Senior Managing Counsel Privacy, Marketing, Trips & Insurance

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, Marketing, Trips & Insurance 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 keep personal data safe in an ever-evolving risk landscape. You will work directly alongside business clients, drawing upon your legal knowledge and business acumen to provide on-the-ground support and identify potential legal risks and issues, ultimately helping the organisation to protect the personal data of its employees, customers, and partners.

The successful candidate will have proven experience in:

• Advising on laws and regulations governing e-commerce and marketing, as well as regulatory activity in these areas globally.
• Advising on new product initiatives, including data sharing with sister brands and third parties.
• Collaborating effectively with various senior stakeholders and teams across the business, including legal SMEs across compliance, litigation, and product legal teams.

Team leadership: Translating company and department strategy into team objectives for yourself and your team members, as well as successfully managing multiple cross-functional projects whilst balancing risk with business objectives, meeting deadlines, and prioritising appropriately.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partnering on review, advice, and approval of data sharing use cases, data protection and privacy guidance, policies, and procedures for the business.
• Reviewing changes to global privacy laws, assessing their impact on the business, and advising on commercial and risk-based implementation approaches.
• Providing ad hoc privacy advice on day-to-day matters.
• Maintaining a well-structured, clear, and organised approach, with the ability to prioritise and drive progress in a fast-paced environment.
• Reviewing and approving data protection agreements with third parties.
• Leading and managing a team of legal counsels, driving team growth, development, and effectiveness by mentoring and developing professionals within the function, ensuring alignment with the strategic priorities of the business.
• Working closely with other Legal Counsels, Risk & Compliance, and other colleagues, as well as outside counsels worldwide.
• Providing in-depth legal review, advice, and guidance on data protection and data privacy issues and/or risks with any current or potential new products, initiatives, or processes, including data sharing with sister brands and third parties.
• Establishing lowest risk implementation of products and processes where necessary.
• Partnering on data protection controls and frameworks and providing legal advice and guidance on data protection and data privacy issues.
• Maintaining communication with applicable LPA stakeholders to ensure LPA is aligned and has a One Team voice and mindset in relation to products and services of all Booking.com Verticals, and to avoid LPA silos.
• Performing third party services risk assessments and negotiating data processing agreements and data protection issues within commercial contracts with group members or third parties, including insurance underwriters.
• Supporting the creation and implementation of efficient and scalable ways of working to enable sustainable business growth.

Qualification & Skills:

• Bachelor’s 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.
• Legal professional qualification; CIPP/E / CIPT (or similar) certification is a plus.
• Native or fluent English speaking and writing skills.
• Knowledge and experience in e-commerce, marketing, product, and insurance privacy compliance.
• Deep understanding of GDPR and the e-Privacy Directive, especially as it applies to marketing initiatives.
• Ability to be the “voice of reason” in crisis situations, to quickly respond to issues and prioritise effectively, with a “customer first” mindset.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral), attention to detail, organisational and project management skills, and ability to meet deadlines, prioritising appropriately.
• Excellent drafting skills.
• Adaptable, with a growth mindset, ready to embrace change 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 marketing and product 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 Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Google Suite (Sheets, Docs), and AI platform usage, with a commitment to continuous improvement.

Deadline for applications is 20th November 2025

Further traits we 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 (LPA) team provides you with opportunities to shape the future. The LPA team plays a key role in enabling Booking.com to become a one-stop solution for all travel-related needs, from accommodation to rental cars, flights and attractions, and beyond. This offers travellers what we like to call the ‘connected trip’ – enabling them to book every aspect of their travel experience seamlessly through our familiar, easy-to-use website or mobile app. As a member of the LPA 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. We have been recognised and shortlisted individually and as a team by the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Assoc. of Corp Counsel, Global Competition Review, The Lawyer GC of the Year (shortlisted), Compliance Week and the Financial Times. We encourage active participation in the industry, with board membership and representation at industry bodies at multiple levels, starting with our Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer, who is currently ACC President for Europe. We also engage with stakeholders on policy issues impacting travel and tech innovation, including through our new public affairs blog, "A World Worth Experiencing."

As a team, we believe in:

• 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!

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 as 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

Pre-Employment Screening

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.