Head of Global Travel in London

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 23,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Why work at Howden? We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we’ve focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

What is the role? You will be responsible for developing and managing a comprehensive travel program across all international and domestic locations. This role oversees travel operations, manages vendor relationships, ensures compliance with travel policies, and proactively addresses travel risk management. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in corporate travel management, global mobility, vendor negotiations, technology platforms, and traveller safety and security.

What will you be doing? Key Accountabilities:

• Travel Operations Management – Oversee day-to-day travel operations across global offices in 80+ countries, ensuring efficient, cost-effective, and policy-compliant travel bookings. Manage travel requests, approvals, and expense reconciliation workflows in coordination with finance and HR teams. Monitor travel booking tools (e.g., Concur, SAP, Egencia, Amadeus) and optimise their use for seamless colleague experience. Develop and implement global travel policies, controls, procedures, and guidelines tailored to regional needs. Liaise with department heads and executive assistants to support VIP and executive travel logistics. Coordinate with travel management companies (TMCs), airlines, hotels, and car rental providers for corporate rate negotiation and contract management. Analyse travel data and generate reports on KPIs, cost savings, and travel trends for leadership review.
• Vendor and Supplier Management – Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with global and regional travel vendors. Negotiate contracts and ensure service-level agreements (SLAs) are met. Monitor vendor performance and resolve service issues in collaboration with internal stakeholders. Conduct annual RFPs and benchmarking to ensure best-in-class pricing and service delivery. Stay up to date with industry trends and bring in best practices.
• Travel Risk Management – Develop and maintain a robust travel risk management program in collaboration with security, legal, and HR teams. Monitor global events and advisories that may affect traveller safety (e.g., political unrest, natural disasters, pandemics). Partner with third-party security providers and insurance companies to provide 24/7 support to travellers. Maintain an emergency response protocol, including traveller tracking, communication systems, and evacuation procedures. Ensure compliance with duty of care obligations and local regulatory requirements. Train employees on travel safety and security best practices.
• Policy Compliance & Training – Ensure adherence to company travel policies across all levels of the organisation. Educate colleagues and travel arrangers on travel tools, policy updates, and cost-conscious travel behaviours. Conduct periodic audits to assess policy compliance and identify areas for improvement. Collaborate with HR and Legal to enforce travel documentation requirements (visas, passports, permits, etc.).
• Budgeting and Cost Optimisation – Develop and manage the global travel budget in partnership with finance. Identify cost-saving opportunities through travel policy adjustments, vendor negotiations, and technology improvements. Monitor travel spend and reconcile travel-related invoices and expenses.
• Technology & Systems Oversight – Manage travel-related tools and systems (e.g., travel booking platforms, expense management software, traveller tracking solutions). Evaluate new technologies to improve traveller experience and increase program efficiency. Integrate travel systems with finance, HRIS, and security platforms as needed.
• Sustainable Travel Program – Develop and lead the company’s sustainable travel strategy, aligning with corporate ESG objectives and climate commitments e.g. Science-Based Targets initiative. Ensure the travel program supports compliance with international and regional environmental regulations and frameworks, including CSRD. Track and report on Scope 3 emissions related to business travel in line with GHG Protocol guidelines. Support integration of carbon tracking and offsetting tools into travel booking platforms. Educate employees on sustainable travel options and design incentives for greener choices e.g. rewards for choosing trains, digital travel guides, CO₂ calculators.

What are we looking for? Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, Operations Management, or a related field. MBA or professional certifications e.g. GTP are a plus.
• Experience: Extensive experience in corporate/global travel management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role. Proven experience managing global travel operations and travel risk programs. Experience negotiating and managing global supplier contracts and SLAs.
• Skills & Competencies: Strong understanding of global travel policies, international travel logistics, and regulatory requirements. Proficiency with management and product ownership of travel and expense tools (e.g., Concur, SAP, Egencia, Navan). Excellent negotiation, vendor management, and budgeting skills. Ability to work cross-functionally with HR, Legal, Finance, and Security teams. Crisis management and emergency response capabilities. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. Highly analytical with attention to detail and a strong focus on operational efficiency. Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic, and multicultural environment.

What do we offer in return? A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us: Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new. We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges. We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments: We’re committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working. If you’re excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.