Role Purpose
Entain is seeking a Global Travel Operations and Strategic Sourcing Manager to lead a unique hybrid role that combines hands-on travel operations leadership with strategic sourcing expertise. This position is responsible for overseeing day-to-day global travel operations, ensuring service excellence, policy compliance and optimal traveller experience, while also leading a Global Travel Management Company (TMC) migration.
In addition to operational accountability, the role drives end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives across travel and broader Corporate Services Categories (such as HR, Rewards, Wellbeing, Mobility) – from market analysis and RFP execution through negotiating, contracting and implementation. This role blends operational excellence with commercial rigor, ensuring the travel program runs efficiently while delivering measurable value, cost optimisation and strategic impact.
Key Responsibilities
Travel Operations
- Oversee daily operations or corporate travel program across all regions
- Ensure seamless booking and traveller experience
- Manage relationships with Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and ensure service level agreements are met
- Monitor traveller experience, resolve escalations and implement service improvements
- Ensure compliance with Group travel policies and report on non-compliance
- Analyse travel spends data, supplier performance and operational metrics
- Use insights to drive continuous improvement and inform strategic decision making
- Lead a global TMC Implementation, providing SME level support through the business and ensure on time delivery
- Develop and execute medium- and long-term Strategies that drive competitive advantage and commercial tension across the supply base
- Champion and embed team values, serring behavioural standards within the function
Strategic Sourcing
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies covering air, hotel, ground transportation and related travel services
- Lead the end-to-end annual Hotel RFP
- Establish and manage preferred supplier programs to drive cost savings and value
- Support wider corporate categories such as HR, Rewards & Benefits, Mobility to deliver end to end strategic sourcing initiatives
This will specifically include:
- Establishing and continuously evolving Travel and Corporate Services commercial strategies, identifying short-, medium- and long-term sources of value
- Acting as a trusted commercial advisor to leadership, influencing key operational decisions
- Driving innovation through market insights, supplier collaboration and adoption of relevant industry technologies
- Building of a strong internal and external network to enhance capability, market intelligence and strategic leverage
Specialist skills & Experience Required:
- Exceptional commercial experience (including strategy creation, implementation and benefit delivery)
- Building of category strategies
- Proven track record of successful global TMC migrations
- Excellent people and influencing skills across all levels of the organisation
- Highly organised
- Self-motivated and can-do attitude