Data & Policy Analyst (Manager level)

Role Description

Booking.com is looking for a Data & Policy Analyst (Manager), based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to help drive its global Legal & Public Affairs function. Within this environment, the Legal & Public Affairs function is looking for a Data & Policy Analyst (Manager) to help shape global public policy.

The successful candidate will have a key role in shaping global public policy by generating rigorous, data-driven insights that inform Booking.com’s positions on regulatory and political developments across key markets. In this role, you will help ensure that engagement with policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders is grounded in credible evidence, strong analytical foundations, and clear strategic thinking.

You will combine internal data, external research, and advanced analytical tools — including AI-enabled research and coding workflows — to assess policy proposals, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and strengthen the external narrative. From analysing draft legislation and consultation texts to evaluating economic impact assessments and third-party studies, you will translate complex material into actionable insights for senior leadership and public affairs colleagues.

Working at the intersection of data, economics, and public policy, you will help elevate regulatory foresight capabilities, support evidence-based advocacy in competition, consumer, sustainability, and digital policy discussions, and contribute to high-impact research initiatives with external partners. You will play a central role in ensuring that Booking.com’s voice in public debate is informed, credible, and analytically robust.

The successful candidate will report to the Director for Economic Policy & Strategic Engagement. You will work closely with Public Affairs colleagues across multiple regions, as well as with Legal, Product, Data, and senior business stakeholders at the global headquarters in Amsterdam. You will also collaborate with external partners such as consultancies, academics, think tanks, and trade associations to design and deliver policy-relevant research.

This is an opportunity for a curious, analytically rigorous professional who is motivated by the societal impact of digital platforms and wants to help shape policy debates through evidence, insight, and strategic thinking — as part of a dedicated, global team.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:

• Connect internal data, analytical insights, and external evidence to Booking.com’s public affairs strategy and broader societal and policy debates at local, national, and EU level
• Leverage advanced AI tools (e.g. LLM-based research assistants, agentic coding tools, and automated analytics workflows) to rapidly explore, analyse, and synthesize structured and unstructured data — including regulatory texts, consultation responses, parliamentary debates, media coverage, and academic literature
• Translate complex data into policy-relevant insights that inform strategic decision-making in regulatory, competition, consumer protection, sustainability, and digital policy discussions
• Proactively identify emerging political and regulatory risks and opportunities by combining quantitative analysis, text mining, and AI-assisted scenario modelling
• Design and execute policy-focused analyses and studies using internal and external data, including the development of novel datasets, reproducible code workflows, and AI-enabled research pipelines
• Develop compelling, evidence-based narratives that strengthen Booking.com’s external positioning by identifying and visualizing the most relevant and credible data points for policymakers, regulators, and public audiences
• Partner with Public Affairs, Legal, and Product teams to support regulatory proceedings, consultations, and litigation with robust empirical evidence and clear analytical framing
• Conceptualize and manage third-party research projects (e.g. with consultancies, academics, and think tanks), including defining research questions, reviewing methodologies, and ensuring policy relevance and analytical rigor
• Critically assess third-party data, econometric analyses, and impact assessments; translate findings for non-technical audiences; and identify assumptions, limitations, and inconsistencies in the context of public policy debates
• Advise on the design and implementation of internal and external dashboards and monitoring tools that track regulatory developments, stakeholder positions, and policy-relevant performance indicators
• Contribute to building AI-enabled analytical capabilities within the Public Affairs function, including establishing best practices for responsible AI use, reproducibility, transparency, and quality assurance

Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in public policy, economics, international affairs, political science, history, data science, AI, or a related field with strong quantitative and analytical training
• 5+ years of experience in data analytics, economics, public policy, public affairs, or a similarly analytical role
• Strong grounding in statistical and empirical methods (e.g. regression analysis, panel data, causal inference, quasi-experimental methods, and text-as-data techniques), with the ability to independently design and execute robust analyses
• Experience applying data to public policy or regulatory questions (e.g. competition, consumer protection, digital markets, platform regulation, sustainability, or related domains)
• Proficiency in modern analytical tools (e.g. Python, R, SQL) and demonstrated ability to leverage AI-enabled research and coding tools (e.g. LLM-based assistants, agentic coding tools such as Claude Code) to accelerate analysis, explore large text corpora, and build reproducible workflows
• Experience working with both structured and unstructured data, including policy documents, consultation responses, legislative texts, media coverage, or stakeholder materials
• Ability to critically evaluate third-party research (e.g. econometric studies, impact assessments), identify assumptions and limitations, and extract clear strategic implications
• Strong understanding of how company data can be responsibly and credibly used in policy and regulatory discussions
• Proven ability to translate complex analysis into clear, compelling, and policy-relevant outputs (e.g. consultation responses, briefing notes, white papers, executive decks, data visualizations) tailored to non-technical audiences
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively for senior internal stakeholders and external policy audiences
• Demonstrated interest in political, economic, and societal developments, with the ability to connect data insights to broader public affairs narratives

Requirements of special knowledge/skills

• Self-starter with the ability to independently scope, structure, and deliver complex analytical projects while collaborating effectively across Public Affairs, Legal, Product, and Data teams
• Strong influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility and inspire confidence among senior stakeholders through rigorous analysis and clear reasoning
• High level of integrity and sound judgment, particularly when working with sensitive data and contributing to external-facing policy positions
• Hands-on and impact-oriented, with the ability to translate analysis into actionable policy insights and tangible business value
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to distill complex technical or regulatory issues into clear, compelling narratives
• Intellectual curiosity and creativity in applying data and AI-enabled tools to new policy questions; pragmatic in balancing analytical ambition with real-world constraints
• Confident yet collaborative, able to challenge constructively and defend analytical positions while remaining open to alternative perspectives
• Strong prioritization and project management skills, with the agility to navigate fast-moving political and regulatory environments and deliver under tight deadlines
• Ability to connect detail-oriented analysis with strategic big-picture thinking, understanding both methodological nuance and broader policy implications
• Forward-looking mindset with a keen interest in emerging regulatory, legal, and societal developments affecting digital platforms
• Resilient and proactive, with the drive to move initiatives forward and take ownership in ambiguous or evolving contexts

Further traits look for:

• 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

Why join the Legal & Public Affairs Team now?

This is a pivotal moment in e-commerce and travel, and joining Booking.com’s Legal & Public Affairs team provides opportunities to shape the future. As a member of the team you will partner with the business to navigate complex regulations, build new products, and negotiate key deals—while driving ethical, sustainable growth.

Who we are?

We are an award winning team of around 200 professionals from 36+ nationalities, with lawyers qualified in multiple jurisdictions and non-lawyers specializing in public policy, economics, compliance, and risk. The team encourages active participation in the industry and engages with stakeholders on policy issues impacting travel and tech innovation.

As a team, we believe in:

• Being integral to decision-making, shaping Booking.com’s future
• Supporting Booking.com'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!

Benefits & Perks - Global Impact, Personal Relevance:

• 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