Operational Lead APAC – Events

About the Role The Operational Lead APAC – Events is responsible for leading the day-to-day delivery of Event Travel and Events operations across the region, ensuring a consistent, high-quality and commercially driven service. This hybrid leadership role combines strategic oversight, team leadership, client ownership, and hands-on operational delivery, ensuring both operational excellence and strong team performance. It plays a critical part in scaling the Australia and broader APAC operations while aligning with global standards. What You'll Do

• Lead the day-to-day delivery of Events and Event Travel operations across Australia and APAC, ensuring a consistent, high-quality client experience.
• Own and deliver a portfolio of complex events and group travel programmes, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to client expectations.
• Remain actively involved in the hands-on management of key accounts, strategic clients, and high-value projects.
• Oversee group travel logistics and event operations across Australia and APAC, including air, accommodation, and supplier management for groups of varying size.
• Act as the senior escalation point for operational and client issues, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a regional team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and accountable culture.
• Establish and manage team and individual objectives, providing ongoing performance management.
• Oversee workforce planning, resource allocation, recruitment, onboarding, and training to support business growth and service delivery requirements.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with clients and suppliers, acting as a senior consultant and strategic advisor across key accounts.
• Lead client meetings, business reviews, and strategic discussions to ensure alignment with client objectives and expectations.
• Drive commercial performance through effective budgeting, supplier negotiations, cost management, revenue optimisation, and financial oversight.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial processes, including invoicing, reconciliation, and event budget management.
• Implement and champion standardised processes, systems, and best practices to improve scalability, efficiency, and operational excellence.
• Collaborate with global stakeholders and cross-functional teams to ensure service consistency, knowledge sharing, and alignment with broader business objectives.
• This role is instrumental in shaping and growing Navan's Events and Event Travel capabilities across APAC. By leading high-performing teams, strengthening client partnerships, and driving operational excellence, you'll directly contribute to business growth, client satisfaction, and the continued expansion of Navan's global events offering. What We're Looking For
• Proven experience in Events and Group Travel operations, including group travel logistics
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, ideally within a regional or multi-market team