Travel & Events Specialist

Position Summary:  

The Travel and Events Specialist is a member of the Travel and Logistics Division. He/she is responsible for implementing travel and logistics related activities, with a particular focus on the design and coordination of in person, online and hybrid events, workshops, trainings; online learning courses, ensuring compliance with regulations and internal processes; identifying cost saving strategies; and assisting in the evaluation and improvement of existing standard operating procedures.   

This position will also support growth activities, process improvements, initiatives, special projects, and other organization-wide activities, on behalf of Operations Support and the global Travel and Logistics team.  

Travel may include individual or group domestic and international travel arrangements.  

In person events may include, but not limited to workshops, training, meetings, and conferences.  

This position requires supporting the project budget development and reviews, program status reviews, team and practice area meetings, special projects, and training.   

Major Responsibilities:  

The ideal candidate is a highly motivated individual who has attention to detail and can work both independently and as a part of the team: 

• Interacts with clients (internal and external) to ensure full customer satisfaction. 
• Serves as division Specialist - working with travel and logistics coordinators and colleagues in other departments to address routine travel and logistics related questions, monitoring travel and logistics coordinators workloads and acting as T&L capture representative for assigned program.  
• Manages and implements complex projects that require multiple travel and logistics coordinators and project associates on multiple projects (including air and rail reservations, lodging, meals and incidentals, ground transportation and visas, venue, catering, interpretation). 
• Coordinates online and hybrid events, workshops, training and online learning courses. 
• Initiates, approves, and executes complex travel and event logistics-related payments and maintains electronic records and databases, manages travel and logistics project budgets, and ensures implementation is within budget  
• Ensures compliance with Government regulations, funder requirements, internal policies and procedures as well as best practices.  
• Supervises staff, trains new staff and onboards them. 
• Assists in the evaluation and improvement of existing operating procedures and processes. 
• Makes recommendations for cost saving strategies. 

Qualifications/ Skills and knowledge requirements: 

• A minimum of four years of relevant work experience and at least two years' experience in supervising junior level staff, providing the needed support while developing their skills and knowledge.  
• Ability to work on complex projects or multiple projects at the same time and experience in organizing and managing cross-border events, including onsite support for in-person events. 
• Strong time management skills, ability to work in a fast-paced environment with very tight deadlines and ability to deliver services on time, on budget and in accordance with program expectations.  
• Experience of leading edge online/hybrid event approaches, including an experience of innovation in the online event/collaboration space. 
• Strong customer focus, including excellent and effective written and oral communication skills and the ability to interact with a wide range of individuals from varied backgrounds at all levels within and outside the organization.  
• Strong project management skills, budgets, project planning, risk management and the know how to plan and implement a high-risk travel, scheduling and tracking with strong attention to detail and organizational skills.  
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Project) and ability to work with other programs and databases.   
• Understanding of U.S. federal regulations and related requirements is desirable. 
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.  
• Fluent in the English language is a must, knowledge of other languages is a plus.

CRDF Global offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

CRDF Global is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CRDF Global provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants.