Assistant Manager- travel

JD- Asst Manager Travel- Operations

Role Overview

The Assistant Manager – Corporate Travel & Visa Operations will oversee end-to-end domestic and international travel management, complex visa compliance, vendor relationship management and emergency traveler support. This role requires a hands-on operations leader who can balance seamless travel execution with strict policy enforcement, cost optimization and vendor performance management.

Key Responsibilities

Travel Coordination

● Oversee and manage complex, multi-city domestic and international itineraries, executive travel and company events.

● Drive cost optimization by enforcing corporate travel policy compliance, advance booking windows, and preferred vendor usage.

● Manage end-to-end flight, hotel and ground transportation and self-booking tools.

● Serve as the primary escalation point for real-time travel disruptions, flight cancellations, emergency re-routings and duty-of-care incidents.

Visa Processing

● Lead end-to-end global visa processing operations, including US (B1/B2), UK, Schengen, and APAC visas.

● Maintain deep expertise in global immigration rules, embassy filing procedures, drop-box eligibility and consulate scheduling platforms.

● Audit and review visa application documentation to ensure 100% compliance and zero error rates before embassy submission.

● Manage third-party visa facilitators, consulates, and VFS operations to track timelines and expedite urgent applications.

Travel Support & Communication

● Act as one of the primary point of contact for travel-related queries.

● Provide real-time support during disruptions, cancellations or emergencies.

● Guide employees on travel policies and best practices.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

● Manage relationships with travel management companies (TMCs), airlines, hotels, and visa partners.

● Negotiate favourable commercial terms where applicable.

● Monitor service levels and escalate performance issues when required.

Travel Analytics, Reporting & Excel Expertise

• Maintain and reconcile monthly AMEX and vendor payments/invoices

• Build, maintain and analyze monthly corporate travel MIS dashboards, spend reports, and leakage tracking models.

• Leverage advanced Excel functions (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, SUMIFS, Data Validation, Power Query) to reconcile complex flight/hotel booking data against card statements.

• Identify travel spend trends, booking lead times, policy violation rates, and cost-saving opportunities through structured data analysis.

Risk Management

● Monitor travel advisories and global risk alerts.

● Advise travellers on safety protocols and documentation requirements.

● Support duty-of-care responsibilities.

Process Improvement

● Identify opportunities for automation and cost optimization.

● Contribute to continuous improvement of travel operations and user experience.

Key Requirements

● Experience: Minimum 5+ years of hands-on experience in managing end-to-end corporate travel operations and global visa processing within corporate travel desks or leading Travel Management Companies (TMCs).

● Mandatory Background: Proven track record working within corporate travel desks, TMCs, corporate card platforms (e.g., Amex Central/VCC), and consular visa operations.

● Advanced Excel & Analytical Skills: Expertise in MS Excel is required (proficient with XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, conditional formatting, nested logic formulas, data cleaning, and large dataset reconciliations). Knowledge of Power BI or dashboard creation is a plus.

● Technical Proficiency: Hands-on experience with Global Distribution Systems (Sabre, Amadeus) and corporate self-booking tools (SBTs).

● Visa Expertise: Thorough understanding of global visa documentation, US MRV fee workflows, drop-box rules, and consulate interview scheduling.

● Operational Drive: Strong problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills with high attention to detail.

● Flexibility: Willingness to support 24x7 rotational operational escalations during emergency travel disruptions or severe weather events.