Assistant Manager - Travel
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Company
Sigmoid
Job Description
JD – Asst Manager Travel – Operations
Role Overview
The Assistant Manager – Corporate Travel & Visa Operations will oversee end-to-end domestic and international travel management, complex visa compliance, vendor relationship management and emergency traveler support. This role requires a hands-on operations leader who can balance seamless travel execution with strict policy enforcement, cost optimization and vendor performance management.
Key Responsibilities
Travel Coordination
• Oversee and manage complex, multi-city domestic and international itineraries, executive travel and company events.
• Drive cost optimization by enforcing corporate travel policy compliance, advance booking windows, and preferred vendor usage.
• Manage end-to-end flight, hotel and ground transportation and self-booking tools.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for real-time travel disruptions, flight cancellations, emergency re-routings and duty-of-care incidents.
Visa Processing
• Lead end-to-end global visa processing operations, including US (B1/B2), UK, Schengen, and APAC visas.
• Maintain deep expertise in global immigration rules, embassy filing procedures, drop-box eligibility and consulate scheduling platforms.
• Audit and review visa application documentation to ensure 100% compliance and zero error rates before embassy submission.
• Manage third-party visa facilitators, consulates, and VFS operations to track timelines and expedite urgent applications.
Travel Support & Communication
• Act as one of the primary points of contact for travel-related queries.
• Provide real-time support during disruptions, cancellations or emergencies.
• Guide employees on travel policies and best practices.
Vendor & Stakeholder Management
• Manage relationships with travel management companies (TMCs), airlines, hotels, and visa partners.
• Negotiate favourable commercial terms where applicable.
• Monitor service levels and escalate performance issues when required.
Travel Analytics, Reporting & Excel Expertise
• Maintain and reconcile monthly AMEX and vendor payments/invoices.
• Build, maintain and analyze monthly corporate travel MIS dashboards, spend reports, and leakage tracking models.
• Leverage advanced Excel functions (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, SUMIFS, Data Validation, Power Query) to reconcile complex flight/hotel booking data against card statements.
• Identify travel spend trends, booking lead times, policy violation rates, and cost-saving opportunities through structured data analysis.
Risk Management
• Monitor travel advisories and global risk alerts.
• Advise travellers on safety protocols and documentation requirements.
• Support duty-of-care responsibilities.
Process Improvement
• Identify opportunities for automation and cost optimization.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of travel operations and user experience.
Key Requirements
Experience
• Minimum 5+ years of hands-on experience in managing end-to-end corporate travel operations and global visa processing within corporate travel desks or leading Travel Management Companies (TMCs).
Mandatory Background
• Proven track record working within corporate travel desks, TMCs, corporate card platforms (e.g., Amex Central/VCC), and consular visa operations.
Advanced Excel & Analytical Skills
• Expertise in MS Excel is required (proficient with XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, conditional formatting, nested logic formulas, data cleaning, and large dataset reconciliations).
• Knowledge of Power BI or dashboard creation is a plus.
Technical Proficiency
• Hands-on experience with Global Distribution Systems (Sabre, Amadeus) and corporate self-booking tools (SBTs).
Visa Expertise
• Thorough understanding of global visa documentation, US MRV fee workflows, drop-box rules, and consulate interview scheduling.
Operational Drive
• Strong problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills with high attention to detail.
Flexibility
• Willingness to support 24x7 rotational operational escalations during emergency travel disruptions or severe weather events.
Note:
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