Assistant Manager - Travel

SigmoidBengaluru, KarnatakaOn-siteFull-timeSenior, 5–8 yearsListed 2 hours ago

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About this role

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.

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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 points 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.

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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.

Note:

By submitting your application, you consent to being contacted by our Talent Acquisition team via phone call, email, SMS, WhatsApp, or other communication channels regarding your application and relevant career opportunities.