Senior Consultant | Procurement | Global Corporate Business Travel

• Deliver excellence in sourcing with travel related vendors, including sourcing process expertise, input in developing category sourcing strategies and analytics, help lead issuance of RFx (Request for Information, Request for Proposal/Quote), collection and analysis of data, pricing discussions and negotiations.
• Responsible for contract review, drafting, and creation of required legal documents (e.g. NDA, Master Agreement, inclusion of critical Exhibits when using supplier paper), while ensuring mitigation of risk, timely submission of all contract documents into TCM, followed by subsequent management of supplier adherence to contract terms.
• Manage and support regulatory and compliance requirements while driving effective vendor relationship management for all travel vendors and do so in accordance with the Northern Trust Supplier Relationship Management program and the Vendor Management Practice Standards. Includes assisting with managing relationships with preferred global commercial card provider, global travel agency and regional travel vendors.
• Ensure preferred vendors deliver consistently high service levels, and promptly handle customer service inquiries. Assist manager to ensure SLA and annual global Business Plan are monitored, projects and deliverables are completed.
• Support policy development, consistent administration and governance of the Corporate Travel Policy and the Corporate Card Policy, and how they integrate with the Corporate Expense Policy.
• Support consistent administration and governance of the Corporate Purchasing Card and Corporate Meeting Card guidelines and procedures, and how they integrate with the Corporate Expense Policy.
• Co-manage calculation and reporting of Travel category annual savings per project in designated savings tool.
• Effectively engage with internal clients at all levels to foster deeper relationships, consistently deliver high quality work and timely customer service.
• Provide CFOs, business leaders and senior executives with high quality, data, analytics, and reports to enable sound decision making. This includes global travel and card metrics, KPI and other relevant data used to identify/evaluate trends, potential savings, monitor compliance, etc.
• Develop and deliver presentations to senior management, and facilitate discussions to ensure comprehensive understanding so decisions with global impact are reached.
• Execute complex activities with significant financial and/or internal business impact.
• Serve as a corporate travel subject matter expert to internal clients and a mentor to other more junior level employees.
• May manage daily operational activities and supervise day-to-day work of junior level employees (but not a formal management role).
• Solves complex problems.
• Takes a new perspective on existing solutions.
• Exercises judgment based on the analysis of multiple sources of information.
• Impacts a range of customer, operational, project or service activities within own team and other related teams.
• Works within broad guidelines and policies.

• Thorough knowledge of business travel management (account management and travel operations) that will allow effective contract and supplier management, handling of customer service inquiries, problem solving, advancement of global programs, etc.
• Technically proficient in corporate travel sourcing, negotiations, understanding of key legal terms and conditions of travel contracts to effectively minimize risk.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across functions, organizations and suppliers/vendors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills allowing for effective interactions and presentations with partners at all levels and with suppliers.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Project management skills.
• Financial acumen and analytical skills to manage complex analysis of travel data/metrics and ability to make recommendations for improved cost savings and policy compliance.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), etc.
• Requires in-depth conceptual and practical knowledge in own job discipline and basic knowledge of related job disciplines.
• Applies best practices and how own area integrates with others.
• Is aware of the competition and the factors that differentiate them in the market.
• Explains difficult or sensitive information; works to build consensus.

• B.A. or B.S. in business, finance, or supply chain and/or relevant corporate business travel management/travel industry work experience.
• 5+ years relevant work experience in a corporate business travel/meetings environment.

• Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience.

• May lead key projects, including managing risks and resource requirements.

Northern Trust