Top Secret Cleared Travel Specialist

Zantech is looking for a talented Travel Specialist to contribute to the success of our upcoming Service Delivery & Resource Allocation Management Support project for an onsite role based out of Arlington, VA.

The Travel Specialist will play a crucial role in supporting the following:

• Coordinate all domestic and international travel for Government personnel; prepare all travel authorizations and vouchers in accordance with DARPA guidelines and the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR) using the Defense Travel System (DTS)
• Support travel budget management in coordination with Financial Analysts (approximately 30 government travelers)
• Ensure all travel requests are submitted via contractor travel dashboard at least 14 days (domestic) or 30 days (international) prior to travel

The Travel Specialist manages all domestic and international travel for approximately 30 Government personnel, operating as the contract's specialist in DoD travel policy, the Defense Travel System (DTS), and the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR). This individual prepares and processes travel authorizations and vouchers, administers the Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) program, processes passport and visa applications, and coordinates with the Commercial Ticketing Office (CTO) for GSA City Pair airfares. Given that DARPA conducts international travel several times per year for combatant command engagements, this role carries real compliance risk and requires expertise in the Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG) and international travel requirements.

Designated Impact

The Travel Specialist prevents compliance failures in travel processing — including improper voucher preparation, missed advance notice deadlines, or unauthorized international travel — which can result in the Government refusing reimbursement of travel costs and creating legal exposure under the JTR.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate all domestic and international travel for approximately 30 ACO Government personnel; prepare all travel authorizations and vouchers using DTS in accordance with DARPA guidelines and JTR
• Submit travel requests via ACO contractor travel dashboard at least 14 calendar days prior to domestic travel and at least 30 calendar days prior to international travel
• Draft and route all required memoranda supporting official travel requests
• Achieve 95% error‑free submission rate on travel authorizations and vouchers
• Administer the GTCC program in accordance with DoD FMR; process passport and visa applications for government personnel traveling internationally
• Research Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG) requirements for all international travel destinations; coordinate with CTO for appropriate airfare reservations using GSA City Pair rates
• Support monthly travel budget reporting in coordination with Financial Analyst III; maintain travel plan ensuring expenditures do not exceed allocated budget by more than 3% annually
• Coordinate combatant command engagement travel several times per year, including complex multi‑leg international itineraries

Required Experience or Knowledge

• Minimum 6 years with direct experience in DoD travel management including DTS operations, JTR interpretation, and GTCC administration
• Expert knowledge of the Defense Travel System (DTS) including operations, help desk support, and training others
• Expert knowledge of the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR) including interpretation and application to complex travel scenarios
• Experience reviewing and processing both manually‑prepared and DTS‑generated travel vouchers
• Experience administering the Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) program per DoD FMR
• Experience processing passport and visa applications for government personnel
• Experience researching the Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG) for international travel approvals
• Familiarity with Commercial Ticketing Office (CTO) operations and GSA City Pair airfare rates
• Experience processing Permanent Change of Station (PCS) travel authorizations and vouchers preferred

Required Education/Certifications

• Education Required
  • High school diploma or GED
• Education Preferred
  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Communications, or related field
• Preferred Certifications
  • DTS Training Certification
  • DoD Financial Management (FM) travel‑related coursework

Required Security Clearance

• U.S. Citizenship required
• Must possess an Active U.S. Top Secret (TS); must be eligible for SCI access