Director, Corporate Travel

FINRA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

At FINRA, we’re not just looking for someone to run our travel program — we’re looking for someone to transform it, and lead it into the future. As the Corporate Travel Director, you’ll be the go-to expert to shape, modernize, and optimize how FINRA’s employees travel. This role will be responsible for developing and managing FINRA’s travel program. This role bridges internal business requirements with external travel service providers, with a strong focus on policy adherence, duty of care, cost control, and traveler satisfaction. This role will define and lead the future of FINRA’s corporate travel program, shaping the supplier base, setting preferred partners across air, hotel, and ground transport, and ensuring effective travel operations. If you thrive in matrixed organizations, are a confident negotiator, and have a the ability to turn ideas into action, this role will give you the autonomy to make a lasting impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, tourism or travel management, hospitality, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in travel agency or corporate travel management, preferably at a fortune 500 company, financial services organization or in a regulated industry.
• Certification in Corporate Travel CCTE, required.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful travel programs.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, problem-solving, multitasking, analytical skills and customer service skills.
• Proficiency in travel booking systems (GDS) expense management software, and data analysis tools.
• Familiarity with East Coast travel market share (NYC/DC) and Amtrak.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities.
• Adaptable to changing business needs and able to provide creative solutions.
• Strong computer skills, especially in Microsoft Forms and various booking/expense systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop FINRA travel policy and procedures to include authorship, benchmarking against best practices, and on-going modifications based on industry changes, changes to compliance standards, and FINRA internal business practices.
• Act as liaison for FINRA to Travel Management Company (TMC), Technology, and all suppliers.
• Negotiate preferred rates and terms with airlines and hotels.
• Manage UATP (Universal Air Travel Program), car rental companies, and other travel vendors to maximize value. This includes rate loading oversight, communications plan, cost/benefit of FINRA preferred vendor program to agency program.
• Manage the overall travel budget, analyze spending patterns, and identify opportunities for cost savings.
• Develop and implement automated first level program support processes; responsible for FINRA Help Desk escalations, process exceptions.
• Field complaints and interact with FINRA travelers daily. Liaise with TMC to support travelers. Support board members travelling to FINRA meetings.
• Ensure all business travel adheres to company policies and regulatory requirements, working closely with the TMC.
• Collaborate with the meeting planning department to coordinate group travel arrangements for company events and meetings.
• Implement and manage travel booking systems, expense reporting tools, and other travel-related technologies.
• Develop SLA monitoring, KPI’s, and reporting for all aspects of the program. Monitor and provide reports on program performance to identify trends and areas for improvement.
• Oversee the development and distribution of critical communications, including travel alerts, system availability notifications, and industry engagement initiatives.
• Train employees on travel policies, booking tools, and expense reporting processes. Stay current on industry trends, travel regulations, and best practices to continuously improve the travel program. Attend industry training programs.
• Lead vendor and technology assessments for enterprise travel solutions by conducting comprehensive due diligence on travel-related technology platforms, including booking engines, Global Distribution System (GDS) strategies, mid-office quality control solutions, reporting and analytics tools, event management systems (Cvent), crisis management platforms, automated expense management solutions, and meetings management software.
• Manage end-to-end travel management Request for Proposal (RFP) process including requirements definition, vendor assessment and strategic sourcing decisions and implementation. For a regulatory organization like FINRA, a travel management RFP would include compliance requirements, audit capabilities, and specific reporting needs to support regulatory oversight functions.
• Serve as the primary owner for the TMCs management daily.
• Demonstrate FINRA’s values. Collaborate, both in-person and virtually, in furtherance of FINRA’s mission of investor protection and market integrity.

Benefits

• Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
• Non-exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law.
• As part of its dedication to employee wellness, FINRA provides comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance.
• Additional insurance includes basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent life, and spouse/domestic partner and dependent accidental death and dismemberment, short- and long-term disability, long-term care, business travel accident, disability and legal.
• FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match and eligibility for participation in an additional FINRA-funded retirement contribution, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, and other benefits that support employee wellness, such as adoption assistance, backup family care, surrogacy benefits, employee assistance, and wellness programs.
• Time Off and Paid Leave FINRA encourages its employees to focus on their health and wellness in many ways, including through a generous time-off program of 15 days of paid time off, 5 personal days and 9 sick days, unless otherwise required by law (all pro-rated in the first year).
• Additionally, we are proud to support our communities by providing two volunteer service days (based on full-time schedule).
• Other paid leave includes military leave, jury duty leave, bereavement leave, voting and election official leave for federal, state or local primary and general elections, care of a family member leave (available after 90 days of employment); and childbirth and parental leave (available after 90 days of employment).
• Full-time employees receive nine paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees