Section Chief (Transportation) - Corporate Services and Facilities Department

Work for the IMF. Work for the World.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is looking to hire an experienced Travel and Transportation professional to lead the Transportation Section in the General Services Division of the Corporate Services and Facilities Department. This position is based at IMF headquarters in Washington, DC.

Under the general supervision of the Division Chief and Deputy Division Chief of the General Services Division, the Transportation Section Chief will provide strategic leadership, operational direction, and effective management of the Section’s portfolio, including travel management, transportation programs, vendor and contract oversight, client engagement and duty of care support.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Section Chief will set the strategic direction for the Transportation Section, ensure effective delivery of the Section’s work program, and provide leadership and mentorship to staff, including development of staff capabilities, performance feedback, and strategic advice to departmental and senior management.

Travel Management and Operations

• Provide overall leadership and oversight of the IMF’s travel program and transportation portfolio, ensuring reliable, cost-effective, and client-focused service delivery including airline, rail, hotel, chauffeur, visa and passport, and travel payment credit card.
• Develop and implement strategies and service improvements that respond to the evolving travel environment and the operational needs of the Fund.
• Ensure effective after-hours travel emergency coverage and provide support for worldwide evacuations, working closely with IMF Security, HR, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Oversee complex, multi-faceted projects and leverage technology to analyze travel data, market developments, and service trends to identify opportunities for efficiency, cost effectiveness, and improved client experience.
• Provide expert guidance to senior management, departments, overseas offices, and Regional Centers on travel-related services, policies, and operational requirements.

Contract and Vendor Management

• Provide strategic oversight of supplier relationships, outsourced service partners, and vendor performance across the Section’s portfolio.
• Establish performance expectations, monitor vendor SLAs and key performance indicators, and identify opportunities for improvement, and cost effectiveness.
• Oversee transportation or travel management procurement processes and resolve complex vendor-related issues and operational performance.

Technology, Data, and Innovation

• Set direction for the effective use of travel technology, data management, reporting, and analytics to support operational decisions and service planning.
• Evaluate and guide the implementation of technology enhancements, including travel management tools and related platforms.
• Develop meaningful metrics, dashboards, reports, and forecast information to support management oversight and respond to stakeholder inquiries.
• Encourage innovation and continuous improvement in processes, systems, and service delivery, while ensuring alignment with Fund policies and operational requirements.

Client Engagement, Communication, and Duty of Care

• Build strong working relationships with clients, departments, overseas offices, Regional Centers, vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure effective service delivery and timely resolution of issues.
• Develop and execute communication strategies to disseminate information about travel tools, procedures, service updates, and policy changes across the institution.
• Support the Fund’s duty of care responsibilities by ensuring timely access to reliable travel data and effective coordination during disruptions, emergencies, and other events requiring rapid operational response.
• Represent the Section and the Department in internal and external discussions on transportation, travel management, and related operational matters.

Qualifications and Experience

Educational development, typically acquired by the completion of an advanced university degree in business administration, transportation management, travel management, logistics, or a related field, plus a minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience; or a bachelor’s degree supplemented by a minimum of fourteen years of relevant professional work experience, is required. Alternatively, a minimum of two years of experience in a related position at Grade A12, or equivalent, is required.

• Proven experience leading travel, transportation, or related operational services for a large, complex, or global organization, including oversight of third-party service providers.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the travel industry, travel management companies, airline distribution, global distribution systems, online booking tools, travel data, expense reporting, and related operational platforms.
• Experience managing contracts, vendor performance, service-level agreements and supplier relationships. Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess complex operational issues, develop recommendations, and translate data into practical decisions and service improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead staff, manage complex work programs, allocate resources, provide feedback, and foster collaboration across teams and departments.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, communications, and service standards for institutional clients and senior stakeholders. Sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy in dealing with complex client, vendor, and operational matters.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI or other visualization tools, and PowerPoint; experience with travel management systems would be an advantage.

Competencies

• Ability to apply strong analytical judgment to complex, high-visibility operational issues and establish standards for the Section’s work.
• Recognized expertise in transportation and travel management matters, with the capacity to advise senior stakeholders and represent the Department on significant issues.
• Ability to think strategically, connect operational issues across functions, and understand the implications of the Section’s work for the broader Fund.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to tailor messages to senior audiences, develop clear written products, and influence decision making.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiating, and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships inside and outside the Fund and manage challenging situations with professionalism.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead change, manage complex projects, motivate staff, delegate effectively, and foster teamwork across organizational lines.

Assessment

• Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, followed by a competency-based interview. 

This vacancy shall be filled by a 3-year Term appointment in accordance with the Fund’s employment rules.

A regular staff member who is selected to fill the vacancy will maintain their open-ended status. If the selected candidate is a contractual employee, they will be offered a Term staff appointment. Staff members already on a term appointment will continue their current term but may receive an extension provided that their current term appointment has not already been extended.

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The IMF is guided by the principle that the employment, classification, promotion, and assignment of staff shall be made without discrimination against any person. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process. Information on how to request accommodations will be provided during the application process.