Senior Manager - Business Operations and Program Management - Trips

Senior Manager - Business Operations and Program Management - Trips

N.B. This role does not come with relocation assistance , therefore candidates must be currently based in the Netherlands in order to be considered.

Role Overview

The Trips business unit (BU) covers a number of product lines - Flights, Attractions, Car Rental, Airport Taxi and Insurance. Founded in 2021, the BU manages each of these product lines working across 4 core locations - Manchester, Amsterdam, Bengaluru and London. We partner closely with Marketplace, Marketing and other departments to achieve our overall goal of building amazing products and growing these products. Trips has an SBOPC team of 14, with the Director SBOPC sitting on Trips Leadership Team and reporting to the SVP of Trips. This Senior Manager position reports to the Director and is the overall leader for the department on Business Operations and Program Management.

Business Operations at Booking.com is the glue to help it function in the most efficient way possible and with the customer focus at its core. It helps teams to connect the dots and effectively navigate the internal Booking.com organization, the work that is being done, and how it aligns with outcomes towards our Mission, Vision, and Strategy.

• This would be c.75% of the role, both as an individual contributor and working with 1 direct report and several peers to lead and execute Trips BU Business Operations

• This would be c.25% of the role, line-managing, deploying and overseeing a team of 3 program and (sr) project managers operating on different projects across the BU

• Design, implement and/or execute thoughtful, yet simple, processes to increase efficiency and productivity. Drive the optimization of business operations by driving adoption of standardized and possibly more automated processes across the department to increase efficiency and effectiveness while also simplifying where possible
• Support setting the vision, objectives, budget and planning of execution for the department. Effectively lead the adoption of Corporate planning and governance processes through all the different phases, including driving and facilitate cross departments handshakes and dependencies planning process
• Define, execute and manage the rhythm of the business working closely with the Department Leadership Team, ensuring an effective adoption of Corporate cadence ((eg. Quarter Operational Reviews, Strategic Portfolio Management tracking, Planning and Budget, etc) and an efficient governance of the Department. Ideate and implement a cross departmental engagement model to effectively run shared objectives where it is relevant
• Actively manage the Department internal governance (such as OKRs, QPRs, etc) providing insights and recommendations to the Department LT for future evolution of the Trips operating model. Initiates and leads projects aligned to (improve) scorecard KPIs.
• Lead the cross-functional collaboration efforts among various teams, departments, and stakeholders. Acts as a central point of contact, streamlining processes, fostering teamwork, and driving operational efficiency for the governance with the other departments contributing to Trips priorities and objectives.
• Line manage 1 business ops associate - appropriately supporting, challenging and directing them
• Work closely with our 5 Strategy & Operations managers, pulling together the 5 Trips verticals into a coherent operating model. These team members are responsible for busops in the sub-departments of Trips, so effectively have a 'dotted line' relationship to this role, who is responsible for departmental-wide business ops.

• Lead (a portfolio of) highly complex strategic or critical programs (e.g. complex change / transformational /M&A initiatives within the function and organisation).
• Lead by example on Project & Program management craft best practices and behaviours. Provide thought leadership, advice & support on Program Management including setting high quality standards both within the department as well as influence outside.
• Lead a team of (senior) project / program managers in a successful way.
• Lead (change) transformations, integrations or mergers & acquisitions from a program management perspective
• Leads the budget and planning cycle - including prioritization exercise - in collaboration with functional leaders within and outside department

• Independently use quantitative and qualitative data to drive decision making and lead by example
• Be a role model of "Winning together" B.com value. Building and maintain lasting relationships and connections with diverse teams, across the organization and outside
• Strong leadership skills, ability to influence and steer leadership and senior management. Ability to influence VP level and productively interact with SVP level
• Ability to break up highly complex problems into actionable and easy to understand solutions
• Able to function well within ambiguity and in a constantly changing environment
• Ability to think strategically and connect dots where others have a limited view; able to identify challenges and opportunities and drive solutions/actions recommendations and follow up.

• Craft skills: Strong process management and problem solving skills including experience with project / change management approaches and phases. Preferably having a solid data and insights analytical skills, comfortable in facilitating effective governance and business as usual initiatives
• Change management experience (including methodologies and best practices)
• Exemplary role in effective communication, including "embracing change/ growth" mindset. Encourages people to become change agents & embrace change. Explicitly communicates: why change, what will change, how, when, where and whom it impacts (with possible outcomes and costs). Adjusts communication style to the audience to help them understand and accept the change
• Highly organized and structured and make sure all processes run smoothly and in a reliable manner. Able to envision and design effective tools and resources to drive process optimization
• Be able to design and implement processes which aims to improve our internal partners needs and expectations

• 8-12 years of related experience in project management in a complex environment. PMP or similar certification preferred.
• 8+ years of proven record in having led and managed all facets of complex programs in large multinational/matrix organisations, using a range of different methodologies and techniques.
• Prior history of managing Program / Project Managers

• A great, brand new office to in the heart of Amsterdam
• 29 days' paid holiday plus bank holidays
• On-site meals, coffee, and snacks, including healthy and vegan options, daily
• Health & well-being benefits such as mental health support, access to health insurance, etc.
• Employer contribution pension
• Industry-leading parental leave and adoption leave
• From day one of your employment with us, we offer 22 weeks' fully paid leave for all new parents, regardless of gender or the way you become a parent
• Great discounts on accommodation, car rentals and other group benefits
• Carer's leave. 10 days' fully paid leave per year for colleagues who are caring for ill family members.
• Hybrid Working (NL): We believe in office attendance at least 40% of your time whilst empowering you with the flexibility to plan where to do your best work, as well as up to 20 days per year to Work from Abroad* (subject to terms and conditions)