Manager, Communications - North America

At Booking.com, we want to empower everyone to experience the world. Through our products, partners, and people is how we do it. There's a whole planet of possibilities out there, and we bring it all together, in one place. Booking.com (USA), Inc, one of the support companies in the United States, is seeking a full time Manager, Communications - North America to be based in our NYC office

As part of Booking.com's Global Communications team, the Manager, Communications - North America leads strategic communications in the U.S. and Canada to boost brand awareness across audiences.

This role develops and executes media strategies, press materials, and thought leadership initiatives, while managing crisis communications and ensuring alignment with global guidelines.

It provides strategic counsel to business leaders and collaborates closely with regional and global teams. The manager also oversees day-to-day agency operations and partners with teams across Brand Creative, Sponsorships, Paid Media, Public Affairs, and Booking Holdings to drive impactful, cohesive communications.

What You'll Be Doing:

Strategic Communications and Planning:

• Owning strategy and execution of all earned media initiatives in the U.S. and Canada. This includes driving all consumer, corporate, B2B and industry trade strategies to maximize visibility and impact to a multitude of stakeholders including consumers, partners and investors.
• Managing and executing tactics to improve the scale of proactive media engagement by identifying, planning and creating news drivers, and leveraging locally relevant trends to mobilize timely PR activations and materials.
• Developing the company's local spokesperson roster defining strategy for local media training sessions, mapping and counseling subject matter experts with key business priorities and messaging goals to meet business objectives.
• Evaluating and managing Booking.com's participation in regional public-facing events, identifying locally relevant industry events and conferences to increase visibility and identifying appropriate speaking opportunities to define the company's leadership in this area
• Counseling regional business leaders as well as the global PR team on regional corporate and crisis issues that may affect business in the region and leading and reviewing strategies to avoid and mitigate local reputation risks.
• As needed, developing strategic communications plans for corporate and trade initiatives, drafting global communications messaging and presentation materials for global and local spokespeople and creating locally-relevant thought leadership positioning based on global frameworks
• Co-managing corporate and crisis communications initiatives as needed, if and when they arise
• Actively manage PR agencies to support growing brand awareness through earned media, plus hire and onboard new agencies and suppliers as / when may be needed.
• Working with Global Comms team members based Centrally who are focused on specific areas such as Product, Thought Leadership, Employee, Social Media, etc. to ensure a holistic Noram Communications Strategy / Plan is followed so that our messaging in the region is consistent and effective across all audiences and platforms.
• Liaising with other counterparts from other key HQ functions, including Brand, Legal & Public Affairs, Recruitment Marketing, Security and Real Estate, serving as the primary contact for local, cross-functional initiatives

• Develop, review and approve regular press releases, media pitches, messaging and FAQs, etc. to increase visibility and awareness of the Booking.com brand in the market
• Pitch media and speaking opportunities for key executives, ensuring they are aligned to key messaging and in service of business goals
• Develop briefings for key leaders ensuring messaging is aligned with key goals and leaders feel prepared to navigate any situation
• Staff interviews or speaking opportunities with company spokespeople as needed
• Review incoming requests to the team via the media relations inbox and draft responses to media inquiries as needed, ensuring timely responses to stakeholders

• Lead communication efforts for specific issues or crises, including pulling messaging, drafting plans and preparing Q&A materials
• Provide counsel to other teams and leadership during crises, as assigned
• Review crisis communication materials, as needed
• Monitor media for potential issues

• Oversee the development and implementation of multiple campaigns across internal and external audiences, including managing key vendors and agencies
• Contribute to the global campaign strategy, advising on cost-effective plans, messaging and tactics to keep Booking.com relevant and top of mind
• Monitor and optimize campaign performance as needed
• Manage budgets as needed
• Analyze and report on campaign performance

• Oversee execution of communication plans and complex campaign tactics, ensuring deliverables are high quality and consistent with our tone of voice and brand standards
• Approve messaging and content for low-to-medium impact projects
• Develop and/or source creative content (graphics, presentations, videos) for multiple channels and aligned to brand standards
• Contribute to and maintain central messaging documents, ensuring consistency in messaging globally
• Oversee event coordination, ensuring communication events are executed on time and on budget and stakeholders are well informed
• Manage key communication tools to ensure consistent delivery and execution
• Oversee content calendars

• Management of a small team, ensuring work is distributed properly and team efforts are aligned to Global Communications goals
• Coaches and helps drive development of team members, across the wider department
• Hiring manager for their area, accountable for onboarding and building out their team in line with business priorities and needs

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field
• 8+ years of communications and/or related field experience
• Ability to think creatively, approach Communication from new angles, and manage both up and down
• Excellent written & verbal communications skills and presentation skills
• Ability to craft clear, engaging and grammatically sound content for various audiences and platforms.
• Proven success working on major PR initiatives / campaigns, coordinating from start to finish (ideation and budget to planning, production and execution to media relations results)
• Strong media relations experience / knowledge, with key media contacts
• A keen understanding of media and the news cycle with proven success achieving coverage across different media segments
• Clear and strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute multi- platform strategies, often with short lead time
• Experience with stakeholder management and an ability to navigate large global organizations
• Proven success working closely with senior level executives on messaging, speaking opportunities, media requests, internal communications, and more
• Demonstrable experience in issues and crisis management
• Understanding of legal / regulatory considerations and compliance in global communications
• Strong organizational skills, detail-oriented with the ability to multi-task and manage priorities. Advanced project management skills and experience in overseeing multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to establish KPIs and assess the impact of communication strategies through effective measurement and reporting
• Experience in leading teams (internal and external), including hiring, training, and performance management
• PR agency work experience preferred, preferably running global accounts, and/or experience managing an agency
• Tech and/or travel background preferred, with strong experience in both Consumer & Corporate Comms

• Medical, life, and disability insurance
• Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parent, grandparent, bereavement, sick, and care leave
• Industry leading product discounts for yourself, friends, and family
• Free access to online learning platforms, mentorship programs, and a complimentary Headspace membership
• Collaborative, friendly and diverse culture
• Referral Program
• This role does come with relocation assistance
• This role doesn't come with visa assistance
• This role will have a salary range of: $177,300 to $196,000
• Additional Annual or Quarterly bonus potential (role dependent)
• Please note that while our philosophy is the same in every location, benefits may differ by office/country.