Category Manager, Travel at CoreTrust Purchasing Group (Nashville)
CoreTrust Purchasing Group· Nashville·
Role details
Job description
CoreTrust helps organizations activate value faster—and get more out of every dollar they spend. Through enterprise-scale purchasing power, a curated supplier network, deep category expertise, and data-driven insights, we enable organizations to make more informed and strategic procurement decisions, accelerate savings, and drive stronger business performance. Today, more than 4,000 organizations rely on CoreTrust to simplify sourcing, reduce complexity, and unlock measurable value across critical spend categories.
As part of our Portfolio team, the Travel Category Manager will shape the future of CoreTrust's travel solutions portfolio, helping thousands of member organizations access best-in-class travel, meetings, rideshare, and mobility programs.
This is a highly visible role that combines industry expertise, supplier partnership management, category strategy, and go-to-market execution. You'll work closely with suppliers, sales, marketing, finance, and member-facing teams to grow market-leading travel solutions while delivering exceptional value to members.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute category strategies across travel-related solutions, including travel management, travel marketplace, rideshare, rental car, and meetings & events
- Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, serving as the primary business owner for key partnerships
- Lead supplier negotiations, contract renewals, and sourcing initiatives that create value for members and CoreTrust
- Partner with Sales and Marketing to launch new offerings and drive adoption through effective go-to-market strategies
- Monitor category performance, analyze trends, and identify opportunities for revenue growth, member value, and operational improvements
- Serve as a travel-industry subject matter expert, supporting internal teams and engaging directly with members when needed
- Stay informed on industry trends, supplier innovations, and emerging opportunities that can strengthen the CoreTrust portfolio.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in business travel, travel management, strategic sourcing, category management, supplier partnerships, procurement, or a related field
- Strong understanding of the travel ecosystem, including travel management companies (TMCs), meetings & events, lodging, ground transportation, or related services
- Experience managing supplier relationships, contracts, negotiations, or strategic partnerships
- Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and work cross-functionally across sales, marketing, finance, operations, and customer-facing teams
- Strong analytical and business acumen with the ability to translate data into recommendations and action
- Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
- Experience in corporate travel programs, travel procurement, supplier partnership management, or category management preferred
- Experience leading RFPs, sourcing initiatives, or complex commercial negotiations preferred
- Knowledge of the Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) model preferred
- Experience in meetings & events, travel technology, mobility, or adjacent travel categories preferred
- Must be willing to travel approximately 15% of the time, as required
Benefits
- Competitive compensation package
- Free individual employee medical coverage
- Company subsidized dental and vision coverage
- Dollar for dollar 401(k) match up to 6% of your salary with immediate vesting
- Company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability coverage
- Employee Assistance Program to support your wellbeing and mental health
- $1500 annual stipend for undergraduate/graduate college courses; $500 annual stipend for continuing education courses/certifications
- Free snacks and beverages on-site
- Brand new, state-of-the-art, tech-enabled work environment in downtown Nashville
- Flexible/hybrid work culture
Why work at CoreTrust Purchasing Group
- Culture & Values: CoreTrust emphasizes five core values: Build Connections, Act Nimbly, Pioneer Exploration, Demonstrate Fortitude, and Drive Impact — reflecting a fast-paced, growth-oriented, and collaborative environment.
- Hybrid / Flexible Work: The company supports a flexible/hybrid work culture. Current open roles include remote (U.S.) as well as hybrid options in Nashville. Roles include Senior Data Scientist (remote/hybrid), Revenue Operations Specialist (hybrid), and Manager, Technology Portfolio (hybrid).
- Office & Location: Brand new, state-of-the-art, tech-enabled work environment in downtown Nashville — a vibrant and growing city for tech and business.
- Compensation & Benefits:
- Free individual medical plan fully covered by CoreTrust
- Dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match up to 6% of salary with immediate vesting
- $1,500 annual stipend for undergraduate/graduate college courses; $500 annual stipend for continuing education/certifications
- Free snacks and beverages on-site
- Growth Trajectory: As a relatively small company (143 employees) backed by Blackstone and growing headcount rapidly, there are strong opportunities for ownership, impact, and career advancement — particularly for those in tech, data, and operations roles.
- Engineering & Data: The current open role of Senior Data Scientist (remote or hybrid in Nashville) suggests a growing investment in data science, analytics, and AI — a good sign for data/engineering talent.