Travel Specialist

About the role

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Senior Travel Specialist assists WWP staff with travel planning for WWP teammates, warriors, and guests. This role involves serving as the primary point-of-contact for travel planning with the travel management company, facilitating training, monitoring cost savings, responding to crisis situations, and collaborating with various teams to ensure appropriate and cost-effective transportation options.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point-of-contact for travel planning with the travel management company on behalf of WWP staff and warriors.
• Provide high-touch service and help WWP staff to troubleshoot travel issues, including assisting with travel logistics and triaging flight issues.
• Facilitate individual and group training covering a range of travel policies, procedures, and operational and technical areas for the travel and events team and help provide teammate’s professional skills development.
• Monitor cost savings and provide oversight of travel specialists to ensure team is using consistent business processes.
• Respond immediately to crisis situations. Research and identify options and alternatives for air and ground transportation.
• Work collaboratively with regional office teammates to ensure appropriate and cost-effective transportation options are selected.
• Inform and educate internal staff and warriors on appropriate travel practices.
• Perform compliance audits to ensure consistent standard operating procedures, vendor contracts, and cost initiatives.
• Utilize expense controls and seek cost-saving opportunities to help manage budget effectively.
• Collaborate with and support Event Planning teams to plan and manage group travel in support of WWP events.
• Facilitate continual communication among Travel & Events team and WWP teammates.
• Facilitate communications and overall process with non-program attendees.
• Collaborate with events team and travel specialists to ensure attendees have appropriate information to attend events.
• Train internal staff on travel processes and procedures, including booking travel with online booking tool, guest travel, opportunities for cost savings, and related efficient travel practices.
• Aid in special organizational projects, e.g., serve as coordinator for mission connect program.
• Cook up with and support WWP’s travel management company and track monthly reporting of WWP travel expenses.
• Manage vendor relationships. Identify and implement new travel programs and partnerships as appropriate.
• Attend and actively participate in required training and/or meetings, including but not limited to New Teammate Orientation, WWP Cares, ASIST Suicide Prevention training, Leadership training, culture/team based training, or departmental huddles.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Five years of travel industry experience with an emphasis on corporate and group travel.
• Three years of experience with travel industry professional associations, e.g., GBTA, ACTE.
• Three years of experience in budgeting and negotiating contracts.
• One year of experience working in a non-profit organization.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in tourism, travel management, or relevant field.
• Equivalent combination of education, experience, training, and certification may be considered in lieu of degree.

Experience

• Five years of travel industry experience with an emphasis on corporate and group travel.
• Three years of experience with travel industry professional associations, e.g., GBTA, ACTE.
• Three years of experience in budgeting and negotiating contracts.
• One year of experience working in a non-profit organization.