Travel Operations Manager

Job Description:

From day one, our mission has been to create an independent business with a unique culture - one that is controlled by the people who work for it. Finding the most talented and entrepreneurial people has always been key to our success.

People come to Howden for lots of different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. That's what sets us apart, and why we nurture and retain the best talent in the market. Whatever your priorities - work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering - you'll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Howden is seeking a Travel Operations Manager to manage the company's outsourced travel providers, to ensure smooth delivery of end-to-end travel booking services within agreed SLAs. This will involve working closely with senior PAs and other operations professionals, as well as local and global travel agents, implementing any necessary changes to ensure quality of service is consistently high.

Please note this is a full-time, permanent role based in our central London office. The expectation is to be onsite 3 days per week.

Role Responsibilities:
* Manage the day-to-day activities of our outsourced travel providers, guaranteeing seamless delivery of comprehensive travel booking services within established service level agreements (SLAs).
* Monitor workflow volumes and trends to provide meaningful data to key stakeholders and make informed decisions about resource management.
* Review, recommend and implement new systems and processes to improve and maintain operational efficiency.
* Ensure all processes comply with industry regulation and local laws.
* Build a strong relationship with senior PAs and operations professionals at Howden and work closely with them on complex travel requests.
* Manage VIP travel requests.
* Referral / escalation point for issues or complaints within either organisation.
* Monitor compliance with the Group Travel policy and report any deviations.
* Provide guidance on current working policies and procedures relating to business travel.
* Understand the financial model and work closely with the Finance Business Partner to ensure accurate and timely financial budgeting and reporting.
* Work with the Group Sustainability team on reporting on carbon tracking & reduction, and introduce process change to ensure this is accurately tracked and reported.

Role Requirements:
* Experience of working in a similar fast-paced corporate travel role.
* Proficiency in travel booking systems and travel management software (Sabre, Amadeus, Travelport etc.)
* Knowledge of international travel regulations, customs and currencies.
* Understanding of developments in carbon reporting and sustainable travel.
Our Culture: People First

We've travelled far since opening our first office in 1994. Back then we were local experts - based in London, with direct access to the world's biggest insurance market. We're still locals, and we still deliver the right advice and the right insurance to our clients. But now, we're local all over the world. With 15,000 global colleagues and a partner network spanning more than 100 territories, we are the largest independent insurance broker in the world. But our values haven't changed since day one, when we set out to create a company grounded in:

* An employee-ownership model
* Aligned external investors
* The trust and integrity born of friendship
* Expertise
* Independence

Our focus on being a people-first business has always been at the very heart of Howden. Our vision was to create an independent business with a unique culture; one that would survive and thrive as a business controlled by the people working for it. Our employee ownership model sets us apart in the market. It's created a culture of collaboration and innovation, where we're driven to think bigger and empowered to challenge convention.

Our flat structure and entrepreneurial spirit help us attract the best people and empower them to be the best version of themselves. And when we bring in and nurture great talent, more follows. That makes us better - and that's better for everyone.

Diversity & Inclusion

At Howden we consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness and respect, regardless of their age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or family circumstances.Permanent