Global Travel Operations Manager

Wellcome Trust; London; On-site; GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Wellcome Trust seeks a Global Travel Operations Manager for a 1-year Fixed Term Contract. This role involves leading the in-house travel team to ensure safe and cost-effective travel for staff and external partners. Responsibilities include managing supplier relations, performance metrics, and contributing to travel safety strategies within a global context.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in the travel industry, including leadership roles in travel services.
• Strong skills in managing third-party supply contractors and procurement.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the Global Travel Team to ensure effective travel practices.
• Manage performance metrics and travel supplier relations.
• Contribute to Wellcome’s travel safety strategies and emergency management processes.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Job description

Salary: £59,700

Closing date: Monday, 16 June 2025

Contract type: Fixed Term Contract

Interview dates: W/C Monday 7 July 2025

The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation. We improve health for everyone by funding science, leading policy and advocacy campaigns, and building partnerships.

We plan to spend £16bn over the next ten years, funding new discoveries in life, health, and wellbeing, and taking on three global health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.

These challenges need the bold science we support, but they won’t be solved by science alone.

We are looking for a Global Travel Operations Manager to join our team on a 1 year Fixed Term Contract.

Where in Wellcome will I be working?

You will be leading the Global Travel Team within the Facilities, Events and Travel department reporting to the Associate Director.

The Global Travel Team are an in-house specialist travel booking and advice team, arranging visas, travel & hotels for Wellcome employees and Wellcome’s guests.

On average this equates to a monthly volume of approx. 700 rail/air/hotel bookings per month, including complex multi-trip journeys across the Globe. We contribute to Wellcome’smission by enabling staff andexternals who travel on our behalfto meet, connect and collaborate.

What will I be doing?

The Global Travel Operation Manager will lead and motivate the Travel team to ensure safe, responsible, and cost-effective travel practices at Wellcome. They will manage performance metrics, supplier relations, and travel policy, while providing strategic support to Wellcome’s Travel Steering Group and emergency management processes. Additionally, they will coordinate resources internally and through our Travel Management Company to deliver efficient and exceptional travel services.

The role has a team of 4 direct reports and is responsible for the Global Travel Team budget, which covers travel suppliers and tools (bookings are charged to departmental cost centres).

As a Global Travel Operation Manager, you will:

• Strategic Travel Planning and Implementation: Anticipate and deliver travel information and services that ensure a culture of responsible travel, providing value for money and enabling safe travel, including training and guidance.

• Performance and Service Excellence: Meet key performance indicators for travel services, using metrics to assess user satisfaction and supplier performance, while reducing risks and resolving issues effectively. You will drive the use of the self-service booking tools and ensure use of Wellcome’s safe practice controls.

• Manage the procurement and mobilisation of third-party supplier contracts.

• Leadership and Team Management: Lead and motivate the Travel team, managing the team’s performance, development, and pastoral care to align with Wellcome's principles.

• Collaborative Planning and Improvement: Serve as Secretary to the Wellcome Travel Steering Group, supporting collaborative planning, continuous improvement, and recommending travel policy changes to maintain relevance.

• Risk Management and Emergency Response: Manage travel risks with mitigation strategies, participate in Wellcome’s Travel Emergency Group for crisis management, and support emergency management processes and supplier relationships to enhance service quality.

• Contribute to a diverse and inclusive culture across the organisation, collaborating across departments.

Is this job for me?

You have substantial experience in the travel industry, with a proven track record in leading insourced and outsourced travel services. They should possess strong skills in managing third-party supply contractors and commercial procurement, as well as implementing global travel safety strategies. Additionally, they will excel in coordinating and motivating teams to deliver exceptional service, demonstrating excellent communication and negotiation skills while liaising with senior leadership, and collaborating effectively with various Wellcome departments involved in travel operations

To apply for this role please submit an update CV and answer 2 application questions to demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Minimum Criteria:

• Prior experience in a leadership role within both insourced and outsourced travel service provision.

• Experience in managing third-party supply contractors and overseeing commercial procurement activities. Etc.

• Understanding and implementation of global travel safety and security best practices, along with managing associated control measures.

• Experience in managing change and projects, including producing training materials and operating guides.

You can view the full job description on our website

You can read more about the benefits we offer our employees on our website

Our Hybrid Way of Working

We understand that our colleagues have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to build a flexible working environment, in which people can perform at their best.

At Wellcome we have a hybrid way of working which is 3 days in our Euston Road offices (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) with the remaining 2 days working either remotely or in the office.

Diversity and Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do

Diversity and Inclusion is a priority at Wellcome . We are committed to cultivating a fair andinclusiveenvironment, where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles. We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone. This includesmaking adjustmentsfor people who have a disability or long-term condition.Please visit our websitefor more information on adjustments and accessibility, or contact us [e-mail].

Upon a conditional offer being made, the successful applicant for this position will be required to undertake a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (or equivalent) criminal record check to disclose any ‘unspent’ criminal convictions or conditional cautions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The criminal record check with not show anything that is ‘spent’.

For further guidance on disclosure of criminal records please see this UK Government Guidance. You can view our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders here. You can view our Privacy Statement here.

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