Global Travel Lead

Global Travel Lead

Location: Centreville, VA or Southfield, MI

Position Overview

Mobility Global is seeking an experienced and strategic Global Travel Lead to own and optimize our corporate travel and expense program across multiple countries.

This role will serve as the primary relationship manager for our Travel Management Company (TMC), administer our multi-country corporate card program, and lead a team of travel and expense specialists responsible for auditing and processing expense reports in Concur.

This role requires a blend of vendor management expertise, policy enforcement, team leadership, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate will balance strategic program optimization with hands-on execution in a lean, high-accountability environment.

Key Responsibilities

Vendor & Program Management

• Serve as primary relationship manager for the Travel Management Company (TMC), ensuring service level agreements are met and program value is maximized.
• Own and administer the corporate card program across multiple countries, including policy compliance, vendor coordination, and issue resolution.
• Negotiate and manage travel contracts with airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and other suppliers.
• Drive cost savings initiatives through strategic sourcing and supplier consolidation.
• Monitor vendor performance and conduct regular business reviews.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of travel and expense specialists who audit and process expense reports in Concur.
• Set performance standards and quality metrics for report processing and audit accuracy.
• Provide coaching and guidance on policy interpretation, audit procedures, and system functionality.
• Foster a service-oriented culture focused on efficiency and traveler experience.

Policy & Compliance

• Handle T&E policy escalations and provide guidance on complex or non-standard scenarios.
• Develop and deliver training programs for travelers on booking procedures, expense policies, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain Concur audit rules and system configuration to optimize efficiency and ensure policy compliance.
• Develop, update, and enforce global travel and expense policies that balance cost control with employee experience.
• Ensure compliance with local regulations, tax requirements, and corporate policies across all operating countries.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and HR on policy development and compliance matters.

Systems & Reporting

• Maintain Concur platform setup, workflows, and audit rules to support scalable, compliant operations.
• Generate and analyze program metrics including spend patterns, compliance rates, vendor performance, and cost savings.
• Provide regular reporting to senior leadership on program performance and ROI.
• Identify trends and recommend system or process enhancements.

Strategic Initiatives

• Identify opportunities for process improvements, automation, and cost optimization.
• Lead implementation of new tools, policies, or vendor partnerships.
• Support duty of care and traveler safety initiatives as the program scales.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to align T&E strategy with business objectives.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience managing corporate travel and expense management and teams.
• Experience managing multi-country travel programs and navigating international compliance requirements.
• Working knowledge of travel booking platforms and expense report systems (Concur experience strongly preferred).
• Proven track record negotiating travel contracts and managing vendor relationships.
• Team management experience with ability to coach and develop direct reports.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret data and drive decision-making.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities across all levels.
• Experience developing and delivering training programs.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• GBTA or related certification a plus.

Professional Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong execution capability.
• Ownership mentality with ability to operate independently in a lean environment.
• Service-oriented with ability to balance policy enforcement and employee experience.
• Skilled negotiator and relationship builder.
• Process-oriented with attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Comfortable working across global teams and time zones.
• Adaptable and solution-focused in a fast-paced, evolving organization.