Global Senior Category Manager Procurement Tech

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 - Tech Procurement, Business Applications is a key member of the global procurement team and operates across all Booking Holdings brands. This individual is responsible for developing and executing category and sourcing strategies for third-party services and vendor engagements. The role ensures effective cost management, supplier performance, contractual compliance, and alignment with strategic objectives in a matrixed, multinational environment.

This position requires deep expertise in complex supplier ecosystems and stakeholder engagement and plays a leadership role in enabling procurement-driven transformation and value creation.

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 multi-year category strategies related to business applications, including Sales & Marketing tools, Product tooling (e.g., translation, maps,) DevEx tooling, legal & regulatory tools, and Customer Service tools.
• Build long-term sourcing plans aligned to business objectives and market dynamics
• Drive year-on-year cost savings by optimizing both price and demand levers, in alignment with assigned savings targets and evolving business needs
• Generate additional value beyond cost and price reduction through innovation, process efficiency, supplier collaboration, and risk mitigation
• Conduct market analysis, risk assessments, and opportunity identification to support informed decisions
• Integrate ESG principles where applicable into strategies

Sourcing & Contracting

• Lead and execute end-to-end sourcing processes (RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, contracts)
• Design and implement negotiation strategies to secure best value
• Ensure contracts reflect performance metrics, SLAs, pricing, and IP protection
• Partner with Legal, Finance, and Compliance to ensure contracting and governance adherence

Team Management

• Lead and support a high-performing, inclusive team with clear goals and regular coaching
• Balance resources across strategic and operational priorities, fostering collaboration and ownership
• Encourage continuous learning, growth, and knowledge sharing within and beyond the team

Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Act as the primary procurement interface for internal functions
• Manage relationships with senior stakeholders in Marketing, Legal & Regulatory, Customer Service and other departments to align procurement initiatives with business goals
• Provide strategic counsel and support change management related to procurement processes
• Deliver regular reporting and insights on procurement KPIs and supplier performance

Supplier Relationship Management

• Establish supplier governance frameworks and lead performance reviews
• Monitor delivery effectiveness, cost benchmarks, and service quality
• Drive supplier innovation, diversity, and compliance
• Manage escalations and enforce contractual terms as needed

Contract & Commercial Negotiations

• Negotiate complex commercial agreements and performance-based pricing models
• Ensure adherence to compliance, ethics, and risk mitigation requirements
• Balance commercial interests with long-term strategic relationships

Budget Optimization & ROI

• Support annual budget planning and track procurement-driven contributions to financial targets
• Deliver measurable cost savings and efficiencies without compromising service or brand standards
• Identify and mitigate contractual, delivery, and reputational risks
• Maintain dashboards for cost avoidance, value creation, and performance improvements

Qualifications & Skills

• Master's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Finance, or related discipline (MBA preferred)
• 8-12 years of experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, or Category Management in the Tech/IT category
• At least 7 years focused on complex, multi-category environments within multinational corporations
• 4+ years in people leadership roles
• Experience collaborating with executive-level stakeholders in matrixed setups
• Demonstrated ability to drive significant year-on-year cost savings
• Proven track record in delivering strategic value beyond price, including innovation, risk mitigation, and operational improvement
• Strong understanding of sourcing tools (e.g., Coupa, SAP Ariba), analytics platforms, and contract lifecycle management
• Proficiency in supplier performance and lifecycle management systems
• Knowledge of enterprise processes and global supply market dynamics
• Proficiency in negotiating complex SaaS agreements
• Strong knowledge of contract law
• Experience in leading negotiations/relationships with suppliers such as Salesforce, Google, Amazon Web Services, Sourcegraph, Pega Systems, etc.
• Strategic thinking, negotiation, and relationship-building
• Strong leadership presence and influencing ability
• Collaborative, proactive, and solutions-oriented mindset
• Commitment to coaching and developing high-performing teams

Benefits & Perks - Global Impact, Personal Relevance:

Booking.com's Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, as well unique-to-Booking.com benefits which include:

• 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

Inclusion at Booking.com:

Inclusion have been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations.

Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: "At Booking.com, the diversity of our people doesn't just build an outstanding workplace, it also creates a better and more inclusive travel experience for everyone. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. It's a place where you can make your mark and have a real impact in travel and tech."

We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Application Process:

This section should provide:

• 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.

Booking.com is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We strive to move well beyond traditional equal opportunity and work to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive.

Pre-Employment Screening

If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.

Client-provided location(s): Amsterdam, Netherlands

Job ID: booking-20456

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2025-08-23T18:34:24