Manager, Travel & Expense

Role Overview

• Collaborate with business unit leaders and cross functional partners to develop and maintain workforce analytics, building a bridge between systems and ensuring a clear view of our headcount, labor costs, vacancy rates, and organizational structures.
• Lead a team of three and own Nordstrom’s corporate travel and expense programs, including preferred suppliers, the TMC, the expense platform, and corporate card programs.
• Drive process improvements that simplify travel and expense, increase efficiency, and improve service quality.
• Continuously evolve the program to improve cost effectiveness, unlock savings opportunities, and enhance employee satisfaction—staying current on travel, expense, and meetings industry trends and best practices.
• Stay updated with industry trends and best practices in travel, expense and meeting management
• Serve as the primary point of contact for travel program needs; partner with business leaders and executive travelers to communicate policy updates, resolve issues, and support supplier financial reconciliation.
• Build and deliver annual category strategies for travel, expense, and offsite meeting/event spend; partner with stakeholders to develop a 1– 5 year sourcing roadmap.
• Use competitive sourcing approaches to optimize savings and business value; negotiate contracts and commercial terms directly with suppliers in partnership with the sourcing team.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships, including the TMC and other key travel category partners.
• Monitor supplier and traveler KPIs, and lead remediation for recurring performance issues.
• Own contract management activities, including amendments, renewals/ expiration tracking, and maintenance of supporting documentation.
• Conduct regular spend analysis to identify trends and opportunities by category, subcategory, business unit, and geography.
• Leverage internal and external resources to stay current on relevant industry and travel category trends.
• Deliver reporting on travel expenses, booking patterns, and compliance metrics; translate insights into cost savings and improved processes.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and drive engagement for travel, expense reimbursement, corporate credit card, and offsite meeting and event policies.

Requirements

• 5 + years of experience in corporate travel management and/or travel procurement
• 5+ years’ experience with Global Travel and/or Meetings & Events management
• 5+ years’ experience with Supplier Management
• 5+ years’ experience with Analysis and reporting
• 5+ years managing outside service providers
• 5+ years people management
• Proven track record of achieving travel category savings via sourcing, demand management and / or policy compliance
• Experience with the design and implementation of corporate travel programs or continuous improvement initiatives
• Experience developing and operationalizing global category strategies for airfare, hotels, rental car or ride share programs or other relevant travel categories
• Proficiency in analyzing travel data to identify cost-saving opportunities and trends
• Proficiency in travel and expense-related systems ( e.g. Concur)
• Demonstrated success in complex project management, including stakeholder engagement and change management.

Benefits

• Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources
• This position may be eligible for performance-based incentives/bonuses.
• Benefits include 401k, medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance options, PTO accruals, Holidays, and more.