Travel Support Specialist III

Olgoonik Corporation • Washington, DC

22h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Travel Support Specialist III reports to the organization’s Division Chief and is responsible for coordinating and creating travel authorizations for all personnel within the division. This role involves managing travel arrangements, preparing authorizations in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations and the E2 Solutions system, and coordinating with travel agencies. The specialist also reviews authorizations for fund availability, acts as a liaison for transportation policy, resolves travel expenditure issues, and assists with budget preparation. Additionally, the role includes obtaining diplomatic and official passports, coordinating visa issuance with embassies, securing clearances, and submitting electronic country clearance requests. The specialist will also draft and manage travel vouchers, assist with weekly activity reports, and handle in and out-processing procedures for new hires and departing employees. Maintaining division filing systems, SharePoint sites, and coordinating building maintenance are also key responsibilities. The role supports security protocols, including acting as a visitor escort and overseeing classified material handling. This position also serves as a backup for time and attendance record entry and assists with personnel actions. The specialist will brief senior personnel on travel requirements and act as a subject matter expert on travel policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree and 3-5 years of administrative and/or travel experience. Without a degree, must have 7-9 years of administrative and/or travel experience.
• Skill and functional knowledge of E2 Travel Solutions (in-house training offered).
• Working knowledge and ability to apply the Federal Travel Regulations.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with service providers and clients.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Expertise in dealing with travel industry parties to facilitate the needs of personnel during complicated movements to remote and isolated areas of the world.
• Skill and ability in managing multiple concurrent activities of varying complexity, including changing priorities and short turn-around times.
• Strong ability to plan and remain organized.
• Possess strong multi-tasking skills with the ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast paced, high-volume work environment.
• Possess excellent organizational and follow-up skills.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must also be able to maintain a US Government SECRET clearance.

Responsibilities

• Manages travel arrangements for division staff, including senior leadership.
• Responsible for preparing travel authorizations in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations and in the E2 Solutions travel system; coordinates with Carlson Wagonlit Travel, as required.
• Reviews travel authorizations to certify the availability of funds as per appropriation law and other applicable legislation.
• Serves as an assistant liaison to division personnel on all matters pertaining to transportation policy; ensuring timely dissemination of regulatory updates that affect DoS missions domestically and overseas.
• Resolves issues related to the preparation, processing, and approval of travel expenditures.
• Assists in the preparation of an annual operational budget to assure funds are available for projected travel and coordinates with the DO Resource Manager to ensure accurate funding source is identified on all travel authorizations.
• Obtains diplomatic and official passports for personnel in support of Division travel.
• Directly interacts with host-country embassies to maintain up-to-date knowledge of visa issuance procedures and requirements.
• Coordinates visa issuance through host-country embassies and tracks complex approval processes spanning 1 – 6 weeks.
• Secures required clearances from the Office of the Under Secretary for Management and through the host nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for entry and/or transit of DS employees designated to report to HTHR posts.
• Creates and submits electronic country clearance (eCC) requests for employees traveling to HTHR posts in accordance with host country requirements.
• Drafts travel voucher upon completion of employee travel and manages the voucher processing.
• Assist with the collection and writing for the Weekly Activity Report (WAR).
• Conduct in and out-processing procedures for new hire and departing employees to include assign workspace, submit requests for computer and facilities access; grant SharePoint access; issue cell/blackberry device and fob, etc.
• Maintain Division Filing Systems (active and inactive), SharePoint Sites, Staffing Calendar, and the network shared folder.
• Coordinate building and facilities maintenance with DS/EX/LS, GSA Property Management, commercial property management, vendors and outside contractors.
• Support proper security protocol: act as visitor escort; oversee proper storage, handling and destruction of classified material as directed; control/limit access to office spaces; and coordinate maintenance of physical security equipment as needed.
• Back up for entering time and attendance records for government employees using Web.TATEL software and manually maintain Compensation Time for Travel accounts.
• Back up assisting with personnel actions, work requirements statements, and EERs on the GEMS HR On-Line system.
• Briefs senior personnel on office travel requirements and related projects and requirements.
• Serves as subject matter expert on travel policies, procedures, and requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree