Lead, Corporate Travel Procurement

Journey with us! Combine your career goals and sense of adventure by joining our incredible team of employees at Royal Caribbean Group. We are proud to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, and excellent career development opportunities, each offering unique ways to explore the world.

We are proud to be the vacation-industry leader with global brands — including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises — the most innovative fleet and private destinations, and the best people. Together, we are dedicated to turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations for our guests.

Royal Caribbean Group’s Guest Travel Services Team has an exciting career opportunity for a full time Lead, Corporate Travel Procurement reporting to the Director, Travel Partnerships.

This role will work onsite in Miramar, Florida.

Position Summary:

This role is responsible for the strategic sourcing and management of corporate travel services, ensuring cost-effectiveness, compliance, and a positive traveler experience. The position must ensure to aligning procurement activities with the company's required processes while developing innovative procurement strategies and managing supplier relationships. Working alongside travel coordinators to provide guidance on timelines and contract requirements in critical to ensure operations run smoothly. The role will require the ability to multitask and work under short timelines due to last minute needs due to new or changing projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Sourcing and Negotiation: Develops and implements travel procurement strategies,negotiates contracts with travel suppliers (airlines, hotels, transportation companies, realtors,
• etc.), and secures favorable rates and terms. Ensures negotiations will comply with corporate travel policies and procedures.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Builds and maintains strong relationships with travel suppliers, manages supplier performance, and resolves issues.
• Cost Optimization: Analyzes travel spend, identifies cost-saving opportunities, and implements strategies to reduce travel expenses.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Tracks and reports on contract performance, providing insights to senior management and stakeholders.
• Technology Management: Oversees the procured products are available within travel booking tools and assists systems teams to have the appropriate entity profile settings within our systems.
• Compliance: Ensures compliance with relevant company processes, regulations, standards, safety & security, and country sourcing and service laws.
• Contract Management: Develops a procurement and negotiation strategy based on multiple and often complex variables. Negotiates price, preferred availability, payment terms, reduce financial impact due to changes & cancellations.
• Interprets contracts, identifies risks, consults with internal subject matter experts on contract terms (e.g. Legal, Risk Management, Security, Privacy & Data Protection) and drafts language to incorporate feedback into all contracts.
• Collaboration and Coordination: Work closely with other departments and internal sub departments (e.g., finance, HR, security, Corporate Travel, and Operation Coordinators) to ensure a coordinated approach to travel.
• Disruption Management: Communicate effectively during travel disruptions or emergencies, providing clear instructions and support to traveler.

Financial Responsibility:

• Support all reconciliation of corporate groups, events and allocation. Must ensure that contract negotiations are within travel policy cost guidelines.

Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills:

• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field like business, supply chain management, or a related area is preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience required in travel operations and logistics.
• A self-starter who can work with cross-functional teams and manage multiple initiatives.
• Strong & effective negotiation/selling skills.
• Contract Management Skills
• Effective communication & collaboration skills
• Strong initiative, organization, follow up, and time management skills.
• Intermediate Excel Skills

Work Environment:

• Work location is RCG Corporate Offices unless other arrangements are required due to global market support.
• The job function and environment are fast paced and supports a 24/7 operation.
• During situation/crisis management extended work hours and support may be required.
• Some travel may be needed.

We know there's a lot to consider. As you go through the application process, our recruiters will be glad to provide guidance, and more relevant details to answer any additional questions. Thank you again for your interest in Royal Caribbean Group. We'll hope to see you onboard soon!

It is the policy of the Company to ensure equal employment and promotion opportunity to qualified candidates without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sexuality, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Royal Caribbean Group and each of its subsidiaries prohibit and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.

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