Manager, Business Operations

PayPal•San Jose, CA

32d•Hybrid

About The Position

PayPal is seeking a strategicâ¯Global Travel Managerâ¯to transform and optimize our corporate travel program, managing annual spend across our global workforce. This role goes far beyond travel logistics-you'll be a business partner who drives cost efficiency, enhances traveler experience, ensures duty of care, and leverages technology and data analytics to deliver measurable value to the organization. Working at the intersection of Procurement, Finance, HR, and IT, you'll modernize PayPal's travel ecosystem, implementing innovative solutions that support our business objectives while maintaining the highest standards of compliance, safety, and service excellence.

Requirements

5+ years relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
7+ yearsâ¯of progressive experience managing corporate travel programs, preferably in Fortune 500 or global technology companies
5+ yearsâ¯of vendor management and contract negotiation experience with demonstrated cost savings achievement
Proven track record managing travel programs withâ¯annual spendâ¯supporting multi-national operations
Experience implementing and optimizing travel technology platforms (Concur or similar)
Strong background inâ¯data analytics and reporting, using insights to drive business decisions
Experience withâ¯change management, successfully driving adoption of new policies, systems, and processes
Project management experience leading cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution
Bachelor's degree requiredâ¯in Business Administration, Finance, Hospitality Management, or related field
Advanced proficiencyâ¯in SAP Concur Travel & Expense (required)
Strong Excel skillsâ¯including pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and data analysis
Proficiency in Microsoft 365 suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams)

Nice To Haves

CTP (Certified Travel Professional), CGTP, or GBTA certification strongly preferred
Working knowledgeâ¯of TMC booking tools, GDS systems (Sabre, Amadeus), and emerging platforms (Spotnana, Avenir, TripActions, Navan)
Experience with data visualization toolsâ¯(Tableau, Power BI, or similar) for reporting and dashboards
Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP) and procurement platforms (ServiceNow) is a plus

Responsibilities

Lead functional projects and programs to optimize operational processes.
Identify issues and recommend best practices for process improvements.
Partner with various departments to understand business trends.
Drive business or process improvements within the function.
Provide oversight and support for planning and management of financial, budget, and headcount targets.
Act as a point of contact or liaison between business leadership, staff, and other key partners.
Promote transparent reporting and foster a culture of data-driven decision-making by defining key metrics and evaluating progress.
Design and execute a comprehensive global travel strategy aligned with PayPal's business priorities and financial objectives
Partner with Procurement leadership on source-to-pay modernization initiatives, identifying opportunities for automation and process improvement
Develop data-driven policies that balance cost control, traveler satisfaction, and duty of care
Lead travel program budgeting and forecasting, managing annual spend with targeted savings goals
Manage strategic relationships with Travel Management Company (TMC), airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and other travel suppliers
Negotiate enterprise agreements and contracts to secure optimal rates, service levels, and value-added benefits
Conduct regular business reviews with suppliers to ensure SLA compliance and continuous improvement
Evaluate and implement emerging travel technologies (NDC content, AI-powered booking tools, mobile solutions)
Oversee RFP processes for travel services, ensuring competitive bidding and vendor selection excellence
Serve as business owner for SAP Concur Travel, driving system optimization and user adoption
Lead implementation of new travel technology solutions, including evaluation of platforms like Spotnana/Avenir
Partner with IT on single point of entry initiatives for seamless traveler experience
Develop automation strategies to reduce manual processing and improve operational efficiency
Develop comprehensive dashboards and reports providing visibility into travel spend, trends, and savings opportunities
Leverage analytics to identify booking patterns, policy compliance gaps, and cost reduction initiatives
Present quarterly business reviews to senior leadership with actionable insights and recommendations
Track KPIs including cost per trip, advance booking rates, preferred supplier adoption, traveler satisfaction, and savings achievement
Conduct benchmarking analysis against industry standards and peer companies
Provide guidance on travel documents, visas, insurance, customs regulations, and health/safety requirements
Create and deliver training programs to drive policy awareness and tool adoption
Maintain high traveler satisfaction scores through responsive support and continuous program improvements
Ensure all travel activities comply with PayPal policies, SOX controls, and regulatory requirements
Conduct regular policy audits and implement corrective actions for non-compliance
Collaborate with Finance and Legal on policy updates reflecting business needs and regulatory changes
Monitor and enforce booking channel compliance and approval workflows
Maintain documentation and audit trails for internal and external audits