Global Corporate Travel Lead (London)

Global Corporate Travel Lead (London)

London Full-Time 50000 - 65000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Wise

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and optimise Wise's global corporate travel strategy for a seamless experience.
  • Company: Join Wise, a tech company revolutionising how the world manages money.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on global travel while working with a diverse team.
  • Qualifications: Experience in corporate travel management and strong negotiation skills required.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.

Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money. Min fees. Max ease. Full speed.

Whether people and businesses are sending money to another country, spending abroad, or making and receiving international payments, Wise is on a mission to make their lives easier and save them money.

We are seeking an experienced and strategically minded Global Corporate Travel Lead to manage, optimise, and oversee our end-to-end corporate travel program. In this role, you will be the driving force behind our global travel strategy, managing critical vendor relationships, and ensuring a seamless, cost-effective, and safe experience for our Wisers worldwide.

The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of the corporate travel ecosystem, a proven track record of negotiating high-value commercial agreements with airlines and hotels, and the ability to effectively manage our relationship with our external Travel Management Company (TMC).

Your Mission:

  • Commercial Agreements & Vendor Management
    • Sourcing & Negotiations: Lead the end-to-end RFP (Request for Proposal) process and negotiate global commercial agreements with airlines, hotel chains, car rental agencies, and ground transportation providers to maximise ROI and savings.
    • Supplier Relations: Maintain and leverage strategic partnerships with key travel suppliers to secure competitive rates, perks, and waivers.
    • Performance Monitoring: Continuously evaluate supplier performance, tracking volume commitments, and analysing market share data to ensure contract compliance and optimise future negotiations.
  • TMC (Travel Management Company) Oversight
    • Operational Excellence: Serve as the primary point of contact and relationship manager for our global TMC, ensuring high-quality service delivery, SLA adherence, and accurate reporting.
    • Technology Integration: Oversee the optimisation of the online booking platform, ensuring it is user-friendly, correctly configured with corporate rates, and fully aligned with company policy.
    • Data Analytics: Partner with the TMC to analyse travel spend data, identify leakage, and produce actionable insights and quarterly business reviews (QBRs) for executive leadership.
  • Policy & Strategy Governance
    • Global Policy Ownership: Design, implement, and continuously evolve a comprehensive, modern global corporate travel policy that balances cost control with Wiser well-being and flexibility.
    • Compliance & Communication: Spearhead internal communication and training initiatives to drive policy compliance, educate travellers, and minimise "rogue" spending.
    • Monthly Reporting: Provide monthly reports to key stakeholders on functional spend, trends, budgets etc.
    • Travel forecasting: Track budgets vs forecasts and be key owner of the travel category in forecasting spend.
    • Duty of Care: Collaborate with internal stakeholders to maintain robust traveler safety protocols, risk mitigation strategies, and emergency tracking systems.

Required Skills:

  • Experience: Proven experience in corporate travel management, procurement, or a closely related role (either in-house or working within a major TMC/airline/hotel corporate sales environment).
  • Negotiation Skills: Proven success in negotiating complex, multi-regional commercial agreements with major airlines and global hotel groups.
  • TMC Expertise: Strong working knowledge of TMC operations, Global Distribution Systems (GDS), and corporate online booking tools (e.g. Concur, Navan, CWT).
  • Analytical Mindset: Advanced proficiency in data analysis and Excel; ability to translate complex spend data into strategic, cost-saving initiatives.
  • Global Perspective: Experience managing travel programs across multiple regions (AMER, EMEA, APAC), understanding regional market nuances and compliance requirements.

Preferred:

  • Experience implementing sustainability initiatives (e.g., carbon tracking and offsetting) within a corporate travel program.
  • Professional certification (e.g., GTP from GBTA).

We believe teams are strongest when they are diverse, equitable and inclusive. We’re proud to have a truly international team, and we celebrate our differences. Inclusive teams help us live our values and make sure every Wiser feels respected, empowered to contribute towards our mission and able to progress in their careers.

If you want to find out more about what it’s like to work at Wise visit Wise.Jobs.

Wise

Contact Details:

Wise Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Global Corporate Travel Lead (London)

Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities

Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!

Attend Industry Conferences and Events

Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like Wise!

Showcase Your Strategy Skills

Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.

Apply Directly Through Our Website

Don’t forget to apply for the Global Corporate Travel Lead (London) position at Wise via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.

We think you need these skills to ace Global Corporate Travel Lead (London)

Corporate Travel Management
Vendor Management
Negotiation Skills
RFP Process
Supplier Relations
Performance Monitoring
TMC Operations

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at Wise.

Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to Wise’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.

Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!

Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!

How to prepare for a job interview at Wise

Master the Numbers

Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!

Know Your Frameworks

Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to Wise. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.

Engage in Strategic Conversations

In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at Wise. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.

Showcase Relevant Experience

Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to Wise.