Senior Managing Council Fintech Privacy & Head of Cyber Legal
Posted on: December 03, 2025 | Job ID: 27455
Company Name: Booking.com
Division: Legal & Public Affairs
Location: Amsterdam, Netherland
Schedule: On-Site (Office-Centric) | Employment Type: Full-Time
Discover Booking.com
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: Your Impact on Global Travel
The newly created Senior Managing Counsel, Fintech Privacy & Head of Cyber Legal role is a pivotal leadership position within Booking.com's legal function. This role carries significant responsibility for leading and overseeing a specialized team of legal professionals while guiding and advising the organization on how to keep personal data safe in an ever-evolving risk landscape.
You will work directly alongside business clients across the organization, drawing upon your comprehensive legal knowledge and sharp business acumen to provide on-the-ground support and proactively identify potential legal risks and issues. Your primary mission is helping the organization protect the personal data of its employees, customers, and partners across all touchpoints.
As Booking.com continues to expand its operations and digital ecosystem globally, a dedicated Senior Managing Counsel with proven experience in cybersecurity and financial/banking products is essential to efficiently and consistently manage and prioritize the high-risk issues that arise from both domains.
This is a unique opportunity to shape an operational function in material ways, particularly in the context of the world's favorite pastime—travel. You'll be at the intersection of technology, privacy law, fintech regulation, and customer protection, making a tangible difference in how millions of travelers experience the world safely and securely.
Your Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Cybersecurity Coordination
You will coordinate personal data security and cybersecurity activities across the entire organization, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements. As part of a cross-functional unit, you'll coordinate and support the management of cybersecurity incidents, bringing legal expertise to bear on critical security events. You'll record, report, and advise on regulatory compliance matters with global privacy, security, and finance authorities, as well as law enforcement agencies when necessary.
Crisis Management & Incident Response
In this role, you must be well-structured, clear, and organized, with an exceptional ability to prioritize and drive progress within a very fast-paced environment. You'll partner closely with technical teams on data incidents, lead the implementation of robust frameworks and policies, and provide authoritative legal advice and guidance on complex cybersecurity issues that arise.
Team Development & Management
You will manage and develop a high-performing team of legal professionals, fostering their growth while building a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning. Your leadership will be critical in creating a team that can handle the sophisticated challenges at the intersection of privacy, security, and fintech.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with other Legal Counsels, the Data Protection Officer, Cybersecurity teams, Risk & Compliance functions, Procurement departments, Booking Holdings Inc. leadership, and other colleagues, as well as outside counsels worldwide. This role requires seamless coordination across multiple stakeholders and geographies.
Global Legal Advisory
Provide comprehensive legal advice for privacy-related matters globally, covering cybercrime, security issues, and FinTech matters across multiple jurisdictions. Your expertise will guide critical business decisions and help navigate the complex regulatory landscape governing travel technology and financial services.
Risk Assessment & Contract Negotiation
Perform thorough third-party services risk assessments and negotiate data processing agreements and data protection issues within commercial contracts with group members or third parties. Your negotiation skills will be essential in protecting Booking.com's interests while enabling business growth.
Process Innovation & Scalability
Support the creation and implementation of efficient and scalable ways of working to enable sustainable business growth. You'll help build systems and processes that can grow with the company while maintaining the highest standards of legal and regulatory compliance.
Qualifications & Required Skills
Educational Background & Credentials
- EU, UK, or US law degree required
- Bachelor's and/or Master's Degree with legal professional qualification
- CIPP/E, CIPT, or similar professional privacy certification required
- 8-12 years of progressive experience in a reputable law firm or in-house legal team
Language & Communication
- Native or fluent English speaking and writing skills are essential
- Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly to non-legal stakeholders
Core Legal Expertise
You must bring hands-on, practical experience in data protection and cybersecurity laws, with a proven track record in privacy compliance and data security implementation. Knowledge and experience in cyber-risk management and a comprehensive understanding of enterprise technology are essential. Experience in the FinTech or Alternative Payment Services Provider industry is highly valued and considered a significant plus.
A deep, practical understanding of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and how this regulation applies to developments in the fields of technology and security is absolutely critical to success in this role. You should be able to navigate the nuances of GDPR across various business contexts and emerging technologies.
Personal Attributes & Soft Skills
Crisis Leadership: You must have the ability to be the "voice of reason" in crisis situations, to quickly respond to issues at hand, and to prioritize effectively with a "customer first" mindset always at the forefront of your decision-making.
