Travel & Expenses Manager

This is an incredible opportunity to join a company that has been at the forefront of AI and high-performance data storage innovation for over two decades. DataDirect Networks (DDN) is a global leader in AI and multi-cloud data management at scale, helping customers run some of the world’s most demanding AI and data-intensive environments. As our first Travel Manager, you will design and lead the corporate travel program for DDN. Currently, travel is handled individually by employees; your mission is to support this activity to maximize budget efficiency, ensure traveler safety, and provide a seamless experience for our team. You will be the architect of our Travel Policy and the primary negotiator for our global travel partnerships. What you’ll do • Policy Development: Support and maintain the company’s first formal Global Travel Policy. Define "what is reasonable" for flights, hotels, and per diems. • Vendor Negotiation: Build a "Preferred Vendor" program. You will negotiate corporate rates with airlines, hotel chains, and car rental agencies to ensure we get more value than a standard retail customer. • T&E System Management: Utilize our Navan program to control and report on bookings. • Budget Optimization: Analyze travel patterns to find cost-saving opportunities (e.g., "We spend $50k/year in London; let's sign a fixed-rate deal with a hotel near our office"). • Exception Management: Act as the final "approver" for travel requests that fall outside of policy, balancing business needs with fiscal discipline. • Duty of Care: Establish protocols to locate and support employees during global emergencies or travel disruptions. • Sustainability Tracking: Track the carbon footprint of company travel and suggest "greener" alternatives like rail over short-haul flights. What we’re looking for • Foundational Experience: 3+ years in corporate travel management or a high-level role within the hospitality/airline industry. • Analytical Skills: Ability to look at a spreadsheet of 1,000 Uber receipts and flight bookings to identify where money is being wasted. • Diplomacy: The ability to tell a Senior Executive "No" when they want to book a First Class ticket that violates policy, while maintaining a great working relationship. • Contract Fluency: You know the difference between "Last Room Availability" (LRA) and "Non-Last Room Availability" (NLRA) in hotel contracts.