Baker McKenzie

The Manager, Global Travel Program, The Americas will manage all components of the Global Travel Program, including operations, management, and optimization across all locations within the Americas region. The role-holder will lead the relationship between the Firm and the appointed Travel Agency, manage and optimize travel tools, drive value and return off investment (ROI) through partnerships with travel suppliers, ensure the safety and security of Firm personnel whilst traveling on business, deliver service excellence to internal stakeholders, utilize analytics and intelligence to identify travel trends and opportunities, provide meaningful travel expertise across stakeholder groups, and drive continuous improvement of the program.

Main responsibilities:

• Closely manage the relationship with the Firm’s appointed travel agency and other providers to ensure compliance with the Firm’s needs and expectations
• Provide impeccable internal customer service to Baker McKenzie travelers and travel arrangers, as the internal point of contact for the Global Travel Team in their respective region
• Leverage travel data and relationships to identify and optimize opportunities to drive value for the Firm through supplier agreements, training and communication, shifting traveller behavior, and maintain a clear business travel policy
• Directly engage with key stakeholders within the region, including Partners and executive leadership, to ensure program visibility and adoption are maximized
• Effectively and quickly intake, triage, and solve issues by engaging with the Firm's appointed travel agency and/or technology providers
• Provide basic support and resources regarding the Firm's travel technology tools
• Track, follow-up, and close all feedback and issues raised by travelers and travel arrangers in their region, escalating when necessary
• Deliver regular and ad-hoc travel reporting requirements within the region to key stakeholders and leadership
• Provide an "always open" service experience to key stakeholders around the globe, especially the Risk and Security team, as it relates to managing the duty of care the Firm has for its People whilst they travel on Firm business
• Serve as subject matter experts regarding airlines and hotels in their respective regions
• Support regional and global business reviews with the Firm's travel providers
• Contribute to and lead specific global projects within the Global Travel Team (e.g. hotel program, operations, communications)
• Support the Director, Global Travel Program, on strategic directives and projects

Skills and experience:

• A bachelor’s degree related to business and/or a related field, or equivalent work experience
• Business Travel Management experience and expertise
• Experience in a legal or professional services environment is highly desirable
• Impeccable customer service skills, including proactivity, problem-solving, and empathy
• Excellent collaboration skills, including accepting and managing feedback from various stakeholders
• Experience managing and implementing travel programs and technology
• Must be affiliative, respectful, with strong presentation skills that influence with fact, reason, and vision, be trustworthy, and dependable 
• Excellent communication skills with both team members and internal business constituents, and comfortable mediating between stakeholder needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility
• Relationship building, gaining consensus, and adoption methods 
• Continued drive for excellence and high quality, despite frequent iterations, changes in priority, scope, and stakeholders
• Polished and professional presentation skills
• Highly driven and dedicated outlook, which includes flexibility and a willingness to work outside of normal business hours when required

Reports to:  Director, Global Travel Program

Travel Requirements: Each Regional Travel Manager must be able to support the global Firm as required. This includes potential travel, primarily within the region, up to 30% of the time during peak periods.

Position Type:  Specialist

Development Framework:  Manager

At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. With our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 locally admitted lawyers, in over 70 offices worldwide, we have a passionately collaborative community of 60 nationalities and are committed to world-class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us.  We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.