools)
Collaborate and align to meet all business partner objectives: quality provider services, delivered to plan, at market competitive rates
Anticipate business partner needs and lead continuous improvement efforts
Utilize formal sourcing methodologies to consolidate suppliers, establish preferred relationships and leveraged supply arrangements
Lead development and execution of formal supplier management methodologies to manage performance through SLAs, scorecards and periodic reviews
Lead pharmaceutical meeting and travel policy compliance and monitoring initiatives
Network with industry professionals and benchmark data to stay abreast of changes in the travel and meetings industry and pharmaceutical industry regulations in particular
III. ADDITIONAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Support other spend categories and projects as assigned
Professionally project manage all initiatives
Formal change management and communication of all initiatives and programs
IV. POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
Undergraduate degree is required (e.g. BA, BS), advanced degree is desirable
National Business Travel Association Certified Corporate Travel Expert (CCTE) is desirable
Certificate in Meetings Management (CMM) is desirable
Experience:
Ten or more years in the hospitality industry. A strong travel and meetings background is required.
Eight or more years of direct or virtual team leadership is required
Significant travel management company, global distribution systems and online booking tool knowledge is required
Extensive meeting management company services, pricing models and technology knowledge is required
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Strong, collaborative, approachable corporate presence is required
Strong leadership skills including the ability to influence senior management through effective communication and persuasive positioning
Strong strategic insight, planning and problem-solving capabilities; ability to translate facts and data into responsive policy and programs
Demonstrated ability to create and lead a strong, effective team
Ability to coach, mentor and develop skilled staff members while inspiring performance to their potential
Excellent business/financial acumen, proficient in leading and setting direction for cross-functional teams, including demonstrated ability to motivate, influence and drive change at all levels of the organization.
Strong supplier contract negotiation and performance management through supplier executive relationships, performance improvement metrics/initiatives and leveraged provider contracts
Excellent communication and relationship management skills including ability to influence and coordinate closely with highly interdependent department leaders
Effective project management discipline and oversight capability
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