Travel Coordinator

The Travel Coordinator supports the Travel Manager by coordinating day-to-day travel services for the firm and serving as a reliable point of contact among travelers, internal stakeholders, the external Travel Management Company (TMC), and travel vendors. This role requires a service-oriented professional who can provide responsive, high-touch coordination in a demanding legal environment while helping ensure travel arrangements are accurate, compliant, cost-conscious, and aligned with the firm's business needs. The Travel Coordinator plays an important role in supporting a seamless traveler experience for attorneys, executives, clients, recruits, and guests. Salary note: NY Only: The estimated base salary range for this position is $70,000 to $85,000 at the time of posting. This role is non-exempt meaning it is overtime pay eligible. Simpson Thacher will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Responsibilities

Serve as a liaison among travelers, executive assistants, legal personnel, recruiting, finance, events, the firm's TMC, and travel vendors; Coordinate domestic and international travel support, including complex itineraries, multi-city travel, international trips, urgent bookings, and time-sensitive changes; Review travel requests for accuracy, completeness, timing, policy compliance, approval requirements, and traveler preferences; Ensure reservations comply with firm travel policies, preferred-provider agreements, class-of-service guidelines, and approval procedures; escalate exceptions appropriately; Help resolve billing discrepancies, unused tickets, refunds, credits, duplicate charges, and missing receipts in partnership with Finance and travel partners; Stay informed about travel disruptions, industry updates, and available tools; Provide backup support to the Travel Manager and perform additional travel, administrative, and special-project responsibilities as assigned; Provide responsive, high-touch support for attorneys, executives, frequent travelers, clients, recruits, and guests; Support complex itineraries, VIP partner requests, traveler emergencies, and other time-sensitive needs; Monitor active itineraries and assist with delays, cancellations, rebooking, and other travel disruptions; Partner with the TMC to resolve complex travel issues, service concerns, disruptions, and escalations; Promote a positive traveler experience while balancing policy compliance, cost considerations, and sound judgment; Track service issues, recurring travel concerns, and vendor follow-up items; Coordinate executive car service requests, including domestic and international ground transportation; Communicate regularly with travelers, assistants, internal stakeholders, and preferred transportation providers to confirm details and resolve service issues; Track car service performance, traveler satisfaction, safety standards, contract-related requirements, and recurring vendor concerns; Assist with supplier review activities by gathering service feedback, usage information, and potential savings opportunities; Track travel alerts and global events that may affect firm personnel and escalate relevant issues to the Travel Manager; Assist with emergency response protocols and traveler tracking initiatives; Provide coordination support for business continuity and crisis-response activities related to travel; Coordinate group travel arrangements for attorney retreats, partner meetings, recruiting events, training programs, and firm-sponsored conferences; Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external vendors to support event logistics, travel needs, and budget tracking; Collaborate with hotel partners to ensure service quality, favorable terms, and appropriate accommodation

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience; 3 or more years of progressive experience in corporate travel coordination, travel operations, car-service coordination, hospitality, legal services, or professional services; Strong proficiency in data tracking, expense or budget support, reporting, and service-performance follow-up; Strong Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel, with the ability to use spreadsheets for tracking, reporting, data organization, and analysis; Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to enforce policy firmly but diplomatically; Proven ability to coordinate high-touch travel and service requirements while balancing service expectations, financial stewardship, policy compliance, and sound judgment; Strong meeting, event, crisis-response, and problem-solving capabilities, including the ability to remain calm and responsive under pressure

Nice to have

Supporting attorneys, senior executives, or other high-demand professionals in a fast-paced, client-service-oriented environment