Travel and Expense Specialist

Description MELE Associates is seeking a Travel & Expense Specialist to manage the day-to-day administration of employee travel and expense activities across multiple federal contracts. This role serves as the primary resource for travel coordination, expense processing, compliance, and reporting while partnering closely with Project Controls, Accounting, Contracts, and employees throughout the organization. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, customer-focused, and experienced supporting travel programs in a government contracting or similarly regulated environment. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Serve as the primary point of contact for employee travel and expense support. Coordinate travel arrangements using Concur while ensuring compliance with company policies, government travel regulations, and contract requirements. Review, process, and route Travel Authorizations (TAs) and Travel Expense Reports (TERs) for accuracy, completeness, and timely approval. Verify travel expenses, receipts, per diem, and supporting documentation for compliance with applicable regulations. Review subcontractor and vendor travel invoices for allowability and contract compliance. Track travel funding, outstanding expense reports, and travel activity across contracts and task orders. Research GSA rates, JTR/FTR requirements, and other travel regulations to support compliant travel decisions. Maintain organized travel records and prepare reports on travel activity, funding, and processing metrics. Develop and maintain travel procedures, job aids, and training materials while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and standardize processes. Partner with Accounting, Contracts, Project Controls, and travelers to resolve travel-related questions and issues. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. Three or more years of experience in travel administration, expense processing, accounting, project administration, or a related field. Knowledge of Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail. Excellent customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Outlook, and common travel booking tools PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience with SAP Concur Travel Booking Tool Familiarity with electronic workflow systems. Experience supporting federal government contracts. Knowledge and understanding of Fly America Act compliance LOCATION: This position is full-time and hybrid in Rockville, MD. SALARY: Salaries are determined based on several factors including external market data, internal equity, and the candidate’s related knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position. The range for this position is 60k-70k. BENEFITS Employer-paid employee Medical, Dental and Vision Care. Low-Cost Family Health Care offered. Federal Holidays and three (3) weeks’ vacation 401(k) with Employer Match Cross-training opportunities About MELE With over 300 employees and offices in Rockville, MD, Washington, DC, and Albuquerque, NM, MELE is a veteran-owned government contractor empowering its customers with innovative solutions for more than three decades. MELE has team members located across the U.S. and has served more than a hundred countries across hundreds of project locations. The company offers technical, engineering, and programmatic support expertise to a host of U.S. federal and international agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, INTERPOL, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. MELE’s services include national security, intelligence, IT/cybersecurity, facility management and engineering, CBRNE defense and nuclear security, emergency response training/management, and mission and program support. MELE Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. MELE Associates, Inc. is an E-Verify employer.