Ground Category Manager, Amazon Travel & Events

Description

At Amazon, we’re working to be the most customer-centric company on earth. Amazon Travel & Events (AT&E) operates a global corporate travel program spanning 60+ countries and serving hundreds of thousands of employees. The Supplier & Category Strategy (SCS) team owns all supplier relationships within AT&E, driving enterprise-wide savings while continuously improving the traveler experience.

We are seeking a Category Manager – Ground to own Amazon’s global ground transportation portfolio — car rental, chauffeured and executive car services, rideshare/mobility, rail, and airport transfer programs. This role owns supplier and category strategy end to end: defining sourcing roadmaps, leading negotiations, and partnering across the business to deliver measurable savings, a frictionless traveler experience, and programs that scale.

Working alongside the Category Manager – Air and the broader SCS team, this individual delivers one integrated travel program on behalf of our internal customers. The ground transportation landscape is evolving rapidly — shaped by mobility platforms, sustainability commitments, and shifting duty-of-care expectations — and this role develops the category strategy that positions Amazon to lead through that change.

Key job responsibilities
Category & Supplier Strategy
- Own the global ground transportation category strategy — defining supplier spend, sourcing roadmaps, and program goals aligned to broader AT&E and business priorities
- Lead supplier management end to end: RFPs, negotiations, contracting, implementation, and ongoing performance management across car rental, chauffeured/executive car, rideshare, rail, and transfer suppliers
- Drive cost and savings analysis — quantify the impact of decisions, model alternatives and decision criteria, and deliver supplier recommendations backed by data
- Prepare and lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with strategic suppliers, holding partners accountable to service levels, savings, and innovation commitments
- Manage the contract lifecycle: renewals, amendments, SLA enforcement, and performance-based renegotiation triggers

Traveler Experience & Program Delivery
- Enhance the employee/traveler experience through value-creation projects requiring change management, stakeholder alignment, and global supplier relationship management
- Support the rollout of new travel tools and ground booking capabilities — monitoring adoption, tracking improvement areas, and supporting traveler communications
- Partner with Risk & Security on secure ground transport requirements and duty-of-care standards
- Perform market research to discover new suppliers, qualify existing ones, and stay ahead of mobility and ground transportation industry trends

Cross-Functional & Pan-Amazon
- Partner closely with Finance, Procurement, Legal, and regional travel teams to share best practices and drive innovation across the program
- Author white papers, strategic plans, and business reviews that inform, influence, and earn decisions from key stakeholders and senior leadership
- Align ground category terms with air, hotel, and distribution strategy to reinforce — rather than undercut — the integrated AT&E program
- Report and track productivity and program metrics for global ground transportation initiatives

Basic Qualifications

- 5+ years of category management, supplier management, or strategic sourcing experience — ideally in travel, meetings, or a comparable services category.
- Demonstrated track record negotiating and managing supplier agreements and delivering year-over-year savings.
- Strong analytical skills — comfortable building and interpreting cost analyses, savings models, and business cases.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to form and defend a strong point of view in strategic business discussions.
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders and cross-functional partners without direct authority.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and project management tools.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

- MBA, or Advanced degree
- Direct ground transportation / mobility category experience — car rental, chauffeured/executive car, rideshare, rail, or airport transfer programs.
- Experience managing global, multi-region travel programs and suppliers.
- Experience at a large-scale corporate travel program (Fortune 100 or equivalent volume).
- Comprehensive understanding of the corporate travel ecosystem, including travel technologies and booking platforms (e.g., Spotnana, BCD, Concur).
- Advanced data fluency — ability to turn large, messy datasets into clear recommendations and executive-ready narratives.
- Familiarity with duty-of-care data requirements and travel risk management as they relate to ground transportation.

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits .

USA, CA, San Diego - 111,300.00 - 147,200.00 USD annually