Army - Corporate Travel Lead Analyst

Ministry Of Defence; Penton Mewsey; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department is seeking a Head of Army Corporate Travel to oversee the strategic management of travel for the Army. This role involves data-driven insights, operational efficiency, and collaboration with various stakeholders to enhance travel practices while ensuring cost effectiveness. Candidates should possess strong leadership and analytical skills along with a proven background in travel management.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Competitive pension scheme

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing travel or logistics.
• Expertise in data analysis and budget management.
• Ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Shape and oversee the Army's travel strategy.
• Manage travel analysis for informed decisions.
• Lead development of the Army Travel Dashboard.

Skills

Leadership experience

Analytical expertise

Corporate travel industry knowledge

Strong communication skills

Problem solving abilities

Job description

Overview

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, with responsibility for an annual budget of over £10bn, the Army is a major part of the Ministry of Defence and one of its largest operating centres who employ around 12,000 Civil Servants located at over 300 locations supporting the 110K regular and reserve soldiers across the Army. This Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff.

The Army Corporate Travel Lead Analyst post within the EPO (Efficiency Programme Office) is a challenging, business-critical role, dealing with significant increasing oversight of complex Army travel data analysis, (driving greater monetary responsibility through resource and policy). This role involves Defence-wide broader scope travel-related responsibilities at both National and International levels, managing of Army travel currently costing circa £348M per financial year. Are you ready to lead a transformative journey in the Army\'s corporate travel landscape? Do you have the vision, leadership, and analytical expertise to drive efficiency and innovation across the Army? If so, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact in a high-profile role at the heart of the Army\'s operational efficiency.

Role and responsibilities

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. As the Head of Army Corporate Travel, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and overseeing the Army\'s travel strategy under the direction of the Army Deputy Head Efficiencies. This is a unique opportunity to lead a critical function that supports the Army\'s operational effectiveness while driving value for money and sustainable travel practices.

• You will be responsible for managing travel analysis, ensuring that travel decisions are informed, efficient, and aligned with organisational priorities. By leveraging data analytics and fostering a culture of ownership and accountability, you will empower business areas and unit budget holders to make smarter travel choices.
• Lead data-driven insights and recommendations of the Army travel landscape to leverage data to improve travel programme efficiency, reduce costs and enhance traveller experience.
• Drive cost optimisation, vendor performance, policy compliance, traveller behaviour insights, risk management with a plan to predict future travel spend and trends to support strategic planning and budgeting.
• Enable collaborative solutions through bringing key stakeholders together to harness best practice, lessons learnt from across both the TLB (Top Level Budget) and wider Defence travel landscape, as well as identify and deliver key interventions required.
• Act as the flagship for Defence travel including discovery sprints and pilots of cost-conscious travel improvements.
• Hold to account and resolve travel discrepancies / issues with the vendor.
• Utilise data analysis to inform negotiations and preferred partnerships that meet the requirements of all areas within Army travel.
• Lead creation of accurate MI and Data to provide data-based recommendations, highlighting large areas of unnecessary spend and how to overcome them.
• Lead development, maintenance and updating of the Army Travel Dashboard, Assurance and Governance tools and Travel Policy.
• Lead delivery of clear, engaging and regular communication plans, with data driven interventions.
• Plan, organise and lead working group meetings with HLB (Higher Level Budget) travel leads & finance.
• Attend and represent Army at MOD wide meetings along with planning and leading monthly Amex Global Business Travel meetings.
• Deliver deep dive research projects on travel and market information to provide recommendations to DRes (Director resources), ACGS (Assistant Chief of the General Staff) and ExCo (Executive Committee) to enhance how the Army travels.
• Develop and enhance knowledge of the relevant structures within Defence and Army, understanding key issues and objectives, and understanding the implications of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework and contract deliverables for travel, whilst helping hold the contracted Travel provider to account within the SLA (Service Level Agreement).
• Deputise for the Army Deputy Head Efficiency as required.

Behavioural and assessment framework

We\'ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of Changing & Improving. Your CV and Leadership evidence will only be reviewed if you are successful at this initial sift. At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Working Together

Eligibility and recruitment information

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: [e-mail] .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. See our vetting charter. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
• Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.

• Leadership experience and analytical expertise
• Corporate travel industry knowledge
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Problem solving abilities
• Policy knowledge, creation, management
• Strong data analysis skills
• Proactive approach to anticipating and resolving travel-related issues
• Basic budget management / financial understanding
• Ability to navigate a fast-paced environment

Desirable skills:

• Continuous learning and adaptability
• Proactive approach to safety and security
• Experience in understanding Higher Level Budget / Top Level Budget specific requirements to meet our unique travel needs
• Experience with expense management and understanding of budget allocation and travel funding and point of source
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to handle multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously
• Travel technology proficient
• Understanding of the difference between Adventure Training and Winter sports and funding streams

Salary and benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance. Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising to 30 days upon completion of 5 years\' service
• Highly competitive pension scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuring you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently - we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. However, recognising the benefits of face to face working, especially for new joiners, there is an expectation that you would be in the office at least 60% of the time (3 days a week).

The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts. Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.