Global Senior Category Manager Procurement Corporate Services

About Us: At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We're the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you encounter. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the memories you make. Through our products, partners and people, we make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

The Procurement Senior Manager is a key member of the global procurement team and cuts across all brands They are responsible for developing and executing Category and Sourcing strategies for the procurement of HR & Travel services across all brands

The role ensures effective cost management, supplier performance, contractual compliance, and alignment with the strategic objectives of the HR & People functions.

This position requires deep expertise in HR, External Workforce programs (contract work, temp labor) & Travel spend categories, and the ability to work collaboratively with senior stakeholders and external partners in a complex matrix environment.

This role will be an important part of the Extended leadership team and will help with developing and implementing key procurement strategies within the broader team.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:

Category Strategy Development

• Understand business needs, strategic positioning, and long-term plans
• Analyze industry trends to identify innovation, efficiency, and cost-saving opportunities
• Partner with the business to develop and maintain category strategies for HR & Travel.
• Build long-term sourcing plans in alignment with business objectives
• Drive a cost-conscious approach and work with the business to continuously identify and drive value generation initiatives
• Conduct market analysis, risk assessment, and opportunity identification to support informed sourcing decisions
• Integrate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles into category strategies where applicable
• Lead and develop direct and indirect team members across procurement, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.

• Lead and execute end-to-end sourcing processes including RFP/RFQ design, supplier evaluation, commercial negotiations, and contracting
• Design, orchestrate or lead effective negotiation strategies
• Ensure contracts address performance metrics, service-level agreements (SLAs), pricing structures, compliance requirements, and intellectual property protection
• Collaborate closely with Legal, Finance, and Compliance teams during contracting phases
• Ensure adherence to internal sourcing governance and procurement policy throughout sourcing lifecycle

• Serve as the primary procurement interface for People/HR teams, acting as strategic partner to business leads
• Align sourcing objectives with business needs, business calendar milestones, and brand strategy
• Manage senior-level relationships internally and externally to ensure alignment of procurement goals with business priorities
• Collaborate with the business to continuously optimise the scope of work and evolving business requirements
• Provide regular reporting and insights to stakeholders on supplier performance, risk, and procurement KPIs
• Support change management efforts related to agency onboarding, performance frameworks, and contractual shifts

• Establish governance frameworks for high-value and strategic supplier relationships
• Lead the development and execution of supplier performance metrics, scorecards, and periodic business reviews
• Monitor partner effectiveness, including delivery quality, innovative output, cost benchmarks, and innovation
• Conduct performance reviews, enforce contractual terms, and manage escalations as required
• Drive supplier diversity, innovation, and risk mitigation across the supply base

• Negotiate and manage complex contracts with vendors, including fees, performance-based models, and discounting tiers
• Ensure adherence to compliance, ethical standards, and IP protection
• Proactively address risk allocation and liability limitations in commercial agreements

• Support budget planning and monitor spend efficiency
• Deliver measurable savings and value while maintaining brand integrity and creative excellence
• Identify and mitigate risks in the supply base, including contractual, reputational, and delivery risks
• Track and report procurement-driven value creation (e.g., cost avoidance, value-added services, innovation pipeline)

• Master's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or Finance or a related field (MBA preferred)
• 8-12 years of experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, or Category Management, preferably in HR & Travel categories
• Minimum of 3 years of experience managing a team within complex, multinational environments
• Proven track record in managing diverse teams of experienced buyers and leading multifunctional teams across regions
• Experience with managing MSP/VMS programs along with consulting sub-categories strongly preferred
• This role will require travel mainly to the US/ Thailand/ Romania
• Strong knowledge of HR spend categories\
• Familiarity with eSourcing tools (e.g., iValua, Coupa), contract management platforms, and procurement analytics solutions
• Proficiency in supplier performance and lifecycle management
• Strategic thinker with strong negotiation and influencing capabilities
• High stakeholder credibility and relationship-building skills
• Competence in negotiation and conflict resolution
• High level of integrity, ownership, and accountability
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with cross-functional and global teams

• Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parent, grandparent, bereavement, and care leave
• Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country)
• Industry leading product discounts - up to 1400 per year - for yourself, including automatic Genius Level 3 status and Booking.com wallet credit

• Let's go places together: How we Hire
• Detailed instructions on post-application requirements including any required application materials, deadlines, portfolios, coding challenges, or other assessments as defined by BU or department.