Senior Manage Counsel Privacy, Tech, Data & Customer Service

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 Role: The newly created Senior Managing Counsel, Tech, Data & Customer Service (CS) role is a key position within Booking.com's Privacy function. This role will be responsible for leading and overseeing a team of legal professionals while guiding and advising the organisation on how to protect personal data in an ever-evolving risk landscape.

In this role, you will work closely with our Data & AI Governance function, as well as our Data & Machine Learning Platforms team, to ensure that the use of (personal) data at a global scale respects applicable privacy legislation. Your team will also serve as the privacy subject matter experts for our Customer Service Team, which provides the technology for thousands of agents worldwide to provide fast and high-quality support to our customers; and the Central Technology Team in ensuring our global technology stack complies with legal requirements.

A successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Technical knowledge: Solid understanding of enterprise data technology and machine learning at scale
• Risk management: Experience in developing compliance solutions which are resistant against degradation over time, are documented and can be monitored and tested
• Strategic thinking: Ability to think beyond quick wins and perceive long-term opportunities for broad-based risk reduction
• Customer centricity: Keeping the customer's best interests at heart, both in terms of the protection of their privacy as well as the usability of our products and services
• People leadership: Inspiring, coaching and supporting your team members, to allow them to excel and grow
• Cross-functional mindset: Willingness to break through silos, collaborate across teams and departments and pitch in when needed to ensure overall mission success

• Support the business with in-depth legal review, advice and guidance on data protection and data privacy issues and/or risks with any current or potential new initiatives
• Serve as the primary privacy legal SPoC for all matters arising from the Data, Technology and Customer Service functions in the company
• Lead a team that serves as the foremost experts in the privacy legal function when it comes to data governance and technology
• Lead the retention & deletion efforts at Booking.com
• Support strategic, enterprise-wide priorities to mature our data governance and privacy control landscape
• Engage with other Legal & Public Affairs teams and stakeholders to ensure the Legal function speaks with one voice
• Constantly (re)prioritize team workload to adapt to changing circumstances
• Partnering on review, advice and approval of data sharing use cases, data protection and privacy guidance, policies and procedures for the business
• Exercise people management responsibilities, such as performance management and coaching; be accountable for team performance

• Bachelor degree (Master's Degree / Specialised Diploma is an advantage) and admission to practise in at least one jurisdiction
• 8-12 years experience in a reputable law firm or in-house team
• EU, UK or US law degree
• A Batchelors' and/or Masters' Degree, and a legal professional qualification
• Native or fluent English speaking and writing skills
• Knowledge and experience in data protection law; a CIPP/E / CIPT (or similar) certification is preferred
• A deep understanding of GDPR and the e-Privacy Directive how this applies to enterprise and consumer-facing technology; knowledge of DMA/DSA and AI Act is preferred
• Ability to be the "voice of reason" in crisis situations, to quickly respond to issues at hand and to prioritise effectively, with a "customer first" mindset
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral), attention to detail, organizational and project management skills and ability to meet deadlines, prioritising appropriately
• Adaptable, ready to embrace change in order to meet evolving business needs, work in ambiguous situations and under pressure, and learn from mistakes
• Strong ability to lead and inspire a team
• Demonstrated cross-functional project leadership and commercial acumen, with ability to balance risk with business objectives
• Experience in management of and impactful communication with senior stakeholders, effectively communicating complex ideas and projects simply and succinctly
• In-depth understanding of the data and privacy issues that commonly arise in the technology and data space, along with ability to quickly learn and grasp the importance of new and emerging issues and manage processes from inception to completion
• Strong collaborative, professional approach; able to succeed in and lead diverse, multidisciplinary, multicultural teams
• High proficiency in productivity software, and AI platform usage, with a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Alignment with Booking.com's values (Customer First, Succeed Together, Own It, Learn Forever, Do the Right Thing).
• Curiosity, flexibility, and a creative, pragmatic approach to problem-solving.
• Confidence with collaboration.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proactivity, resilience, and a drive to deliver results.
• Strong judgment with attention to both the big picture and key details.
• Courage to take a stance and make tough decisions.
• Team-oriented, self-aware, and a good listener.
• Agility in prioritizing and meeting deadlines.
• Forward-thinking, with a focus on emerging legal and policy issues.

• Being integral to decision-making, shaping Booking.com's future.
• Supporting Booking's mission to make travel accessible, fostering openness and curiosity.
• Offering opportunities for team members to explore new areas or specialize.
• Providing holistic, integrated legal and public affairs advice.
• Continuously improving Legal Operations, innovating, and sharing best practices.
• Learning from mistakes and embracing growth.
• Working collaboratively with a sense of humor and enjoying the journey together!

• 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.