Head of Administration - Global

Location: London

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

Interviews: 29-30 April 2026

The ITF is looking for an experienced administrative/global operations leader to head our administration department. This role is central to ensuring the smooth and effective delivery of support for governance, meetings and events across our departments including land transport, civil aviation and tourism, women transport workers, young transport workers, legal, campaigns, communications, and the office of the general secretary.

About The Role

The Head of Global Administration leads the ITF’s global administration function, ensuring the effective delivery of administrative, travel, language and governance support services across the organisation. The role provides strategic leadership and operational management to ensure the systems, processes and resources are in place to support ITF programmes, campaigns and governance activities worldwide. It leads a global administration team with six direct reports, including administration coordinators, the travel coordinator and translation coordinators. You will work closely with ITF regional offices and affiliates worldwide to ensure consistent, high-quality administrative support across the organisation. Overseeing all administrative processes, you will maintain constructive relationships with affiliates and social partners, manage venue and service contracts, and support accurate and timely budget administration. Working closely with the Director of Global Campaigns and Operations, senior leaders and regional colleagues, you will help strengthen administrative systems that are efficient, coordinated and fit for purpose.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of the Global Administration workplan and contribute to ITF organisational planning and budgeting.
• Lead and develop the ITF global administration team, ensuring effective deployment of resources and high-quality service delivery.
• Develop and implement the ITF’s language and travel strategies.
• Oversee the operational delivery of governance meetings, conferences and events including Congress.
• Lead improvements in administrative systems and processes, supporting standardisation, automation and simplification.
• Manage relationships with affiliates, suppliers and service providers.
• Support the Office of the General Secretary and senior leadership with high-level administrative coordination.
• Work collaboratively with regional and departmental administrative teams to maintain consistent global standards.

About You

You are an experienced administrative professional with a strong track record of leading teams and improving systems. You bring sound judgement, a solutions-focused approach and the ability to support people in a complex, fast-moving environment.

To Be Successful In This Role, You Will Have

• Significant experience managing administrative/operational teams, with an inclusive and supportive leadership style.
• Experience developing and implementing organisational policies or administrative systems.
• Ability to work effectively across cultures and regions in an international organisation.
• Strong knowledge of administrative practices, and experience applying them in complex organisations.
• Proficiency in management functions, including line management, event management, contract negotiation, budget oversight, financial reporting and supplier coordination.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to produce clear reports and work productively with colleagues at all levels.
• Strong digital administration skills including Microsoft 365, data analysis, reporting and familiarity with event or workflow management systems.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to contribute directly to improving conditions for transport workers worldwide. You will join a values-driven global organisation and lead a team that plays a vital role in supporting ITF affiliates across the world. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is a global union federation of transport workers' trade unions. Our HQ is in London with International offices include Amman, Hong Kong, Nairobi, Montreal, New Delhi, Abidjan, Rio, Tokyo, Singapore, and Sydney.

Purpose

The ITF constitution sets out the following aims:

• To promote respect for trade union and human rights worldwide
• To work for peace based on social justice and economic progress
• To help our affiliated unions defend the interests of their members
• To provide research and information services to our affiliates
• To provide general assistance to transport workers in difficulty

Values

At the ITF, our values are at the heart of all that we do. We demonstrate solidarity. We are democratic. We are dynamic. We are determined. We are dedicated to bringing together a diverse group of people to truly strengthen the ITF as the global voice for transport workers.

Equal Opportunities Statement

At the ITF, we are committed to providing an inclusive environment for our team and our affiliates. We see the diversity of our staff as a source of intelligence and our strength. This means that we work creatively to make the most of the unique experiences and perspectives. We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome all applications regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, race, migration status, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, disability, age, political opinions or trade union affiliation or activity.