Travel and Operations Support Specialist

PRIVATE OFFICE OF A FORMER SENIOR U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL

Principal Travel & Executive Support

Confidential Search | Tysons Corner, Virginia

• Reports to Chief Executive Officer
• Employment Full-time
• Location Tysons Corner, Virginia, with extensive travel
• Work arrangement Travel-based; in-office between trips as required
• Travel Extensive domestic and international travel
• Schedule Irregular hours based on the Principal’s travel schedule

Position Overview

The Private Office supports a complex portfolio of business, public-engagement, philanthropic, and personal activities in the United States and internationally. The Principal Travel & Executive Support role serves as the Principal’s primary operational partner during domestic and international travel, working directly with the Principal while reporting to the CEO.

The role is responsible for advance preparation, day-of execution, real-time problem-solving, and clear communication with the office so the Principal can move through a demanding schedule with minimal friction. The successful candidate is highly observant, discreet, adaptable, service-oriented, and calm under pressure, with the judgment to act independently while remaining closely aligned with the team.

Key Responsibilities

Advance Preparation and Readiness

• Review each trip, itinerary, engagement, and transition in advance; identify dependencies, open questions, and potential friction before departure.
• Participate in planning calls and site-readiness reviews with event hosts, security personnel, travel partners, drivers, hotels, and internal staff.
• Confirm transportation, accommodations, manifests, credentials, access, timing, materials, technology, and other requirements needed for seamless execution.
• Coordinate closely with Travel & Logistics, the Executive Assistant & Scheduler, communications staff, and security so the Principal’s schedule and operational plan remain aligned.

Travel Execution and Real-Time Support

• Staff the Principal throughout domestic and international travel and manage day-of schedule execution from departure through return.
• Serve as the on-the-ground liaison with event organizers, hosts, security, drivers, aviation personnel, hotels, and other stakeholders.
• Anticipate the Principal’s executive and travel-related needs, maintain readiness of materials and technology, and support efficient transitions between commitments.
• Resolve delays, access issues, schedule changes, and other operational challenges calmly and discreetly, activating contingencies as needed.
• Provide high-touch executive and limited personal support incidental to travel, consistent with the role and the needs of the itinerary.

Communication, Follow-Through, and Handoffs

• Maintain timely communication with the CEO and office-based teams regarding movements, changes, decisions, and material issues.
• Capture commitments, follow-up items, receipts, and other trip records, and complete clear handoffs to the appropriate team member.
• Support post-trip review and recommend practical improvements that make future travel safer, smoother, and more efficient.

Qualifications and Capabilities

• Demonstrated success in executive support, high-level travel staffing, hospitality, military or law-enforcement operations, security, logistics, or another role requiring disciplined execution in dynamic environments.
• Exceptional judgment, discretion, emotional maturity, and a strong record of handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Composure and resourcefulness under pressure, with the ability to solve problems independently and make sound decisions as conditions change.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with senior leaders, international stakeholders, event teams, security personnel, and service partners.
• Strong organizational ability, attention to detail, and confidence managing schedules, documents, technology, and multiple moving pieces in real time.
• Ability and willingness to sustain extensive domestic and international travel, irregular hours, long days, changing time zones, and short-notice adjustments.

Success in This Role

• The Principal arrives on time, informed, prepared, and ready for each commitment.
• Travel days feel organized and calm even when the underlying schedule is complex or changes unexpectedly.
• Operational issues are anticipated when possible and resolved quietly and effectively when they arise.
• Office-based teams receive timely, accurate updates, and commitments or follow-up items are handed off clearly.
• Hosts, security personnel, and travel partners experience professional, responsive, and well-coordinated engagement.

Schedule and Working Conditions

• This full-time role requires extensive domestic and international travel and in-office work in Tysons Corner, Virginia, between trips as needed.
• The schedule is driven by the Principal’s travel and may include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, holidays, long days, changing time zones, and short-notice adjustments.
• The role involves sustained mobility, regular use of travel and office technology, and the handling of highly sensitive information; strict confidentiality is required.