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Herbert Smith Freehills

Travel Lead (Australia & Asia)

Sydney Full time

The Opportunity

Are you an experienced travel operations professional looking to make a strategic impact in a dynamic, global environment? We’re seeking a highly motivated individual to lead and evolve our corporate travel program across Australia and Asia.

This role can be based in any of our Australian offices (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or Brisbane).

This role offers the opportunity to manage complex travel operations, drive policy and vendor performance, and contribute to sustainability and business continuity initiatives. If you thrive in a fast-paced setting, enjoy working autonomously, and have a passion for delivering high-quality service and innovation, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll do

  • Manage travel operations for HSF Kramer offices across Australia and Asia.

  • Monitor traveller movements, spending trends, business types, and travel types.

  • Assist in developing communication and training materials for bookers and travellers.

  • Host information and relationship-building sessions for bookers as needed.

  • Serve as the escalation point for resolving travel-related issues.

  • Collaborate with the global Business Continuity Management team on travel-related BCM matters.

  • Support the delivery of the global Travel Management strategy.

  • Partner with the Travel Lead (UK, EMEA & US) to review and enhance the firm’s travel policy, ensuring compliance and market relevance.

  • Act as a trusted advisor to senior management and stakeholders on travel-related matters.

  • Align Travel Management goals and objectives with those of Practice Groups and Business Services.

  • Leverage data analytics to identify trends, optimize policies, and drive cost savings and efficiency.

  • Implement innovative solutions to enhance the travel program, including new technologies and partnerships.

  • Support contract management by liaising with third-party vendors and ensuring adherence to SLAs and KPIs.

  • Manage relationships and programs with travel vendors (agency, air, hotel, and other services).

  • Assist in negotiating route deals and hotel rate agreements.

  • Collate and hand off travel emissions data to third-party provider (Envizi).

  • Drive and support initiatives aligned with the firm’s net zero carbon targets.

What you’ll bring

  • 5+ years’ experience managing a corporate travel program, either in-house or within a Travel Management Company

  • Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage confidently across all levels of the business

  • Proven track record in managing third-party vendor relationships and driving service excellence

  • A self-starter mindset, with the ability to work independently and take initiative

  • Strong coordination and collaboration skills, with experience leading cross-functional activities to achieve shared outcomes

  • Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

  • Experience working within a professional services firm (legal, accounting, consulting) is highly regarded

What you can expect from us

  • We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.

  • We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.

  • We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.

  • We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.

  • For more benefits on offer such as our holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click here.

  • Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia’s market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

Team

Office Operations

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.