Travel and Expense Manager

Job Description

Travel and Expense Manager

Location: U.S. (Remote / Hybrid; focused on Madison, WI and Austin, TX)

The Role

The Procurement Operations team plays a critical role in optimizing processes and delivering value by effectively managing supplier relationships, operational systems, and cross-functional partnerships. We are looking for a highly organized, proactive, and systems-oriented Travel and Expense (T&E) Manager to own and elevate our global travel and expense program. This role sits under the Procurement team and reports to the Director of Procurement Operations.

In this role, you will transition from support to full ownership, driving the strategy and operational excellence of our T&E landscape. You will be responsible for the end-to-end management of our travel and expense tools, vendor relationships, and policy compliance. You will lead the charge on process improvements, audit remediation, and the successful execution of our global Travel RFP. This position requires a strategic thinker with strong pattern recognition and the ability to manage change across a fast-paced, global environment.

The Day-to-Day

• Program Ownership: Manage the global Travel and Expense program, ensuring alignment with company objectives and financial discipline.

• Vendor Management: Act as the primary lead for key T&E systems and vendors, specifically Egencia and Brex, and extended travel vendors like air and hotel partners. Own the relationship management, performance tracking, and contract renewals for these critical partners.

• Audit Leadership & Compliance: Take action on audit remediation, specifically leading the improvements required from audits. Ensure global compliance with T&E policies and implement controls.

• Strategic RFP Execution: Lead the Travel RFP process from inception to implementation, managing vendor selection, negotiation, and global rollout.

• Process Optimization: Architect and implement scalable process improvements to streamline the T&E experience for employees while maintaining organizational rigor.

• Systems Administration & Strategy: Oversee the administration of T&E systems, ensuring tools are optimized for global scale and integrated effectively with existing procurement workflows.

• Change Management & Communication: Drive the communication strategy for T&E updates, ensuring stakeholders are informed and trained on new processes and tools.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with Finance, IT, and Legal leadership to ensure the T&E program supports broader business goals.

• Customer Support: Provide excellent customer support to our employees as they interact with T&E tools and programs.

Skills and Qualifications

• Ownership Mindset: Proven ability to take full accountability for a functional area and drive measurable results.

• Vendor Relations Experience: Experience managing (and preferably also negotiating) with travel and expense vendors (e.g., Egencia, Brex, United Airlines, Marriott).

• Analytical Rigor: Strong ability to analyze spend patterns, recognize inefficiencies, and implement data-driven solutions.

• Systems Understanding: Deep expertise in T&E systems and how they integrate within a broader ERP and Procurement ecosystem.

• Communication & Influence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

• Project Management: Demonstrated success in leading complex, global cross-functional projects, such as RFPs or system implementations.

• Proactive Leadership: A self-starter who identifies risks before they become issues and proactively seeks to enhance the T&E experience.

Desired Qualities

• Strong commitment to organizational rigor and process discipline.

• Extensive experience in Change Management and helping global organizations navigate system transitions.

• Previous leadership experience in Procurement Operations or T&E Management within a high-growth SaaS environment.

The Intelligent Heart Of Customer Experience

Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love. Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. Our hybrid way of working enables us to purposefully come together in person to connect, collaborate, and learn while also giving our people flexibility.

The US annualized base salary range for this position is $116,000.00-$174,000.00. This position may also be eligible for bonus, benefits, or related incentives. While this range reflects the minimum and maximum value for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations, the offer for the successful candidate for this position will be based on job related capabilities, applicable experience, and other factors such as work location. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only (or OTE for commissions based roles), and do not include bonus, benefits, or related incentives.

The intelligent heart of customer experience

Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love.

Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. Our hybrid way of working, enables us to purposefully come together in person, at one of our many Zendesk offices around the world, to connect, collaborate and learn whilst also giving our people the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week.

As part of our commitment to fairness and transparency, we inform all applicants that artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision systems may be used to screen or evaluate applications for this position, in accordance with Company guidelines and applicable law.

Zendesk is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster global diversity, equity, & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment and employees at Zendesk are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer. If you are based in the United States and would like more information about your EEO rights under the law, please click here.

Zendesk endeavors to make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans pursuant to applicable federal and state law. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to submit this application, complete any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with your specific accommodation request.