Senior Managing Counsel, Employment (WOCO)

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.

Role: The Senior Managing Counsel is a key member of the Employment & ERO team, within the Legal & Public Affairs function. This role is a subject matter expert in Dutch (NL) employment law, providing leading advice on legal matters and trends relating to predominantly NL employment law as well as global projects that require (global) employment law assistance. The Managing Counsel manages strategic/high value collective and individual employment litigation, with a focus on NL but also encompassing global employment law projects.

The Senior Managing Counsel manages the ERO function. In this capacity, they maintain an overview and safeguard a consistent global works council strategy across the different projects and initiatives in which the Employment Law team is involved. The ERO function - as overseen by the Managing Counsel - is responsible for the effective coordination and centralised communication with the NL works council, and is their central/first point of contact. The Senior Managing Counsel has awareness of and, where necessary, supports the execution of global consultation requirements, led by local HR teams and supported by the wider Employment law team.

As a manager of approximately two people, this role requires direct coaching and professional development skills.

This role will work closely with the Head of Employment NL, the Senior Managing Counsel EMEA/APAC and the Senior Managing Counsel UK/Americas, who oversee all employment law matters from a geographical perspective, and who will follow and support the global works council- and consultation strategy as set by the Managing Counsel Employment & ERO, across the different projects and initiatives. The Senior Managing Counsel works closely with senior business leaders on employment legal and works council strategy.

Day-to-day, the Senior Managing Counsel will combine strong strategic and analytical skills and hands-on knowledge of employment law with excellent interpersonal skills. They will demonstrate the ability to work independently and flexibly in Booking.com's fast-changing environment. The Senior Managing Counsel works with senior leaders across the Company and requires strong influencing and relationship building skills. The role is of a strategic nature and comprises a broad spectrum of activities that add value to the Company and support the Company in achieving its strategic goals.

This role is based in the Netherlands.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:

The tasks and responsibilities of this role are focussed on three key areas: (i) providing general employment legal support and advice in NL and global matters; (ii) managing strategic employment litigation; and (iii) managing the ERO function, with a focus on the Netherlands, but with accountability for the global strategy.

The following tasks and responsibilities are key to this role:

Next to their employment law role (which involves strategic litigation), this person will manage the ERO function and will keep the overview and safeguard a consistent global works council strategy across the different projects and initiatives that the Employment legal team are involved in..

• Managing the ERO (Employee Relations Office) function of the Employment Legal team, identifying risks and opportunities to safeguard an effective and efficient working relationship between the Company and the NL works council.
• Setting the NL works council strategy and safeguarding consistent implementation of this strategy across the different projects and initiatives that the Employment Legal team are working on.
• Setting the centralized, overarching global consultation strategy, liaising closely with the local HR teams and wider employment law team.
• Drive strategic litigation(s) in individual and collective employment law cases.
• Provide advice on the full range of (Dutch) employment law and HR practice areas.
• Contribute to (global) projects/initiatives based on general knowledge of labour laws.
• Contribute legal expertise to a wide range of HR activities such as employment conditions, organisational changes, disciplinary actions, employment contracts, investigations, managing sick employees, dismissals and settlement agreements, engagement with trade unions and works councils.
• Align business strategy and corporate activities (including transactions) with local employment law requirements.
• Proactively keep up with new legislation, case law and market development to anticipate any upcoming legal change and ensure Booking.com is compliant.
• Proactively inform and train the HR department on new developments in Dutch employment law.
• Provide pragmatic and effective legal support to manage employment law and HR-related risks.
• Advise on and assist with employee representation/works council/trade union matters.

• Bachelor degree (Master degree / specialised diploma is an advantage), and admission to practise law in at least one jurisdiction
• 8 - 12 years experience in a reputable law firm or in-house team
• Qualified to practice law in the EU, UK, or US.
• Native or fluent English speaking and writing skills.
• Adaptable, with a growth mindset, 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
• Experience in translating company and department strategy into team objectives for yourself, and your team members
• Experience in management of and impactful communication with senior stakeholders, effectively communicating complex ideas and projects simply and succinctly
• In-depth understanding of the legal issues that commonly arise in the industry, along with ability to quickly learn and grasp the importance of new and emerging issues and manage processes from inception to completion
• Experience negotiating with trade unions, works councils and other employee representative bodies
• Excellent drafting skills and attention to detail
• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects or a portfolio of projects whilst meeting deadlines and prioritising appropriately.
• Demonstrated cross-functional project leadership and commercial acumen, with ability to balance risk with business objectives.
• Strong collaborative, professional approach; able to succeed in and lead diverse, multidisciplinary, multicultural teams.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Google Suite (Sheets, Docs), 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.