Project Manager, Specialty Travel & Events

About the Role

As a Project Manager, Specialty Travel and Events, you will lead the mobilisation, implementation, and delivery of complex projects across Navan's Specialty Travel portfolio, including UK Government, Navan Events, Healthcare Professionals (HCP), and Energy & Marine. Your primary goal is to ensure successful project delivery from contract conception through to operational handover, driving stakeholder satisfaction, operational readiness, and long-term client success.

You will act as the central point of coordination across clients, suppliers, and internal teams, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in full compliance with contractual, operational, and regulatory requirements. This role requires exceptional project management expertise, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to navigate complex, multi-workstream environments while maintaining the highest standards of governance and service delivery.

What You'll Do

• Serve as the overall project lead for contract mobilisations, service implementations, and strategic initiatives across UK Government, Navan Events, HCP, and Energy & Marine accounts.
• Lead and direct complex, multi-stakeholder projects from initiation and planning through launch, operational handover, and transition into business-as-usual operations.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, milestones, and governance structures to ensure successful delivery against agreed objectives.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including Operations, Finance, People, Technology, Legal, Procurement, and Client Services to drive alignment and execution.
• Ensure operational readiness through effective project management, testing, training, process validation, and launch preparation activities.
• Monitor project performance, proactively identify risks, issues, and dependencies, and drive mitigation plans to support successful outcomes.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with clients, internal stakeholders, suppliers, and delivery partners to ensure strategic alignment and effective communication.
• Lead project governance activities, including status reporting, steering committees, stakeholder updates, and executive-level communications.
• Ensure all contractual obligations, service requirements, and regulatory standards are met throughout the project lifecycle.
• Evaluate post-implementation performance, capture lessons learned, and drive continuous improvement across project management practices within the Specialty Travel and Events business.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience in Project Management within SaaS, technology or similarly complex operational environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, multi-stakeholder projects from planning through implementation and operational handover.
• Strong understanding of project governance, risk management, change management, and stakeholder engagement best practices.
• Experience managing projects within highly regulated or compliance-driven sectors, such as Government, Healthcare, Energy, Marine, or Professional Services would be beneficial, but not essential. 
• Exceptional project planning, organisational, and strategic problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• High EQ and strong communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels of an organisation.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with clients, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality, governance, and operational excellence.
• Drive for results, customer-focused mindset, and a proactive approach to delivering successful project outcomes.
• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.