Director, Travel & Expense

About the Role Databricks seeks a strategic, operationally strong Director, Travel & Expense to modernize our global T&E ecosystem. You will define future-state strategy and lead hands-on execution across a digital-first, scalable program that improves employee experience while strengthening governance, compliance, and financial discipline. You will partner across Finance, Procurement, IT, HR, Security, and Operations to design a seamless, future-ready T&E model.

What You'll Do

• Lead the transformation of the T&E program into a modern, automated, digital-first experience with AI-enabled workflows, touchless expense processing, automated audit controls, and intelligent policy enforcement.
• Create a frictionless employee experience across booking, expense submission, approvals, reimbursements, and support while simplifying processes and reducing manual work.
• Build a scalable global T&E roadmap with KPIs, dashboards, and change management to support adoption.
• Oversee global travel operations (air, hotel, ground transport, meetings, traveler support) and shape regional travel strategies for a distributed workforce.
• Manage travel partners and supplier relationships to improve service levels, optimize spend, and support evolving business needs.
• Partner with Security and HR to strengthen traveler safety, duty of care, and crisis response capabilities.
• Lead enterprise expense reimbursement and corporate card programs with a focus on automation, compliance, scalability, and employee experience.
• Implement intelligent expense capabilities such as auto-generated reports, AI auditing, receipt automation, and policy-driven workflows; simplify approvals and accelerate reimbursement cycles.
• Partner with AP, Payroll, and Finance Operations to streamline end-to-end financial processes.
• Own the T&E technology ecosystem, including Emburse, Egencia, Ramp, Brex, AppZen, and corporate card integrations; collaborate with IT and Finance Systems on integrations, APIs, and analytics.
• Ensure strong policy governance, financial controls, audit readiness, and compliance with global tax, regulatory, data privacy, and regional travel requirements.
• Build and lead a high-performing global team, develop leadership bench strength, and influence cross-functional stakeholders in a fast-moving environment.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Supply Chain, Hospitality, Information Systems, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Travel, Expense, Procurement, Finance Operations, Shared Services, or related functions.
• Proven success leading T&E transformation, automation, or digital modernization initiatives in high-growth or fast-paced organizations.
• Experience leading global or multinational T&E programs and managing regional operations and cross-border transformation efforts.
• Strong operational leadership with the ability to translate strategy into scalable execution.
• Deep expertise in T&E platforms, workflow automation, corporate card programs, and expense technologies.
• Strong understanding of AI-enabled operations, process redesign, and scalable service delivery models.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and change leadership skills, with the ability to lead through ambiguity and evolving business priorities.
• MBA, CPA, CTP, or related certification preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma, automation, or digital transformation experience strongly preferred.

Nice to Have

• MBA, CPA, CTP or related certification preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma or other process-improvement credentials.

Compensation & Benefits

• Zone 1 Pay Range: $209,500—$288,100 USD
• Zone 2 Pay Range: $188,600—$259,250 USD
• Zone 3 Pay Range: $178,100—$244,850 USD
• Zone 4 Pay Range: $167,600—$230,450 USD
• Total compensation may include annual performance bonus, equity, and listed benefits. Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices.