Assistant Manager - Travel

JD – Asst Manager Travel – Operations

Role Overview

The Assistant Manager – Corporate Travel & Visa Operations will oversee end-to-end domestic and international travel management, complex visa compliance, vendor relationship management and emergency traveler support. This role requires a hands-on operations leader who can balance seamless travel execution with strict policy enforcement, cost optimization and vendor performance management.

Key Responsibilities

Travel Coordination

Oversee and manage complex, multi-city domestic and international itineraries, executive travel and company events.

Drive cost optimization by enforcing corporate travel policy compliance, advance booking windows, and preferred vendor usage.

Manage end-to-end flight, hotel and ground transportation and self-booking tools.

Serve as the primary escalation point for real-time travel disruptions, flight cancellations, emergency re-routings and duty-of-care incidents.

Visa Processing

Lead end-to-end global visa processing operations, including US (B1/B2), UK, Schengen, and APAC visas.

Maintain deep expertise in global immigration rules, embassy filing procedures, drop-box eligibility and consulate scheduling platforms.

Audit and review visa application documentation to ensure 100% compliance and zero error rates before embassy submission.

Manage third-party visa facilitators, consulates, and VFS operations to track timelines and expedite urgent applications.

Travel Support & Communication

Act as one of the primary points of contact for travel-related queries.

Provide real-time support during disruptions, cancellations or emergencies.

Guide employees on travel policies and best practices.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

Manage relationships with travel management companies (TMCs), airlines, hotels, and visa partners.

Negotiate favourable commercial terms where applicable.

Monitor service levels and escalate performance issues when required.

Travel Analytics, Reporting & Excel Expertise

Maintain and reconcile monthly AMEX and vendor payments/invoices.

Build, maintain and analyze monthly corporate travel MIS dashboards, spend reports, and leakage tracking models.

Leverage advanced Excel functions (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, SUMIFS, Data Validation, Power Query) to reconcile complex flight/hotel booking data against card statements.

Identify travel spend trends, booking lead times, policy violation rates, and cost-saving opportunities through structured data analysis.

Risk Management

Monitor travel advisories and global risk alerts.

Advise travellers on safety protocols and documentation requirements.

Support duty-of-care responsibilities.

Process Improvement

Identify opportunities for automation and cost optimization.

Contribute to continuous improvement of travel operations and user experience.

Key Requirements

Experience

Minimum 5+ years of hands-on experience in managing end-to-end corporate travel operations and global visa processing within corporate travel desks or leading Travel Management Companies (TMCs).

Mandatory Background

Proven track record working within corporate travel desks, TMCs, corporate card platforms (e.g., Amex Central/VCC), and consular visa operations.

Advanced Excel & Analytical Skills

Expertise in MS Excel is required (proficient with XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, conditional formatting, nested logic formulas, data cleaning, and large dataset reconciliations).

Knowledge of Power BI or dashboard creation is a plus.

Technical Proficiency

Hands-on experience with Global Distribution Systems (Sabre, Amadeus) and corporate self-booking tools (SBTs).

Visa Expertise

Thorough understanding of global visa documentation, US MRV fee workflows, drop-box rules, and consulate interview scheduling.

Operational Drive

Strong problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills with high attention to detail.

Flexibility

Willingness to support 24x7 rotational operational escalations during emergency travel disruptions or severe weather events.

Note:

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