Travel Program Manager

About the role

The Travel Program Manager oversees the day-to-day operation of the firm's travel program and serves as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders and the firm's Travel Management Company (TMC), preferred travel suppliers, and other external travel partners. Working under the direction of the Senior Manager, this role ensures the TMC and supplier network deliver against firm expectations, resolves escalated traveler issues, and supports continuous improvement of the program through data analysis, policy administration, and stakeholder engagement. Rather than performing day-to-day booking or administrative tasks, the Travel Program Manager directs the TMC and supplier network to execute against firm expectations. Success is measured by the strength of vendor and internal relationships, traveler satisfaction and compliance, and the operational effectiveness of the program. A hybrid work arrangement is available for this position.

Location

Rochester, NY; Albany, NY; Boston, MA; Providence, RI; New York City, NY; Long Island, NY; Washington, DC

Reporting Relationships

This position will report to the Senior Manager, Procurement and Travel

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Vendor Relationship & Program Oversight
  • Serve as the firm's day-to-day relationship contact for the TMC and key travel suppliers (airlines, hotels, ground transportation, and related providers), holding partners accountable to service levels and firm expectations.
  • Participate in and help lead recurring business reviews with the TMC and preferred suppliers; support the Senior Manager in translating outcomes into program improvements.
  • Act as the escalation point for travel-related issues raised by attorneys, business professionals, and travel arrangers; drive issues to resolution through the TMC and supplier network.
  • Represent the firm at industry briefings, supplier events, and travel program meetings as appropriate.
• Program Performance & Continuous Improvement
  • Monitor travel program performance, policy compliance, traveler experience, and supplier performance; identify trends and coordinate corrective action through the TMC.
  • Analyze firm travel data and industry trends to identify cost-savings opportunities, policy refinements, and program enhancements; present findings and recommendations to the Senior Manager.
  • Oversee the day-to-day configuration and optimization of the firm's online booking tool, directing the TMC on maintenance, enhancements, and user-experience improvements.
  • Partner with Finance to ensure travel transaction data flows correctly for client billing and firm reporting; serve as the point of contact for data-integrity and reconciliation issues.
• Policy, Communications & Traveler Enablement
  • Administer the firm's travel policy: monitor compliance, recommend updates to the Senior Manager, and interpret policy for stakeholders.
  • Develop communications, guidance, and training resources for firm travelers and travel arrangers; coordinate with the TMC to deliver booking-tool training and onboarding.
  • Serve as a subject-matter resource on travel program questions, including duty of care and traveler safety in coordination with the TMC.
• Group & Event Travel Oversight
  • Provide oversight and coordination for group travel and firm events, directing the TMC and suppliers to execute logistics and ensuring firm requirements are met.
  • Support the establishment and management of agreements for lodging, ground transportation, and related services in support of firm events and meetings.
• Supplier Agreements & Negotiation
  • Support negotiations with travel suppliers to secure favorable pricing, terms, and service commitments; partner with the Senior Manager, Procurement, and Legal on contract execution.
  • Provide input on the firm's preferred supplier program, recommending additions, changes, or consolidations based on spend, traveler needs, and market conditions.
• Program Documentation
  • Document program standards, procedures, and vendor playbooks to support continuity, succession, and consistent execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Hospitality, Finance, or a related field preferred. Relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 4+ years of corporate travel program or related experience, ideally in a professional services or similarly complex environment.
• Experience working closely with a Travel Management Company and preferred supplier programs.
• Experience supporting supplier negotiations and administering corporate travel policy.
• Experience analyzing travel spend and program data.
• Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) certification or similar (e.g., GTP, GLP) a plus.

Skills

• Strong relationship-management and stakeholder-communication skills, with the ability to hold vendors accountable and navigate internal partnerships across all levels of the firm.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to translate data into recommendations.
• Sound judgment and the ability to distinguish between issues to resolve directly, escalate, or delegate to the TMC/supplier.
• Working knowledge of the corporate travel ecosystem, including TMC operations, online booking tools, and supplier dynamics.
• Proactive, solutions-oriented approach with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced professional services environment.

Pay

In accordance with applicable Federal and State laws, the anticipated annual salary range for this position, depending on location, is as follows:

• Rochester, NY/Albany, NY/Providence, RI: $81,000 to $120,450
• Boston, MA/Washington, DC: $89,000 to $132,000
• New York City, NY/Long Island, NY: $98,000 to $145,750

In addition to a standard benefits package, this role may be eligible for additional contingent compensation based on an array of factors, including but not limited to: work performance, geographic location, work experience, education, and qualifications. Because such contingent compensation is not yet calculable or may be zero ($0) in some circumstances, the above-listed salary range(s) are Nixon Peabody's good faith estimate of the annual salary(ies) it reasonably expects to pay for the position at the time of this posting.