Global Business Travel Specialist - IFS - Colombo

About the job

Company Description

IFS is a billion-dollar revenue company with 7000+ employees on all continents. Our leading AI technology is the backbone of our award-winning enterprise software solutions, enabling our customers to be their best when it really matters–at the Moment of Service™. Our commitment to internal AI adoption has allowed us to stay at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring our colleagues can unlock their creativity and productivity, and our solutions are always cutting-edge.

At IFS, we’re flexible, we’re innovative, and we’re focused not only on how we can engage with our customers but on how we can make a real change and have a worldwide impact. We help solve some of society’s greatest challenges, fostering a better future through our agility, collaboration, and trust.

We celebrate diversity and understand our responsibility to reflect the diverse world we work in. We are committed to promoting an inclusive workforce that fully represents the many different cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints of our customers, our partners, and our communities. As a truly international company serving people from around the globe, we realize that our success is tantamount to the respect we have for those different points of view.

By joining our team, you will have the opportunity to be part of a global, diverse environment; you will be joining a winning team with a commitment to sustainability; and a company where we get things done so that you can make a positive impact on the world.

We’re looking for innovative and original thinkers to work in an environment where you can #MakeYourMoment so that we can help others make theirs. With the power of our AI-driven solutions, we empower our team to change the status quo and make a real difference.

If you want to change the status quo, we’ll help you make your moment. Join Team Purple. Join IFS.

Job Description

Are You Ready to Elevate Global Business Travel at IFS?

We're on the lookout for a dynamic ‘Global Business Travel Specialist’ with a proven track record in business travel management to help propel our journey towards innovation, efficiency, and excellence. This is your chance to be at the forefront of transforming global business travel, making it smarter, more sustainable, and fully aligned with our corporate vision.

Reporting directly to the Manager of Global Travel Operations, you will take on a pivotal role in the delivery of our travel management strategy that supports IFS’s global operations and companywide objectives. The mission is to deliver a value-centric, proactive approach to global business travel that balances service excellence, value delivery, sustainability, and risk mitigation.

In this role, you cultivate a strong functional brand as a strategic business partner, through cross-functional networking and optimizing service delivery. Selected candidate must be available to work during theNorth Americanshift(EST timezone).

Key responsibilities:

-Support the delivery of travel and events category strategies with a keen focus on environmental, social, and financial sustainability, ensuring our operations align with broader corporate values, and amplify our contribution to sustainability and Science Based Target initiatives. 
-Champion continuous improvement and standardization in business travel practices, to elevate the travel experience for all travelers, including IFS’s CEO, CFOs, MDs, and senior stakeholders. 
-Ensure the effective governance, maintenance, and adherence to global travel policies and procedures, acting as a guardian of our travel ecosystem's integrity. 
-Serve as a Superuser of the Global Travel Provider Portal, undertaking administrative tasks like updating business traveler profiles, ensuring our data reflects the latest and most accurate traveler information. 
-Draft and negotiate favorable terms with travel and accommodation suppliers to promote global usage and mitigate risks for IFS. 
-Foster productive relationships with preferred travel and accommodation suppliers, effectively managing their performance to drive cost reductions and service enhancements, and swiftly resolving any issues to maintain service quality. This includes our current TMS provider, Egencia. 
-Act as the IFS Business Travel Subject Matter Expert, offering expert travel guidance to internal stakeholders. This includes delivering training and targeted presentations on relevant procurement, fleet, and travel policies to ensure company-wide comprehension and compliance. 
-Utilize analytics to identify new savings strategies and ensure consistent achievement of KPIs, contributing to the financial health and operational efficiency of the travel program. 
-Report and present travel and sustainability updates to the wider business, ensuring transparency and shared insights on performance and impact. 
-Manage escalations and handle short-notice individual/group travel requirements with agility and precision, ensuring seamless travel experiences for all stakeholders, regardless of the urgency or complexity of the situation.

Qualifications

-Minimum 3-7 years of progressive experience in business travel management within a multinational corporate setting. 
-Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, with IATA certification being a bonus. 
-Membership in professional organizations such as ITM, GBTA, ACTE preferred. 
-Proficiency in GDS systems and advanced knowledge of global business travel markets and regulations. 
-Exceptional negotiation and contracts development skills, and supplier management experience. 
-Strong analytical capabilities to drive financial efficiencies. 
-Extremely client driven, takes the time to understand the needs of the business and deliver the best customer experience. 
-Excellent communication skills, capable of simplifying complex ideas for a broad audience. 
-Demonstrated ability to rapidly respond to and manage risks associated with travel suppliers and market fluctuations, ensuring the travel team can provide continuous, uninterrupted service to your customers within the business.

Additional Information

Application Requirement:

Please include an introductory cover letter with your application, copied and pasted into our platform rather than attached as a document. The cover letter should provide a brief overview of your professional background and how you envision contributing to the role. Why IFS?

We embrace flexibility and hybrid work opportunities to support diverse needs and lifestyles, while also valuing inclusive workplace experiences. By fostering a sense of community, we drive innovation, strengthen connections, and nurture belonging. Our commitment ensures you can work in a way that suits you best, while also engaging with colleagues to share ideas and build meaningful relationships.