Global Travel Manager
PayPal is seeking a strategic Global Travel Manager to transform and optimize our corporate travel program, managing annual spend across our global workforce. This role goes far beyond travel logisticsyou'll be a business partner who drives cost efficiency, enhances traveler experience, ensures duty of care, and leverages technology and data analytics to deliver measurable value to the organization. Working at the intersection of Procurement, Finance, HR, and IT, you'll modernize PayPal's travel ecosystem, implementing innovative solutions that support our business objectives while maintaining the highest standards of compliance, safety, and service excellence.
Essential Responsibilities :
- Lead functional projects and programs to optimize operational processes.
- Identify issues and recommend best practices for process improvements.
- Partner with various departments to understand business trends.
- Drive business or process improvements within the function.
- Provide oversight and support for planning and management of financial, budget, and headcount targets.
- Act as a point of contact or liaison between business leadership, staff, and other key partners.
- Promote transparent reporting and foster a culture of data-driven decision-making by defining key metrics and evaluating progress.
Expected Qualifications :
5+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.Additional Responsibilities & Preferred Qualifications :
Strategic Program Leadership :
Design and execute a comprehensive global travel strategy aligned with PayPal's business priorities and financial objectives.Partner with Procurement leadership on source-to-pay modernization initiatives, identifying opportunities for automation and process improvement.Develop data-driven policies that balance cost control, traveler satisfaction, and duty of care.Lead travel program budgeting and forecasting, managing annual spend with targeted savings goals.Supplier & Vendor Management :
Manage strategic relationships with Travel Management Company (TMC), airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and other travel suppliers.Negotiate enterprise agreements and contracts to secure optimal rates, service levels, and value-added benefits.Conduct regular business reviews with suppliers to ensure SLA compliance and continuous improvement.Evaluate and implement emerging travel technologies (NDC content, AI-powered booking tools, mobile solutions).Oversee RFP processes for travel services, ensuring competitive bidding and vendor selection excellence.Technology & Systems Management :
Serve as business owner for SAP Concur Travel, driving system optimization and user adoption.Lead implementation of new travel technology solutions, including evaluation of platforms like Spotnana / Avenir.Partner with IT on single point of entry initiatives for seamless traveler experience.Develop automation strategies to reduce manual processing and improve operational efficiency.Data Analytics & Reporting :
Develop comprehensive dashboards and reports providing visibility into travel spend, trends, and savings opportunities.Leverage analytics to identify booking patterns, policy compliance gaps, and cost reduction initiatives.Present quarterly business reviews to senior leadership with actionable insights and recommendations.Track KPIs including cost per trip, advance booking rates, preferred supplier adoption, traveler satisfaction, and savings achievement.Conduct benchmarking analysis against industry standards and peer companies.Traveler Experience & Duty of Care :
Provide guidance on travel documents, visas, insurance, customs regulations, and health / safety requirements.Create and deliver training programs to drive policy awareness and tool adoption.Maintain high traveler satisfaction scores through responsive support and continuous program improvements.Compliance & Policy Management :
Ensure all travel activities comply with PayPal policies, SOX controls, and regulatory requirements.Conduct regular policy audits and implement corrective actions for non-compliance.Collaborate with Finance and Legal on policy updates reflecting business needs and regulatory changes.Monitor and enforce booking channel compliance and approval workflows.Maintain documentation and audit trails for internal and external audits.Required Experience :
7+ years of progressive experience managing corporate travel programs, preferably in Fortune 500 or global technology companies.5+ years of vendor management and contract negotiation experience with demonstrated cost savings achievement.Proven track record managing travel programs with annual spend supporting multi-national operations.Experience implementing and optimizing travel technology platforms (Concur or similar).Strong background in data analytics and reporting, using insights to drive business decisions.Experience with change management, successfully driving adoption of new policies, systems, and processes.Project management experience leading cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution.Required Education & Certifications :
Bachelor's degree required in Business Administration, Finance, Hospitality Management, or related field.CTP (Certified Travel Professional), CGTP, or GBTA certification strongly preferred.Technical Proficiency :
Advanced proficiency in SAP Concur Travel & Expense (required).Working knowledge of TMC booking tools, GDS systems (Sabre, Amadeus), and emerging platforms (Spotnana / Avenir / TripActions / Navan).Strong Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and data analysis.Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI, or similar) for reporting and dashboards.Proficiency in Microsoft 365 suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams).Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP) and procurement platforms (ServiceNow) is a plus.