Sr. Manager, Air Purchasing & Operations (West Des Moines)

We're Hiring: Senior Manager – Air Purchasing & OperationsAre you a hands‐on leader who thrives on execution, momentum, and building strong teams and systems? ITA Group is seeking a Senior Manager – Air Purchasing & Operations to lead and scale our air travel operations supporting complex, high‐impact events.This role is ideal for a true doer -- someone who takes ownership, leverages technology to build smarter solutions, and isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves. You'll oversee end‐to‐end air purchasing and operations while partnering cross‐functionally to ensure seamless program delivery across the full event lifecycle.What You'll DoLead and develop a high‐performing Air Purchasing & Operations team, balancing workloads and resources across peak event cyclesPartner with ITA Group events leadership to drive holistic operations, collaboration, and shared success across eventsBuild, refine, and scale processes, documentation, and technology to drive efficiency, quality, and job satisfactionFoster strong partnerships with airline and travel suppliersEnsure quality control, contingency planning, and seamless coverage—including after‐hours and weekend escalationsOwn budgets, forecasting, reconciliations, and operational scorecardsHire, coach, and develop talent—supporting growth, position mastery, and leadership progressionWhat We're Looking ForBachelor's degree or equivalent experience5+ years of experience in group travel or events (or 3+ years within ITA Group Events) with people leadership responsibilityProven ability to lead teams, manage budgets, and scale operationsStrong business acumen, executive presence, and comfort working cross‐functionallyTechnology‐minded with the ability to learn and optimize systems (Microsoft 365, booking tools, airline platforms, etc.)A proactive, solutions‐oriented mindset with strong communication and relationship‐building skillsHighly organized, detail‐oriented, and driven by ownership and accountabilityWhy ITA Group?ITA Group is a financially strong, 100% employee‐owned company headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa (with offices in Atlanta). We help organizations engage and motivate people through unforgettable events, incentives, recognition, and loyalty solutions while offering a collaborative culture, growth opportunities, and a competitive total rewards package.If you're energized by ownership, continuous improvement, and building something that delivers real impact, we'd love to connect!