Regional Travel Manager

Company Description

At H&M, our purpose is to liberate fashion for the many. We want to shape a new world in Fashion. A world with one ultimate goal: to unleash your self-expression. As an H&M colleague, you’re encouraged to be yourself & more. You’ll take on new responsibilities from day one, learn skills for life, and find new ways to make your big dreams come true.  

Our company is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging, and we actively seek colleagues who share our commitment. 

Job Description

About the Role  

As a Regional Travel Manager in the HR function, you will serve as a thought leader, taking the lead in assessing and reshaping our current travel policies and practices. Your primary focus will be on developing and implementing a cutting-edge, intuitive, and self-service travel management program for our employees across the Americas Region. This program aims to minimize manual intervention and paper-based processes, offering our colleagues a seamless, efficient, and cost-effective travel experience while ensuring compliance. 

This hybrid role reports into our Regional People Services Manager and is based out of the New York City Support Office. 

A Day in the Life  

Working at H&M means no two days are ever the same, but a typical day will include the following responsibilities*  

• Thought Leadership: Lead the assessment and transformation of our travel policies and practices based on feedback from various travel personas 

• Travel Coordinators: Manage and provide guidance to the Travel Coordinators for the Region 

• Policy Development: Develop and maintain innovative and comprehensive travel policies and guidelines for colleagues in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador.  Ensure these policies align with organizational goals, cost-efficiency, and compliance standards 

• Vendor Relationships: Negotiate and manage relationships with travel agencies, airlines, hotels, rental car companies, and other travel service providers.  Secure favorable contracts, discounts, and amenities to optimize travel expenses 

• Continuous Improvement: Continuously assess and optimize the travel program to enhance efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and employee satisfaction. Stay updated about industry trends and best practices in travel management 

• Expense Management: Implement and enforce efficient expense reporting processes related to travel. Collaborate with the finance department to ensure timely and accurate reimbursement of travel expenses 

• Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure compliance with travel-related regulations and internal policies.  Implement risk management strategies to address travel-related safety and security concerns 

• Travel Technology: Evaluate, implement, and manage cutting-edge travel technology solutions to streamline booking, expense reporting, and analytics 

• Budget Oversight: Develop and manage the travel budget for the Region. Monitor and report on travel-related expenses and variances 

• Communication and Training: Effectively communicate travel policies and updates to colleagues. Provide training sessions and resources to educate colleagues on travel policies and tools 

• Data-Driven Insights: Generate regular reports on travel expenses, booking patterns, and compliance metrics. Utilize data to identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements 

• Emergency Response: Collaborate with relevant departments to develop and implement robust emergency response plans for travelers. Ensure colleagues have access to support in case of travel emergencies 

• Travel Reporting: Provide insightful reporting on travel expenses, booking trends, and compliance metrics 

• Travel: Occasionally, travel may be required, both domestic and international 

Qualifications

Who You Are:   

• Over 5 years of experience in travel management, particularly within a multinational organization

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Business, or a related field is preferred 

• Demonstrated ability to secure a positive experience for all travelers through program support and stellar customer service  

• Ability to secure favorable terms and agreements with travel vendors, which can lead to cost savings and improved travel experiences 

• Proficiency in analyzing travel data to identify cost-saving opportunities and trends 

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal to conveying travel policies, updates, and information to colleagues in a clear and effective manner 

• Experience in managing relationships with travel agencies, airlines, h