Associate Vice President, Travel Operations and Supplier Management

Job Description

Summary

• Ares is seeking an experienced Travel Operations and Supplier Manager to join our Travel Team, This role will work with travel agency partners, travel technology partners, and travel suppliers (air, hotel, ground) to identify solutions to improve service delivery and bring value for the Firm and its travelers.
• The Ares Travel Department oversees and manages Ares’ global travel operations and service delivery model to leverage our size and volume to optimize service and cost. The Travel team provides insight on travel behavior and opportunities to the firm’s executive team and department heads, based upon data analysis and reporting, including spend management and travel compliance reporting.
• The team also conducts regular trainings for administrative assistants and other employee groups as vital on processes, procedures, and policy updates, as well as supplier program updates for airlines, hotels, ground transportation, travel agency, and travel technology providers.
• The team is responsible for the strategy and negotiation of all travel supplier contracts and leads ongoing supplier management programs with strategic air, hotel, ground, and travel agency partners, ensuring the firm’s requirements are met. Additionally, the team, in collaboration with the Finance and AP teams, runs, and administers global travel and expense policy.

Primary functions and essential responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Travel supplier management for travel agency partners, airlines, hotels, and ground transportation providers to find opportunities for improvements with service delivery and cost reduction opportunities through negotiations.

  
  

• Help lead RFP projects for the selection and implementation of new suppliers that meet the firm’s requirements.

  
  

• Keep up to date on travel industry and market developments to identify new opportunities.

  
  

• Maintain excellent traveler service levels, getting hands-on involved as needed when there are issues with our service providers or significant business critical situations that require more active management.

  
  

• Travel-related projects (maybe related to ESG goals or other initiatives for the firm).

  
  

• Support hotel negotiations for meetings and events.

  
  

Qualifications

Education:

• Graduate in finance or other business-field.

  
  

Experience Required:

• 5-10+ years of proven experience working in a corporate travel management role, preferably at a financial or professional services firm.

  
  

• Vendor management experience with airlines, hotels, ground providers, travel agencies and travel technology providers.

  
  

• Experience in collecting and curating data from multiple disparate sources in support of synthesizing the data to develop relevant and actionable reporting to support strategy development.

  
  

• Experience in the creation of executive dashboards using Microsoft’s Power BI technology.

  
  

General Requirements:

• Ability to extract relevant information from extensive research and analysis to effectively present facts and findings in a digestible format, a keen eye for attention to detail.

  
  

• A self-directed individual with a can-do attitude, willing to work in an energetic, collaborative, and fast-paced environment, proactive in nature, and a proven track record to resolve issues.

  
  

• Proven outstanding communication (written and verbal), presentation, documentation, and interpersonal skills.

  
  

• Ability to successfully prioritize and challenge demands.

  
  

• High accuracy and detail orientation.

  
  

• Good judgment in terms of calling out issues vs. solving problems independently.

  
  

• Comfort in taking care of ambiguity and uncertainty in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

  
  

• Ability to be flexible in terms of hours in order to coordinate with team members across various time zones.

  
  

• An analytical mind and a passion/curiosity about bringing new insights to increase efficiency of existing processes.

  
  

• Diligent, positive outlook, highly motivated and a great teammate.

  
  

Reporting Relationships

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.