Travel Operations & Contract Delivery Manager

The Cabinet Office sits at the heart of UK government, ensuring the effective running of executive decision-making and cross-government operations.

This key operational leadership role is responsible for the end-to-end commercial management, contract governance, and operational execution across HMGs suite of central travel contracts.

Operating at the intersection of commercial strategy, daily logistics, and senior stakeholder engagement, you will bridge policy and 24/7 operational delivery. You will ensure that all travel capabilities maintain continuous operational readiness, strict public accountability, and maximum Value for Money (VFM) for the taxpayer.

As part of a widening portfolio, you will work closely with the Head of Travel to oversee current contracts, prepare future procurement pipelines, and support the broader evolution of government-wide travel services.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Contract & Commercial Oversight

• Oversee day-to-day contract delivery and commercial governance across our core travel supplier contracts.
• Hold suppliers and service providers accountable for delivering high quality, reliability, and value for money against agreed service standards.
• Lead on financial checks, invoice reconciliations, and contract queries to ensure effective management of public funds.

Operational Delivery & Incident Escalation

• Manage operational travel delivery for senior government stakeholders across all modes of travel.
• Serve as the main escalation point for complex itineraries, short-notice schedule changes, and unexpected service disruptions.
• Maintain strong operational governance, ensuring all travel logistics adhere to official privacy, security, and data handling guidelines.

Future Procurement & Commercial Strategy

• Support the planning and preparation of upcoming travel procurements across the commercial pipeline.
• Help draft clear, outcome-focused requirement specifications and engage with the market to explore modern delivery models.
• Work with commercial colleagues to evaluate options that balance service flexibility with value for money.

Public Accountability & Governance

• Ensure all travel activity complies with Civil Service guidelines, financial controls, and transparency standards.
• Support the preparation of official briefings, ministerial submissions, and responses to parliamentary and public enquiries regarding travel capabilities.

Stakeholder Relationships & Service Improvement

• Build strong, collaborative working relationships with Private Offices, government departments, and commercial partners.
• Drive continuous improvement across travel operations by identifying opportunities to streamline processes, adopt modern technology, and enhance service efficiency.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

1. Commercial & Contract Oversight: Proven track record in contract management and supplier oversight, with experience holding commercial partners accountable to service standards and driving value for money.
2. Operational Resilience: Demonstrable experience managing or delivering high-stakes travel, logistics, or operational services under tight deadlines and changing circumstances.
3. Problem Solving & Escalation Management: Strong decision-making skills in fast-paced environments, with the ability to react calmly to service disruptions and evaluate practical contingency options.
4. Stakeholder Influence: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of building collaborative working relationships across senior stakeholders, Private Offices, and external suppliers.
5. Financial & Governance Literacy: Sound financial acumen, with experience managing billing reconciliations, contract queries, and adhering to compliance standards.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience across multi-modal travel sectors (e.g., travel management companies, rail, ground transport, or charter aviation).
• Understanding of public sector procurement principles or government commercial frameworks.
• Holds, or is willing to commit to working towards, the Government Commercial Function (GCF) Expert Contract Management accreditation within post (or holds equivalent recognised project/contract management experience).

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.