Job Description

Reporting to the Fleet, Travel and Leases Lead, the role holder will be responsible for the strategic planning, execution, and continuous optimization of Safaricom’s corporate travel function. The role ensures cost-effective, compliant, and safe travel while enhancing the overall traveler experience and supporting business objectives. This is achieved through the end-to-end management of both local and international travel services, including flight bookings, ground transfers, accommodation, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), visa processing, meet-and-assist services, travel-related training, and associated travel platforms.

The role also provides expert advisory on travel policies, processes, and procedures, ensuring compliance with service level agreements (SLAs). Key responsibilities include stakeholder engagement, supplier management and performance evaluation, travel risk management, operational efficiency, and budget oversight. The position leverages industry best practices and data-driven insights to drive continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

Responsibilities

Health and Safety

• Uphold the company code of conduct, policies and procedures, ensuring integrity and accountability in every aspect of your work.
• All employees have a responsibility to adhere to safety, health, and wellbeing policies, guidelines and procedures in all actions and decisions.

Travel Program Management

• Develop, implement and continuously improve Safaricom corporate travel policy.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements and audit standards.
• Oversee end-to-end travel management processes (booking, ticketing, reporting, reconciliation).

Supplier & Contract Management

• Manage relationships with Travel Management Companies (TMCs), airlines, hotels and other travel vendors.
• Lead supplier sourcing, evaluation and contract negotiations to achieve optimal value.
• Monitor vendor performance against agreed SLAs and KPIs.

Cost Management & Optimization

• Analyze travel spend and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Implement cost control measures without compromising service quality and safety.
• Prepare periodic reports on travel expenditure, trends and savings achieved.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders on travel-related matters.
• Provide advisory support to management on travel strategy and operational issues.
• Conduct regular business reviews and presentations with stakeholders and vendors.

Risk, Safety & Duty of Care

• Ensure robust travel risk management frameworks are in place.
• Coordinate emergency travel support and crisis response mechanisms.
• Ensure compliance with duty of care obligations for all travellers.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Manage and optimize travel management systems (e.g., online booking tools, expense systems).
• Drive automation and process efficiencies within travel operations.
• Support system implementations, upgrades and integrations.

Reporting & Analytics

• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports for travel performance.
• Provide data-driven insights to support decision-making.

Qualifications

Core competencies, knowledge and experience:

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree or diploma Travel and Tourism, Procurement, Logistics or a business-related course from an accredited college or university. Professional certifications in travel management, procurement, or supply chain are an added advantage.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a Travel Management Company (TMC) or corporate travel environment, 
• Proven experience managing corporate travel programs and high-volume travel operations.
• Demonstrated success in cost optimization, supplier negotiation, and travel policy implementation.
• Excellent knowledge of computer reservations systems, GDS systems and e-travelling
  Fluency in English; Amharic; multilingualism is a plus. 
• A ‘Can Do’ attitude to drive results and get the job done on time and to the customers’ satisfaction.
• Strong customer orientation and the ability to discover what is important to the customer (internal and external) and respond to it.
• High interpersonal skills.
• Stakeholder management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and any other software relevant to Travel Management Services.