Microsoft Travel Group Manager

Our Microsoft Travel Team resides with our Enterprise Programs team within Microsoft Procurement. The Global Travel Group Manager will lead our team of travel and finance professionals.  Our Microsoft Corporate Travel Program supports over 180,000 employees, over 300k trips a year across 119 countries and is a recognised and respected program across the travel industry. In parallel the program manages the corporate card and payments program with Amex with over 135k issued cards and $1Bn in annual spend.    At the core to the program is employee security and safety.  

The Microsoft Travel Group Manager will report to the Procurement Enterprise Programs Leader and will partner with Procurement and key stakeholders across the company and external service providers. You will be responsible for leading and optimizing the corporate travel program for Microsoft. This role involves managing outsourced travel and card service providers, ensuring cost-effective travel solutions, developing key 360 relationships, simplifying, driving innovation and enhancing the overall travel experience for employees. 

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Operations, Finance or related field AND 6+ years work experience in program management, process management, process improvement
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 4+ years management (e.g., people, project, process, vendor, change) experience.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Operations, Finance or related field AND 10+ years experience in program management, process management, process improvement
  • OR Master's Degree in Business, Operations, Finance or related field AND 8+ years program management experience, process management, process improvement
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 6+ years people management experience.
• Experience in managing global corporate travel / card services program and in implementing and managing corporate travel policies. 
• Experience in managing and leading a team of travel and operational professionals. 
• Experience developing and managing relationships with travel partners including TMCs (travel management companies, airlines, hotels and rental car providers.  
• Experience in managing budgets, forecasting and financial data, planning and reporting for a global corporate travel program.  
• Vision to grow and improve Microsoft travel service operations with a plan to achieve.  
• Clear, concise and empathetic verbal and written communication styles. A key attribute will be the ability to work across multiple disciplines and global cultures.   
• Ability to manage communications across the entire spectrum from Executives to the broad employee population.   
• Experience in developing data-driven strategies to right size travel operations.  
• Experience working in or with a large, matrixed organization.   
• Proven record of being an effective team player dedicated to collective success. The ability to promote cooperation and solve problems in a timely, creative, and professional manner. Proficiency at working closely and collaboratively with multiple departments and executives, and in cross-functional teams.   
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to rapidly changing environments and demands.   
• Proven record of experimentation and openness to feedback, learning from both successes and failures.   
• Demonstrated commitment to the company’s core values, including a commitment to high ethical standards, unquestioned integrity, and a commitment to advancing the company’s diversity & inclusion commitments.  

Management Excellence: Manage a high performing team. Deliver success through empowerment and accountability by modeling, coaching, and caring 

Develop and lead the Microsoft Travel and Card Strategy: Establish and maintain relationships with key travel and card suppliers and solution providers across Air, Hotel, Car Rental and others. Drive delivery excellence through effective, right sized governance.   

Program Management: Develop, implement and manage global travel policies. Monitor and analyse travel and card spend to identify optimization opportunities including rebates and fees. 

Supplier Strategy and Supplier Management: Own the supplier strategy for the program. Lead strategic buy-from relationships with travel service providers, including travel agencies, airlines, hotels, ground transportation, technology solution companies and card / payment providers.  

Budget / Spend Management:  Manage the central budget and related cost-pools, including monthly reconciliations and timely quarterly forecasts.  

Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including finance, HR, and business group representatives, to understand travel needs and requirements. 

Continuous Improvement and Quality Management:  Stay current on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in corporate travel management. Develop and execute improvement strategies, optimizing the performance of the program. 

Lead initiatives to promote sustainability and responsible travel practices. 

Problem-Solving: Manage travel-related issues and escalations calmly and effectively.  

Compliance: Ensure all travel arrangements comply with company policies and relevant regulations.  

Other: Embody our and