Senior Program Manager, Travel Risk Management

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 169,000 - 255,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Program Manager for Travel Risk Management within their Global Security team. This pivotal role involves leading a cross-team program that ensures the safety of personnel during international travel. You'll manage vendor relationships, oversee program delivery, and collaborate with various internal teams to enhance travel security protocols. If you have a strong background in security operations and a passion for risk management, this opportunity offers a chance to make a meaningful impact while working in a supportive and diverse environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive Medical Coverage

Generous Paid Time Off

Paid Family Leave

Foundation-Paid Retirement Contribution

Regional Holidays

Employee Communities Engagement

Qualifications

• 10-15 years experience in security operations and risk intelligence.
• Exceptional communication and program management skills required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Travel Risk Management program across Global Security.
• Provide strategic oversight of TRM data and reporting.

Skills

Program Management

Vendor Management

Risk Assessment

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Crisis Management

Data Visualization

Education

Bachelor's in Security Studies

Master's Degree

Tools

Power BI

Everbridge

ISOS ManagerView

Zendesk

SharePoint

Job description

The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofitfighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve.We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities.As a workplace, we're committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

Global Security works to safeguard foundation personnel, information, facilities, events, assets, and reputation. We are comprised of about thirty employees as well as contingent staff based in Reception, Guard Forces, Secure Drivers and Transportation Coordinators, as well as our Global Security Operations Center. Security spans across all foundation regional and affiliate offices and organizationally reports into Facilities, Events, Travel and Security (FETS) and Business Operations.

This role resides within the Risk Intelligence team, within Global Security and reports to the Deputy Director, Risk Intelligence. The Risk Intelligence team is responsible for analyzing threats and trends in the countries and regions where we and our partners operate and provides direct security support to each of the foundation's regional offices, Country Directors and Affiliate entities. Our Regional Security Managers partner closely with one another across regions and with our Analysts. Based in our Regional Offices globally, RSMs serve as the bridge for our work across the Global Security team.Your Role

Serves as Global Security's (GS) Senior Program Manager (SPM) for Travel Risk Management (TRM).

TRM is a cross-team program for GS with deliverables and workstreams across internal business partners and external vendors. This role is responsible for providing TRM program strategy, day-to-day operational oversight, partner collaboration, and vendor management. This role is responsible for maintaining high-quality program delivery - including tools, policies, workflows, and training - in alignment with our organizational risk tolerance and GS standards. The position will report to the Deputy Director for Risk Intelligence and will support the GS Operations & Intelligence team. This opportunity will also provide program management support for Risk Intel initiatives and backstopping team members globally!

What You'll Do

• Lead the Travel Risk Management (TRM) program across Global Security, managing delivery across a suite of vendors and in coordination with key internal collaborators, including Global Security teams, IT, HR, Legal and Travel.

• Facilitate a TRM Working Group to promote alignment across team members and distributed TRM bodies of work, policy updates, engagement across internal training programs with content owners (i.e. HEAT, Low HEAT, Women's Travel Health, etc.) and other educational products on travel security practices and risk protocols.

• Lead TRM program core vendor budget, key performance indicators, and business reviews; align vendor services with organizational risk thresholds, critical issue workflows and alerting protocols to ensure high-quality, compliant and adaptive support aligned with evolving program needs.

• Provide strategic oversight of TRM data and reporting using tools such as Power BI; apply analytical insights to guide decision-making and program improvements.

• Continuously assess and improve TRM program by applying monitoring and evaluation and reviewing processes: Refine workflows for travel approvals, escalations, alert distribution and traveler communications. Define criteria for right-sized travel security alerts and provide recommendations for multi-source integration.

• Oversee a suite of TRM tools (e.g., Everbridge 360, ISOS ManagerView, Zendesk, SharePoint workflows); lead troubleshooting and enhancements. Maintain an up-to-date understanding of emerging technologies and trends, assessing their potential to enhance program effectiveness, efficiency, and innovation.

• Facilitate partners to maintain and update travel risk policies, standards, SOPs, and guidance materials, ensuring consistency, compliance and alignment with best practices.

• Collaborate with TRM Specialists, security vendors and insurers to ensure comprehensive understanding of coverage for global travel risks.

• Engage in industry threat intelligence forums and provide cross-sector benchmarking, insights, and recommendations on global travel risk trends and emerging security risks.

• Provide coverage support to team members based globally and Risk Intel program management duties as needed. Cover responsibilities during peak times, absences, or emergencies - ensuring a continued high standard of our security operations globally.

This is an individual contributor role, which does not have direct/internal employee people management responsibilities; however vendor management (to include contingent workers) is a critical part of this role. Success in this role will require frequent collaboration across internal and external partners - all who collectively contribute to travel risk efforts across the foundation.

This role will be based at the foundation office in Washington, DC or Seattle.

Your Experience

• Exceptional communication skills and strong program and vendor management experience required. Experience with third party vendors operating in travel, medical, political and security risk is considered an asset.

• Ability to work effectively across teams, communicate complex security concepts at all organizational levels to diverse audiences, and lead through influence.

• Proactive and solution-oriented approach to identifying and mitigating travel security risks with a strong understanding of international travel security, duty of care and global risk trends.

• 10-15 years of experience in security operations and management or security analysis and risk intelligence - preferably in a global, regional or multi-site capacity with corporate security entities and/or federal government-level service with diplomatic, law enforcement and/or intelligence agencies or a related field.

• Bachelor's degree in security studies, international relations, or a related field. Advanced certifications in risk management, security, operations or related areas and program management are appreciated. Master's degree preferred.

• Proficiency in risk assessment tools, crisis management technologies, and confidential information handling. Everbridge and ISOS experience strongly preferred.

• Experience implementing a "follow the sun" operating model with an ability to backstop team members across office locations and time zones is desirable.

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; including research, monitoring, information collection and reporting. Experience with country risk assessments preferred.

• Data visualization skills are considered a strong asset. Preferred experience converting complex datasets into clear, insightful, and visually appealing representations with tools like Power BI.

• Proven ability to thrive in matrixed organizations, operating independently while collaborating across time zones with senior leadership, vendors, and cross-functional teams.

Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

The salary range for this role is $169,700.00 to $254,500.00 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $185,000.00 to $277,400.00 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate's job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion - of voices, ideas, and approaches - and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.