Lead - Travel Services
Petrofac is currently looking to recruit a Lead - Travel Services to be based in Sharjah, UAE.
What We Do
Petrofac is a leading international service provider to the energy industry, with a diverse client portfolio including many of the world’s leading energy companies.
We design, build, manage and maintain infrastructure for the energy industries. Our comprehensive and tailored service offering covers each stage of the project life cycle and a variety of commercial models, giving our clients the flexibility, they need.
The Role
Manage and continuously enhance the company’s travel programme to ensure cost optimization, policy compliance, supplier performance, traveler safety, and effective service delivery across multiple locations.
The role provides management with timely, data-driven insights, leads strategic travel initiatives, oversees key supplier relationships, and ensures that travel processes and systems are aligned with the company’s operational, financial, and duty-of-care objectives.
Responsibilities
1. Strategy & Programme Management
• Drive continuous improvement and cost optimisation of corporate travel programmes across multiple countries
• Develop, implement, and continuously enhance corporate travel policies, processes, and programmes
• Identify business needs, operational challenges, and market opportunities, and recommend scalable travel solutions
• Lead strategic travel initiatives aligned with business and commercial objectives
2. Sourcing & Supplier Management
• Lead and manage global RFP processes for the selection of Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and travel service providers
• Negotiate and manage contracts with airlines, hotels, car hire, and other travel vendors
• Monitor vendor performance, service delivery, and compliance against SLAs and agreed metrics
• Manage relationships with TMCs and key travel suppliers globally
3. Operations & Service Delivery
• Manage project and operational travel, including mobilization, rotation (RR), demobilization, and complex international logistics
• Support urgent and complex travel requirements (e.g., offshore crew changes, emergency travel, site logistics)
• Manage and support travel, hotels or furnished apartment accommodation, meetings, and event arrangements for business activities
4. Governance, Policy & Compliance
• Establish and maintain governance frameworks, including approval workflows, audit controls, and exception management
• Ensure alignment with Finance, HR, and Project cost control requirements
• Implement travel policy updates and ensure communication and integration into systems and TMC processes
• Ensure adherence to corporate travel policies and regulatory requirements
• 5. Systems, Data & Reporting
• Own and optimize travel systems and booking platforms, including integration with HR and ERP systems
• Drive automation, data accuracy, and reporting capabilities
• Develop dashboards and KPIs (cost per trip, advance booking compliance, savings tracking)
• Provide management with timely, data-driven insights to support decision-making, budgeting, and forecasting
6. Stakeholder Management & Business Partnering
• Partner with HR, Finance, Procurement, and Project teams to align travel strategy with business needs
• Act as the central escalation point for travel-related issues and ensure timely resolution
• Support leadership with insights and recommendations
7. Global Implementation & Expansion
• Lead the rollout and implementation of travel programmes in new countries and operating locations
• Manage onboarding and implementation of TMCs and vendors in new markets
8. Travel Risk & Duty of Care
• Support the Travel Risk Management and Duty of Care framework
• Ensure traveler visibility, risk awareness, and emergency response readiness
Qualifications & Skills
• University Degree, relevant travel management courses or Diploma.
• In-depth knowledge of international travel industry trends; minimum of 5 years in a Travel Management role
• Working knowledge of Travel industry standard tools and systems
• Ability to identify processes needing improvement, and to recommend improvements, particularly utilising the latest technology
• Solid track record of delivering against cost reduction targets
• A strategic thinker with demonstrable ability of working with global Flight, Hotel and Car Vendors to optimise travel spend
• An ability to identify cost saving and value optimisation opportunities
• Customer-oriented approach
• Capable of operating at fast pace in a changing environment
• Effective negotiator and good relationship builder
• Understand IT requirements to ensure ‘joined up’ systems e.g. HRMS, ERP to TMC database
• Passionate about technology and self-service
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