The role ensures effective cost management, supplier performance, contractual compliance, and alignment with the strategic objectives of the HR & People functions.
This position requires deep expertise in HR, External Workforce programs (contract work, temp labor) & Travel spend categories, and the ability to work collaboratively with senior stakeholders and external partners in a complex matrix environment.
Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:
Category Strategy Development
Understand business needs, strategic positioning, and long-term plans
Analyze industry trends to identify innovation, efficiency, and cost-saving opportunities
Partner with the business to develop and maintain category strategies for HR & Travel.
Build long-term sourcing plans in alignment with business objectives
Drive a cost-conscious approach and work with the business to continuously identify and drive value generation initiatives
Conduct market analysis, risk assessment, and opportunity identification to support informed sourcing decisions
Integrate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles into category strategies where applicable
Lead and develop direct and indirect team members across procurement, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
Sourcing & Contracting
Lead and execute end-to-end sourcing processes including RFP/RFQ design, supplier evaluation, commercial negotiations, and contracting
Design, orchestrate or lead effective negotiation strategies
Ensure contracts address performance metrics, service-level agreements (SLAs), pricing structures, compliance requirements, and intellectual property protection
Collaborate closely with Legal, Finance, and Compliance teams during contracting phases
Ensure adherence to internal sourcing governance and procurement policy throughout sourcing lifecycle
Stakeholder Management & Collaboration
Serve as the primary procurement interface for People/HR teams, acting as strategic partner to business leads
Align sourcing objectives with business needs, business calendar milestones, and brand strategy
Manage senior-level relationships internally and externally to ensure alignment of procurement goals with business priorities
Collaborate with the business to continuously optimise the scope of work and evolving business requirements
Provide regular reporting and insights to stakeholders on supplier performance, risk, and procurement KPIs
Support change management efforts related to agency onboarding, performance frameworks, and contractual shifts
Supplier Relationship Management
Establish governance frameworks for high-value and strategic supplier relationships
Lead the development and execution of supplier performance metrics, scorecards, and periodic business reviews
Monitor partner effectiveness, including delivery quality, innovative output, cost benchmarks, and innovation
Conduct performance reviews, enforce contractual terms, and manage escalations as required
Drive supplier diversity, innovation, and risk mitigation across the supply base
Contract & Commercial Negotiations
Negotiate and manage complex contracts with vendors, including fees, performance-based models, and discounting tiers
Ensure adherence to compliance, ethical standards, and IP protection
Proactively address risk allocation and liability limitations in commercial agreements
Budget Optimization & ROI
Support budget planning and monitor spend efficiency
Deliver measurable savings and value while maintaining brand integrity and creative excellence
Identify and mitigate risks in the supply base, including contractual, reputational, and delivery risks
Track and report procurement-driven value creation (e.g., cost avoidance, value-added services, innovation pipeline)
Qualifications & Skills
- Master’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or Finance or a related field (MBA preferred)
8–12 years of experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, or Category Management, preferably in HR & Travel categories
Minimum of 3 years of experience managing a team within complex, multinational environments
- Proven track record in managing diverse teams of experienced buyers and leading multifunctional teams across regions
- Experience with managing MSP/VMS programs along with consulting sub-categories strongly preferred
This role will require travel mainly to the US/ Thailand/ Romania
Strong knowledge of HR spend categories\
- Familiarity with eSourcing tools (e.g., iValua, Coupa), contract management platforms, and procurement analytics solutions
- Proficiency in supplier performance and lifecycle management
Strategic thinker with strong negotiation and influencing capabilities
High stakeholder credibility and relationship-building skills
Competence in negotiation and conflict resolution
High level of integrity, ownership, and accountability
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with cross-functional and global teams
Booking.com’s Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. We offer a competitive , 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
This section should provide:
Let’s go places together:
Detailed instructions on post-application requirements including any required application materials, deadlines, portfolios, coding challenges, or other assessments as defined by BU or department.
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.
