Director, Travel Initiatives

Ross Stores•Dublin, CA

11d•$119,800 - $225,250•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Travel Initiatives leads the strategy, governance, and performance of the Company’s Travel, Corporate Credit Card, and Meetings & Events programs. This role drives enterprise-wide initiatives to optimize spend, enhance employee experience, strengthen compliance, mitigate risk, and support business growth while overseeing travel operations, supplier management, policy governance, and cross-functional projects. The position partners extensively with Executive Leadership, Finance, Accounting, Treasury, Human Resources, Legal, Loss Prevention, and business stakeholders to drive enterprise-wide initiatives, deliver measurable business value, and implement best-in-class processes and programs. The Director routinely completes projects and communicates recommendations, business cases, risks, opportunities, and performance results to senior leadership and executive audiences, including C-suite stakeholders. Establishes technology roadmap for travel and expense systems and leads implementation, enhancement, integration, and user adoption efforts. Owns annual travel and related program expenditures, forecasts spend, identifies savings opportunities, and delivers annual financial performance targets through sourcing, compliance, supplier optimization, and demand management initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required
10+ years of progressive experience in travel management, strategic sourcing, procurement, finance, operations, corporate credit card programs, meetings & events, consulting, or other related disciplines.
5+ years leading complex enterprise-wide projects and strategic initiatives.
Demonstrated experience presenting recommendations and influencing decisions with senior executives and C-suite leaders.
Strong project and program management experience with a proven record of leading large-scale cross-functional initiatives.
Experience developing business cases, strategic plans, executive presentations, and change management strategies.
Ability to communicate complex findings clearly and succinctly, both verbally and in writing, and lead presentations to senior-level Executives
Strong negotiation, supplier management, and contract management experience.
Advanced analytical, financial modeling, Excel, and PowerPoint capabilities.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information into concise executive-level recommendations.
Proven ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments and manage multiple competing priorities.
Demonstrated strategic mindset with the ability to connect operational initiatives to broader business objectives.

Nice To Haves

GTP, CTM, PMP, CMP certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

Directs the development and executes the Company's long-term strategy for Travel, Corporate Credit Cards, and Meetings & Events programs, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and financial goals.
Leads the development of governance, operating models, policies, procedures, and performance standards across all assigned programs.
Provides strategic leadership and executes complex enterprise-wide initiatives impacting multiple business functions, locations, and stakeholder groups.
Sets the strategic direction for project governance frameworks, success metrics, and reporting mechanisms to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with business objectives.
Identifies emerging industry trends, technologies, and best practices and recommends strategic opportunities to improve travel and corporate credit card programs.
Maintains overall responsibility for the Company's travel program, policies, supplier strategy, traveler experience, compliance programs, reporting, and operational effectiveness.
Oversees and maintains travel policies, standards, and governance processes that balance employee experience, risk mitigation, and cost management.
Provides strategic oversight of the Travel Management Company and all travel-related suppliers, including airlines, hotels, ground transportation providers, meeting and event vendors, and travel technology partners.
Leads contract negotiations, supplier performance reviews, service-level management, and supplier relationship strategies to maximize value and business outcomes.
Leads the development and execution of sourcing strategies for meetings, conferences, training events, leadership meetings, and other corporate events.
Provides strategic oversight for key performance indicators and operational metrics to assess program effectiveness and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
Owns and manages the Company's Corporate Credit Card Program, including program strategy, governance, policy development, compliance oversight, employee adoption, controls, reporting, and ongoing program enhancements.
Directs development of reporting frameworks and performance dashboards to monitor spend, compliance, traveler behavior, supplier performance, and program effectiveness.
Evaluates program performance and identifies opportunities to improve operational efficiency, user experience, reporting capabilities, and spend visibility.
Serves as the executive escalation point for significant traveler, supplier, operational, or program-related issues.
Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.
Serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership regarding travel, operational, and strategic initiatives.
Develops and delivers clear, concise, and data-driven presentations, recommendations, and business cases to various leadership teams.
Communicates complex business issues, risks, and opportunities in a manner that supports executive decision-making.
Influences and gains alignment across diverse stakeholder groups while effectively managing competing priorities and organizational change.
Builds strong cross-functional partnerships to ensure successful execution of strategic initiatives and ongoing program effectiveness.
Directs development of the team through performance and talent planning.