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.

About the team
The Data & AI Governance department enables extending the governance theme of policies, standards, processes and technology for governing data and AI to driving excellence in our approach to leveraging secure, trusted, accessible data for data driven decision making through:

• An overarching Data & AI Policy to include associated standards

• Data & AI Governance, including cataloging, classification, metadata, lineage

• Data Access and Usage Control, in compliance with regulatory requirements

• Data & AI Delivery Governance

• Data & AI Observability and Quality

This enables the maturity of Data and AI capabilities across Booking.com, unlocking data and AI applications as assets for delivering innovative growth opportunities and cost saving operational efficiencies.

Role Description: The Data & AI Governance Manager is an expert in Data & AI Governance, and will contribute to the strategy definition and implementation of Data & AI Governance frameworks, including data cataloging, classification, master data management, lineage, and quality, AI governance, and drive best practice across a broad range of Data & AI capabilities across the company. 

Working with business and technology collaborators to define and implement a Data & AI Governance strategy that is clear, crisp and right sized for business objectives and compliance obligations across Booking.

Key to success in this role is the ability to translate an expert level of Data & AI Governance knowledge into communications and storytelling for executive sponsors and key stakeholders and deliver tangible benefits for the business. 

This role is a mix of leadership (leading a small team of similar specialists) and individual contributor, and it demands skills as an evangelist and a partner - at a time where transformation and modernisation of our data ecosystem is an Org level priority.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties: 

• Contribute to the definition, review, update and roll-out of the Data & AI Governance framework and related standards and guidelines. 

• Play an active role into co-creation with other departments involved in Data & AI Governance

• Partner with the Data & AI Governance Solution Architect in ensuring architecture designs and tooling solutions are embedding Data & AI Governance principles and needs, throughout the Data & AI lifecycle in all strategic Data & AI initiatives and programs.

• Define criteria for the selection of Data & AI Governance tools, participate in PoC evaluations.

• Collaborating with Risk and Compliance to understand Data Governance Risk position and appetite, to communicate, lead and measure mitigation activities and how Data & AI Governance can support the implementation and compliance for Data and AI across Booking.

• Ensure a Data & AI Catalog is available for business and engineering teams, in a user friendly, clear and accessible for all consumers manner.

• Collaborate with Data & AI Stewards to design new strategies, solutions and rules for Data Quality, to ensure data accuracy, consistency and reliability

• Collaborate with Data & AI Engineering Managers to develop strategies and standards for monitoring, failure detection, and data availability, to ensure data and algorithm timeliness and completeness.

• Lead proactive and reactive resolution of Data & AI Governance compliance risks, reporting key KPIs to relevant stakeholders, including the Data & AI Governance boards

• Ensure alignment between Data & AI governance methodology, Data Privacy procedures and requirements, the IT Information Security strategy and any new regulatory compliance such as DMA/ DSA and EU AI Act by working closely with Legal teams. 

• Manage a small team of Data and AI Governance specialists, ensuring people’s performance and wellbeing is balanced

• Help setting up quarterly and yearly objectives, manage the team and their work, execute personal performance reviews.

• Mentor and coach team members

• Improve team routines and processes for better performance, based on the team's delivery. Make sure the team follows the best practices, learn and adopt.

Qualifications and Skills: 

• 5+ years’ experience in designing and implementing Data Governance / Management in large-scale organisations; AI Governance experience preferred.

• Experience with data cataloging tools from the market (Collibra, Informatica, Alation, Atlan, Microsoft Purview, Polaris, etc.) 

• 3+ years’ experience in defining requirements and roadmaps, and managing stakeholders

• Expert knowledge of Data & AI Governance principles, processes and standards.

• Practical experience with data cataloging (preferably in Collibra), data profiling, metadata, data classification, data lineage, master data, critical data elements, workflows, and relative tools from the industry, ideally including tool assessment, rollout and management.

• Good knowledge of Data Ownership and Stewardship structure, definition and onboarding.

• Expert knowledge of implementing and leading Data & AI Governance risk and issue assessment and strategy.

• Good knowledge of Data & AI Regulatory policies, e.g., GDPR, DMA, SOx, EU AI Act, etc., and first-hand experience with regulatory compliance frameworks in complex organizations.

• Experience in leading and motivating a team of resources (up to 5 people)

• Experience in setting up a Data Maturity evaluation framework, in identifying and elevating less mature areas.

• Good knowledge of Atlassian Jira and Confluence.

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 

• Living and working in Amsterdam, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe

• Contributing to a high scale, complex, world renowned product and seeing real-time impact of your work on millions of travelers worldwide

• Working in a fast-paced and performance driven culture

• Opportunity to utilize technical expertise, leadership capabilities and entrepreneurial spirit

• Promote and drive impactful and innovative engineering solutions

• Technical, behavioral and interpersonal competence advancement via on-the-job opportunities, experimental projects, hackathons, conferences and active community participation

• Competitive compensation and benefits package and some great added perks of working in the home city of Booking.com

 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Booking.com: 

Diversity, Equity & 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: 

• Let’s go places together: How we Hire

• This role does not come with relocation assistance.

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.

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.