Travel Manager | PATH
Travel Manager | PATH
Location: Port Moresby
Contract duration: up to 30 June 2028
Reserved for Papua New Guinean nationals
Program Overview
The Abt PNG Shared Services Platform supports seven DFAT funded programs in PNG. The seven programs are:
The seven programs include:
- Australia PNG Economic Partnership (APEP)
- Australia PNG Subnational Program (APSP)
- PNG-Australia Transition to Health (PATH)
- PNG Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE)
- PNG Secondary Education Program (PNG SEP)
- PNG Institutional Partnership Program (PIPP)
- PNG Women’s Lead Program (PWL)
Position Overview
The Travel Manager is responsible for leading and strengthening the delivery of travel services across Abt PNG’s programs, ensuring travel arrangements are safe, timely, cost-effective, compliant, and responsive to program delivery requirements across Papua New Guinea
Key Responsibilities
The Travel Manager will undertake the following responsibilities.
Develop, implement and look for opportunities to improve travel policies and procedures that align with the organisation's goals and industry best practices.
Manage competing travel priorities across multiple programs, applying agreed service standards, escalation pathways, and risk-based prioritisation to support timely program delivery.
Oversee travel bookings, including flights, accommodations, and ground transportation.
Handle complex travel itineraries and urgent travel requests effectively.
Ensure compliance with travel policies and expense guidelines.
Design and implement a robust reporting framework to track and analyse travel-related KPIs.
Coordinate with Program teams to understand travel requirements and ensure travel arrangements meet business needs.
Supervise and mentor the travel officers, providing guidance and training to ensure high-quality service delivery.
Monitor and evaluate the performance of travel officers, providing feedback and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Collaborate with the travel officers to resolve any challenges or issues related to travel arrangements.
Maintain accurate travel records and ensure the travel tracker is up to date.
Collaborate with finance teams to verify travel invoices for billing
Provide support and assistance to travellers regarding travel-related issues and inquiries.
Keep employees informed about travel updates, changes, and relevant information.
Ensure all travel arrangements, approvals, supplier engagement, acquittals and supporting documentation comply with Abt policies, DFAT contractual requirements, value for money principles, probity standards and audit-readiness expectations.
Select and manage relationships with travel vendors, including airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and travel agencies.
Negotiate corporate rates and discounts with local travel vendors to achieve cost savings and value for money.
Collaborate with Brisbane Travel Team for all international travel requests.
Monitor travel trends, industry developments, and regulatory changes to make proactive adjustments to travel policies and strategies.
Other duties as required and directed by the Shared Service Finance Managers
Specific Deliverables
Approved and consistently implemented travel SOPs, templates and workflows.
Accurate and current travel tracker/dashboard for all programs.
Monthly travel KPI and exception reports.
Timely escalation of high-risk, urgent or non-compliant travel requests.
Supplier performance monitoring and documented value-for-money outcomes.
Audit-ready travel records, approvals and supporting documentation.
Identify and implement process improvements, automation opportunities and system enhancements that increase efficiency, reduce manual errors, strengthen controls and improve the traveler experience.
Key working relationships
All shared service teams (Finance, Payroll, HR, Security & Fleet, Procurement)
Program Delivery Teams
Internal and External Clients (Procurement companies/Travel Agencies/Hotel etc.)
About You
For applications to be considered, a response to the key selection criteria below must be provided;
Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end travel operations in a complex, multi-program or geographically dispersed operating environment, including flights, accommodation, ground transport, urgent travel requests and complex itineraries.
Strong understanding of travel policy compliance, approvals, acquittals, value for money, probity, audit-readiness and donor or client contractual requirements, preferably within a DFAT-funded or international development context.
Proven ability to develop, implement and improve travel procedures, SOPs, templates, workflows and service standards that strengthen controls, improve efficiency and support timely program delivery.
High-level organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, assess travel risks, escalate issues
appropriately and respond effectively to urgent or sensitive travel requirements.
Demonstrated experience maintaining accurate travel records, trackers or dashboards, analysing travel data and producing clear KPI, exception and management reports to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with program teams, finance, procurement, security, external travel providers and travellers to deliver responsive and client-focused travel services.
Experience supervising, mentoring or coordinating travel officers or administrative staff, including supporting service quality, training, performance improvement and effective workload management.
Demonstrated ability to manage supplier relationships, monitor vendor performance, negotiate cost-effective travel arrangements and identify opportunities for savings, automation and process improvement.
How to Apply
Please ensure to address the Key Selection Criteria (About You) in your cover letter, and submit your application online, along with your CV as a single document.
Applications must be submitted personally by individuals only. Applications submitted by a company or organisation will not be accepted.
The successful applicant will be engaged through an employment agreement determined by Abt.
We welcome and thank all applications; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Closing Date: Friday 14 August 2026 (Midday, local time) #LI-AUSBRIT
Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.
Disclaimer: Abt Associates will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.