Director Travel

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them. Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself. The Director, Travel oversees and continuously enhances Empower’s global travel program. This strategic, results-driven leader is responsible for the operational, financial, and governance aspects of the travel function, providing leadership to a high-performing team while managing supplier relationships, travel policy, budget oversight, and cost optimization initiatives. As a key partner to Finance, Procurement, HR, Legal, and business leaders, this position drives innovation, improves traveler experience, and ensures the travel program supports organizational objectives while maintaining fiscal responsibility and compliance. What you will do: Partner with the Head of Global Conference Planning and Travel for the corporate travel program, establishing goals, KPIs, and continuous improvement initiatives. Serve as the senior travel advisor to executive leadership and key business stakeholders, including Empower CEO and Great West Life Chairman. Lead travel transformation initiatives, process redesign efforts, and technology modernization projects. Lead cross-functional initiatives involving travel, meetings, mobility, workforce planning, procurement, finance, and employee experience. Influence organizational decisions through travel analytics, benchmarking, strategic recommendations, and data-driven insights. Develop and monitor annual objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and strategic priorities for the travel function. Own the development, maintenance, and communication of Empower's travel policy and related governance processes. Recommend policy enhancements based on business needs, industry trends, traveler feedback, and cost considerations. Review and approve policy exceptions and escalation requests. Effectively manage the annual corporate travel budget, including forecasting, spend monitoring, variance analysis, and reporting. Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities that achieve travel targets or optimize travel spend while supporting traveler productivity and satisfaction. Monitor travel expenditures, supplier performance, and program return on investment (ROI), identifying opportunities for efficiency and continuous improvement. Oversee management of unused ticket programs, travel credits, refunds, and reconciliation processes. Lead strategic supplier negotiations and annual business reviews with key travel partners, including airlines, hotels, ground transportation providers, travel management companies (TMCs), meetings providers, and travel technology partners. Develop sourcing strategies that maximize savings, service quality, traveler safety, and program value. Identify and implement opportunities for supplier consolidation and preferred vendor utilization. Evaluate and implement innovative supplier solutions that improve traveler experience and operational efficiency. Provide strategic and compliance oversight of travel technologies, including Concur, SABRE GDS, CVENT, ARC, and related platforms. Lead technology adoption and optimization initiatives that improve automation, reporting capabilities, compliance monitoring, and traveler self-service functionality. Champion digital transformation and continuous improvement initiatives across travel operations. Ensure travel systems support business requirements, operational objectives, and risk management needs. Oversee travel risk management, traveler safety, crisis response, and duty-of-care programs. Monitor global travel risks with ISOS and implement processes to support business continuity and traveler well-being. Lead travel-related business continuity planning and emergency response strategies. Lead Empower’s corporate travel team, including group and core agents, to provide day-to-day oversight, ensure a positive traveler experience, and provide guidance and resolution for complex travel issues. Drive workforce planning, succession planning, talent development, and organizational capability-building initiatives. Establish performance expectations and accountability measures aligned with business objectives and customer satisfaction goals. Lead, develop, and mentor team members while fostering a high-performance culture focused on accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and service excellence. What you will bring: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Travel Management, Hospitality Management, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 12+ years of progressive corporate travel management experience. 6+ years of leadership experience managing managers, professional staff, and/or multiple functional teams. Demonstrated experience leading global travel programs within a large, complex organization. Extensive experience negotiating and managing enterprise supplier contracts and strategic partnerships. Strong knowledge of corporate travel operations, travel technologies, policy governance, travel risk management, and duty-of-care practices. Proven experience leading organizational change, operational transformation, and process improvement initiatives. Strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, forecasting, cost containment programs, and executive reporting. Exceptional communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and drive results across multiple business functions. Global Travel Professional (GTP), Certified Travel Manager (CTM), or other relevant industry certification. Advanced degree (MBA or related discipline). Experience supporting highly regulated industries or complex global organizations. Experience overseeing meetings, events, mobility, or related travel-adjacent programs. Work Environment & Disclaimer This job operates in a professional office environment. This position may require occasional domestic and international travel to support business operations, supplier engagements, industry conferences, and strategic initiatives. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of the job. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. You will be evaluated in part based on your performance of the responsibilities and/or tasks listed in this job description. You may be required to perform other duties that are not included on this job description. The job description is not a contract for employment, and either you or the employer may terminate employment at any time, for any reason, as per terms and conditions of your employment contract. What we offer you We offer an array of diverse and inclusive benefits regardless of where you are in your career. We believe that providing our employees with the means to lead healthy balanced lives results in the best possible work performance. Medical, dental, vision and life insurance Retirement savings – 401(k) plan with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%), financial advisory services, potential company discretionary contribution, and a broad investment lineup Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year Business-casual environment that includes the option to wear jeans Generous paid time off upon hire – including a paid time off program plus ten paid company holidays and three floating holidays each calendar year Paid volunteer time — 16 hours per calendar year Leave of absence programs – including paid parental leave, paid short- and long-term disability, and Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) Business Resource Groups (BRGs) – BRGs facilitate inclusion and collaboration across our business internally and throughout the communities where we live, work and play. BRGs are open to all. Base Salary Range $125,400.00 - $181,875.00 The salary range above shows the typical minimum to maximum base salary range for this position in the location listed. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation offered may vary from posted hiring range based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer. Equal opportunity employer • Drug-free workplace We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age (40 and over), race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, religion, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law. ***For remote and hybrid positions you will be required to provide reliable high-speed internet with a wired connection as well as a place in your home to work with limited disruption. You must have reliable connectivity from an internet service provider that is fiber, cable or DSL internet. Other necessary computer equipment, will be provided. You may be required to work in the office if you do not have an adequate home work environment and the required internet connection.*** Job Posting End Date at 12:01 am on: 07-10-2026 Want the latest money news and views shaping how we live, work and play? Stay in the know with The Currency and sign up for Empower’s free newsletter. Want the latest money news and views shaping how we live, work and play? Stay in the know with The Currency and sign up for Empower’s free newsletter. Remote and Hybrid Positions For remote and hybrid positions you will be required to provide reliable high-speed internet with a wired connection as well as a place in your home to work with limited disruption. You must have reliable connectivity from an internet service provider that is fiber, cable or DSL internet. Other necessary computer equipment will be provided. You may be required to work in the office if you do not have an adequate homework environment and the required internet connection. Follow Empower Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, & Glassdoor