Job Description

Who We Are

We are a global law firm dedicated to creating advantage for our clients - on every matter, every time.

Our Warsaw Hub exemplifies this commitment. We offer a competitive edge and empower the right people to be at the forefront of technological innovation, such as AI investment, legal automation, bespoke tools, to drive transformation at Clifford Chance and create more added-value, efficient solutions for clients and the wider industry.

Joining our team means you will be part of a high-performing culture, globally recognised for the work we do and the advantage we create for world-leading clients. You’ll collaborate with the sharpest minds in the industry, working on some of the most critical legal and commercial business challenges and driving business support processes.

We focus on delivering operational excellence with specialist infrastructure and dedicated support such as, Finance, Legal and Executive administration support, Risk and Compliance, Business Development, Branding, Marketing and Communications.

The role

The Head of Travel is accountable for the overall global travel programme, including its strategy, governance, financial performance, supplier model and team leadership. This role is the single global owner of the travel programme, responsible for setting direction, evolving the operating model and ensuring the firm’s travel approach supports business needs, risk management and sustainability objectives.

Who you will work with

This is a global role requiring engagement with stakeholders across multiple offices and functions. The role works closely with Procurement, Risk, Sustainability, Finance, office travel managers, business stakeholders, fee earners, and regularly engages senior stakeholders up to Executive Director level to influence travel strategy, governance, investment decisions and programme outcomes.

What you will be responsible for

The Head of Travel is accountable for the overall performance and direction of the Global Travel programme. In particular, the role will:

• Own, evolve and enforce the Global Travel Policy and overall programme direction, ensuring the travel operating model remains aligned to firm priorities.
• Lead programme development, including platform consolidation, governance, service model design and continuous improvement.
• Own the global travel budget, spend visibility and financial governance, including identifying and delivering programme-level cost saving opportunities.
• Own strategic supplier relationships across travel, airline, hotel, risk and insurance partners, including contract negotiation, commercial management, service performance and return on investment.
• Provide leadership to the travel team and set clear priorities, accountabilities and standards for delivery across global travel services.
• Collaborate with Sustainability and strategic vendors to embed emissions reduction and sustainability objectives into programme design and decision-making.
• Act as the firm’s senior travel subject matter expert, influencing stakeholders at all levels and representing travel as part of Procurement’s broader value proposition.

This role provides strategic direction for the programme and accountability for its outcomes.

What you will do

As a member of the wider Procurement team, the Head of Travel leads the Global Travel programme, ensuring policy, supplier performance, financial outcomes and service delivery remain aligned to firm priorities.

Set the roadmap for travel platforms, service models, policy compliance and programme optimisation.

Use spend data and management information to identify trends, manage costs and deliver measurable programme value.

Manage the firm’s global travel service provider and related travel partners, driving accountability, service improvement, commercial value and return on investment.

Lead the travel team and provide clear direction to those responsible for operational travel management, ensuring day-to-day delivery is effective, controlled and aligned to programme objectives.

Oversee programme governance and risk management, including escalation of complex travel matters and articulation of recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Act as the senior escalation point for complex travel issues, providing leadership on issue resolution, removing barriers to effective service delivery and ensuring significant matters are addressed promptly and appropriately.

Maintain and evolve travel management information to support compliance, decision-making, behavioural change and continuous programme improvement.

Work in partnership with Sustainability and internal stakeholders to ensure travel choices, supplier strategies and traveller engagement support the firm’s sustainability agenda.

Engage stakeholders up to Executive Director level, providing clear recommendations on complex travel matters and programme priorities.

Qualifications

Your experience

• Strong experience leading a global or multi-regional travel programme, with clear accountability for strategy, governance and performance outcomes.
• Strong understanding of travel best practice, process and tools and how to apply them within a complex professional services or comparable organisation.
• Demonstrable experience delivering significant cost, governance and service improvements at programme level.
• Strong experience leading complex global supplier engagements, including contract negotiation, commercial management and service oversight.
• Experience owning budgets, interpreting spend data and using insight to support decision-making, savings delivery and financial governance.
• Experience managing, influencing and challenging senior stakeholders and suppliers in a global environment.
• Strong communication skills with experience presenting complex recommendations to senior leadership teams, project committees and executive stakeholders.
• Knowledge and experience of change management techniques to support behavioural change, policy adoption and service improvement in a Partnership environment.
  

Additional Information

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

Our Warsaw Hub

The Warsaw Hub is designed to help clients move faster, smarter, and with confidence. Joining us means becoming part of a dynamic and interconnected global network. Every day and on each project, you will connect with your colleagues across the world. You will learn, you will grow, and you will take your career in the direction you want.

We are closely integrated with the core business of Clifford Chance. This means frequent interactions with senior stakeholders, providing our team with invaluable insights. This close integration ensures that our work is aligned with the firm's overall goals and vision.

The Warsaw Hub requires individuals with advanced capabilities and the ability to engage in thought-partnering with Clifford Chance's lawyers and partners. This means that our team members are not just executing tasks but are actively contributing to the development of innovative legal solutions. This collaborative environment fosters professional growth and ensures that our team is always at the cutting edge of the legal industry.

You will work in the heart of the city. Warsaw is a friendly place to live and to work and has a cosmopolitan environment.

Hybrid working

Due to the nature of this role, new joiners are expected to attend the office four days per week during the initial training period, transitioning to a hybrid schedule of three days per week thereafter with flexibility to increase attendance if business needs require.

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here