Travel Manager

About the Role

ADES - Advanced Energy Systems is seeking a Travel Manager to lead and manage the travel program across all operating countries. This full-time role, based in Saudi Arabia, focuses on ensuring safe, efficient, cost-effective, and compliant travel services for corporate business travel, offshore crew mobilization, and operational requirements. The Travel Manager will develop travel strategies, govern travel policies, and manage strategic relationships with Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and travel suppliers, driving standardization and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement ADES travel strategy aligned with business objectives and sourcing strategies.
• Establish and maintain standardized travel policies, procedures, and service standards across all operating countries, ensuring compliance with corporate governance and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the end-to-end management of corporate business travel, offshore crew rotations, executive travel, and international and domestic travel services.
• Oversee airline bookings, hotel accommodation, ground transportation, visa coordination, emergency travel arrangements, and charter flight requirements.
• Partner with Operations, Rig Management, Human Resources, and Country Management to ensure timely crew mobilization and demobilization, optimizing travel routing and minimizing costs.
• Develop sourcing strategies for travel-related services, lead supplier tendering and selection, and manage contracts with TMCs and travel service providers.
• Monitor supplier performance against Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and KPIs, conducting regular reviews to drive service improvements and cost optimization.
• Develop, monitor, and control the annual travel budget, analyzing expenditure to identify cost-saving opportunities and preparing periodic reports.
• Ensure compliance with immigration requirements, travel regulations, and company travel policies, coordinating travel risk mitigation and emergency support.
• Develop and maintain travel performance dashboards and KPIs to measure operational efficiency, supplier performance, and traveller satisfaction.
• Lead initiatives to automate travel processes, enhance digital travel management capabilities, and standardize travel workflows.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, travel suppliers, and strategic partners, providing expert travel guidance and support.

Safety and Compliance

The Travel Manager is responsible for upholding the highest standards of corporate governance, ensuring all activities comply with the Company’s QHSSE policies, Management System, relevant laws, regulations, and industry practices. This role champions safety, providing leadership and commitment to all safety initiatives, and promoting a safety culture across all operational levels.

Supplier and Financial Management

This position involves developing sourcing strategies for travel services in collaboration with the Global Sourcing Manager. Key tasks include leading supplier sourcing, tendering, technical evaluations, and selection of Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and other travel service providers. The role also encompasses managing contracts and strategic relationships with airlines, hotel chains, and ground transportation providers, while monitoring performance and conducting regular reviews to optimize costs and service delivery. Financial responsibilities include developing and controlling the annual travel budget, analyzing expenditure, and preparing financial reports and forecasts.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in travel management.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing comprehensive travel programs across multiple operating countries.
• Proven ability to develop and implement travel strategies, policies, and procedures.
• Strong background in supplier sourcing, contract management, and performance monitoring for travel services.
• Experience with budget management, financial analysis, and cost optimization within a travel context.
• Familiarity with travel risk management, compliance, and business continuity planning.
• Proficiency in leveraging digitalization and process improvement initiatives for travel operations.

Work Environment

The Travel Manager will operate in a dynamic environment, working closely with the Global Sourcing Manager and various internal stakeholders including Operations, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Finance, HSE, Security, Executive Management, Country Management, and Rig Operations. The role requires ensuring uninterrupted travel support across all operating countries and managing travel disruptions effectively.