Head of Travel - Warsaw Hub

The Role

The Head of Travel is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Clifford Chance travel program. 

This is a global role that will require engagement with stakeholders across a number of offices. They will work day-to-day with the procurement team, risk teams, business stakeholders, fee earners, up to Executive Director level.

The Head of Travel will be responsible for key relationships and Global Travel programme, in particular:

• Own, evolve and pursue compliance of Global Travel Policy Management of travel platform
• Negotiation, contract and service management of travel related third parties i.e. Airlines, Hotels, Risk and Insurance partners.
• Budget management
• Travel support, ensuring efficient, cost-effective, and safe business travel for employees.
• Collaborate with the Sustainability team and our strategic vendors to lower emissions in pursuit of our sustainability agenda 
• To act as a travel subject matter expert across their area.
• To collaborate with the Procurement team and their stakeholders.
• To negotiate commercial and contract terms with suppliers.
• Support initiatives to ensure growing compliance and adherence to the Firms global procurement and travel policies.
• To contribute as a Procurement team member and help drive the Procurement value proposition.

Key Responsibilities 

As a member of the wider Procurement team, the Head of Travel is expected to run and manage Global Travel, formulating strategy and ensuring operational performance and governance, including Managing travel budgets and expenses, tracking spending, and identifying cost-saving opportunities and support the firms sustainability agenda.

Management of all travel platforms and the work to complete the roll out of a single Global travel management platform

Monitoring travel expenses and ensuring compliance with company policies. 

Own and manage the supplier relationship with our Global travel service provider, collaborating with them to drive service improvements and increased return on investment for Clifford Chance.

Leading and managing the travel team, working alongside with internal stakeholders regarding their travel needs and concerns, providing guidance, training, and support

Addressing and resolving any travel-related issues or emergencies promptly. 

Maintain and evolve travel management information to support compliance, data analysis and drive decision making

This will also involve presenting and utilising your influencing skills, which will be paramount, in order to articulate complex travel matters to your stakeholders. They will manage a team of 1 direct reports who focus on operational travel management.

Your Experience 

• A strong understanding of Travel best practice, process and tools and its application to a comparable organization.
• Good experience identifying and delivering large cost savings and efficiency opportunities through developing global travel strategies.
• Good experience leading large, complex global Travel supplier engagement.
• Good experience negotiating and marking up supplier contracts.
• Experience managing and influencing difficult stakeholders and suppliers.
• Experience presenting to senior leadership teams and project committees.
• Knowledge and experience of change management techniques to support work on behavioural change and service adoption in a Partnership environment

Qualifications

• Fluent English skills (C1/C2)

Who We Are

We are a global law firm dedicated to creating advantage for our clients - on every matter, every time.

Our Warsaw Hub exemplifies this commitment. We offer a competitive edge and empower the right people to be at the forefront of technological innovation, such as AI investment, legal automation, bespoke tools, to drive transformation at Clifford Chance and create more added-value, efficient solutions for clients and the wider industry.

Joining our team means you will be part of a high-performing culture, globally recognised for the work we do and the advantage we create for world-leading clients. You’ll collaborate with the sharpest minds in the industry, working on some of the most critical legal and commercial business challenges and driving business support processes.

We focus on delivering operational excellence with specialist infrastructure and dedicated support such as, Finance, Legal and Executive administration support, Risk and Compliance, Business Development, Branding, Marketing and Communications.

Our Warsaw Hub

The Warsaw Hub is designed to help clients move faster, smarter, and with confidence. Joining us means becoming part of a dynamic and interconnected global network. Every day and on each project, you will connect with your colleagues across the world. You will learn, you will grow, and you will take your career in the direction you want.

We are closely integrated with the core business of Clifford Chance. This means frequent interactions with senior stakeholders, providing our team with invaluable insights. This close integration ensures that our work is aligned with the firm's overall goals and vision.

The Warsaw Hub requires individuals with advanced capabilities and the ability to engage in thought-partnering with Clifford Chance's lawyers and partners. This means that our team members are not just executing tasks but are actively contributing to the development of innovative legal solutions. This collaborative environment fosters professional growth and ensures that our team is always at the cutting edge of the legal industry.

You will work in the heart of the city. Warsaw is a friendly place to live and to work and has a cosmopolitan environment

Hybrid Working

Due to the nature of this role, new joiners are expected to attend the office four days per week during the initial training period, transitioning to a hybrid schedule of three days per week thereafter with flexibility to increase attendance if business needs require.

Equal Opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.

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