Travel Program Specialist (Senior, Custom Travel) in Rockville, Maryland at Significance Inc

Primary Responsibilities
• Manage the IOS travel support inbox as a dedicated operational queue, including triage, prioritization, issue tracking, and timely status updates.
• Provide expert consultative guidance on the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), HHS Travel Policy, entitlements, per diem, constructive travel, invitational travel, and other complex travel scenarios.
• Create, amend, and manage travel authorizations and vouchers in ETS, including complex multi-city, multi-location, and constructive travel trips.
• Maintain and update traveler profiles in ETS and support onboarding for new IOS travelers and staff.
• Deliver proactive trip planning, higher-touch reservation coordination, and detailed reviews of travel options to ensure compliance and mission alignment.
• Track, analyze, and report monthly workload metrics, trends, and performance data using advanced Excel skills.
• Prepare professional summaries, trend reports, and presentations for operational check-ins and leadership updates.
• Maintain and improve travel expense templates and support documentation for strong audit trails.
• Leverage AI tools to improve efficiency in reporting, documentation, and process improvement.
• Conduct traveler readiness reviews and proactively monitor changes to minimize unnecessary fees.
• Facilitate recurring operational meetings, prepare issue logs, and support continuous process improvement.

Required Skills & Experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience providing travel support in a federal government or government contractor environment.
• Strong working knowledge of the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) and federal travel policies.
• Advanced proficiency in the Electronic Travel System (ConcurGov), including creation and management of complex authorizations and vouchers.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel for data tracking, analysis, and reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience creating and delivering professional presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to handle high-volume work with exceptional attention to detail and discretion.
• Strong organizational, time management, and customer service skills, with experience supporting senior-level executives.
• Proficiency using AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or similar) to enhance productivity.
Qualifications & Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3–5+ years of experience in travel program management or a similar role.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to support federal compliance requirements (PII, security standards).