Senior Manager Armscor Travel

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Grade 12.
• Relevant postgraduate Degree in Tourism Management, or a related field.

EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in travel management, with at least 7 years at management level.
• Proven experience managing high-volume, complex travel operations, preferably within government, defence, or regulated environments.
• Demonstrated experience in supplier negotiation, cost optimisation, and service-level management.
• Experience operating travel services within PFMA, Treasury, or public-sector governance frameworks.
• Strong exposure to financial oversight, cost recovery, and performance reporting. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Management and Oversight of AB Travel Operations

• Provide expert guidance on AB Travel operations across Armscor and Department of Defence travel portfolios.
• Direct and oversee end-to-end travel operations, including itinerary design, bookings, ticketing, traveller tracking, and exception management.
• Ensure seamless, time-critical travel support for executives and officials, maintaining operational continuity, service excellence, and stakeholder confidence
• Drive continuous improvement through the optimisation of systems, processes, service models, and digital enablement.

Governance, Compliance, Risk, and BSP Assurance

• Ensure full compliance with PFMA, Treasury Regulations, diplomatic protocols, international travel regulations, BSP requirements, and Armscor policies.
• Oversee the effective management of the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP), ensuring accurate ticket issuance, reporting, settlement, and reconciliation with airlines.
• Design and enforce governance frameworks, internal controls, and audit-ready processes across all travel, BSP, and financial transactions.
• Implement risk mitigation measures to safeguard traveller security, financial integrity, confidentiality, and mission sensitivity, particularly for defence-related travel.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and auditable records, approvals, and reports to support internal and external oversight.

Revenue Optimisation, Billing, Recovery, and Commercial Performance

• Design, package, and operationalise AB Travel as a sustainable, cost-recovery and revenue-enabled internal service, balancing affordability with financial viability
• Develop and manage pricing models, service offerings, costing frameworks, and approved service fees for Armscor and DoD travel services.
• Ensure accurate billing, invoicing, and timely recovery of travel-related costs, including reconciliation of BSP transactions and supplier invoices.
• Analyse travel spend, sales performance, revenue recovery, and utilisation trends to inform strategic and financial decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to optimise negotiated rates, supplier rebates, and resource utilisation, including during low-demand periods.
• Set financial and operational performance targets, monitor delivery, and enforce accountability across the function.

Stakeholder, Supplier, and Partnership Management

• Act as the relationship manager for key stakeholders, including Armscor executives, DoD leadership, and the Ministry.
• Establish and manage strategic supplier partnerships with airlines, accommodation providers, car rental companies, and travel management companies.
• Lead negotiations on BSP-linked airline agreements, rates, service-level agreements, and contractual terms to optimise value, cost efficiency, and service quality.
• Drive sales-oriented initiatives, partnerships, and promotional opportunities (within policy parameters) to enhance service value, recovery rates, and operational efficiency.