Communication Excellence: Excellent communication skills (both written and oral), meticulous attention to detail, strong organizational and project management skills, and the ability to meet demanding deadlines while prioritizing appropriately are all essential.
Drafting Mastery: You should possess excellent drafting skills, able to create clear, precise, and effective legal documents and communications.
Adaptability & Growth Mindset: Be adaptable, with a growth mindset, ready to embrace change in order to meet evolving business needs. You should be comfortable working in ambiguous situations and under pressure, and view mistakes as learning opportunities.
Leadership & Team Building: Demonstrate strong ability to lead and inspire a team, translating company and department strategy into concrete team objectives for yourself and your team members. You should be experienced in successfully managing multiple complex projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and prioritizing appropriately.
Strategic Thinking: Show demonstrated cross-functional project leadership and commercial acumen, with the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives intelligently and pragmatically.
Stakeholder Management: Bring proven experience in management of and impactful communication with senior stakeholders, effectively communicating complex ideas and projects simply and succinctly to executive audiences.
Industry Knowledge: Possess an in-depth understanding of the data and cybersecurity issues that commonly arise in the travel and technology industry, along with the ability to quickly learn and grasp the importance of new and emerging issues and manage processes from inception to completion.
Collaboration Skills: Exhibit a strong collaborative, professional approach with the ability to succeed in and lead diverse, multidisciplinary, multicultural teams across different time zones and working styles.
Technical Proficiency: High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Google Suite (Sheets, Docs), and AI platform usage, with a demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and staying current with technological tools.
Additional Traits We Value
Alignment with Core Values
We seek candidates who embody Booking.com's values: Customer First, Succeed Together, Own It, Learn Forever, and Do the Right Thing. These values should be evident in how you approach your work and interact with colleagues.
Problem-Solving Approach
Demonstrate curiosity, flexibility, and a creative, pragmatic approach to problem-solving. We value legal professionals who can find innovative solutions within regulatory constraints.
Influence & Confidence
Show confidence with collaboration and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization, from team members to C-suite executives.
Drive & Resilience
Exhibit proactivity, resilience, and a strong drive to deliver results even in challenging circumstances. You should thrive in fast-paced environments.
Judgment & Perspective
Possess strong judgment with attention to both the big picture strategic implications and the critical details that can make or break a legal strategy.
Courage & Decision-Making
Have the courage to take a principled stance and make tough decisions when necessary, even when those decisions may not be popular.
Team Orientation
Be genuinely team-oriented, self-aware, and a good listener who values diverse perspectives and creates an inclusive environment.
Agility
Show agility in prioritizing work and meeting deadlines in a constantly evolving business environment.
Forward-Thinking
Be forward-thinking with a focus on emerging legal and policy issues that will shape the future of travel technology.
Why Join the Legal & Public Affairs Team Now?
This is a pivotal moment in e-commerce and travel. Joining Booking.com's Legal & Public Affairs (LPA) team provides you with extraordinary opportunities to shape the future of the travel industry. The LPA team plays a key strategic 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 comprehensive approach offers travelers 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 across multiple jurisdictions, build innovative new products, and negotiate key deals—all while driving ethical, sustainable growth that benefits travelers worldwide.
Who We Are: Our Award-Winning Team
We are an award-winning team of approximately 200 professionals representing 36+ nationalities, creating a truly global and diverse working environment. Our team includes lawyers qualified in multiple jurisdictions and non-lawyers specializing in public policy, economics, compliance, and risk management.
We have been recognized and shortlisted individually and as a team by prestigious organizations including the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Association of Corporate Counsel, Global Competition Review, The Lawyer GC of the Year (shortlisted), Compliance Week, and the Financial Times. These accolades reflect our commitment to excellence and innovation in legal practice.
We encourage active participation in the broader legal and policy community, with board membership and representation at industry bodies at multiple levels. Our Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer currently serves as Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) President for Europe. We also engage proactively with stakeholders on policy issues impacting travel and tech innovation, including through our new public affairs blog, "A World Worth Experiencing."
Our Team Beliefs & Culture
As a team, we believe in:
Strategic Partnership: Being integral to decision-making and shaping Booking.com's future direction, not just providing reactive legal advice.
Mission Alignment: Supporting Booking's mission to make travel accessible to everyone, fostering openness and curiosity about the world.
Professional Development: Offering opportunities for team members to explore new areas of law and policy or to specialize deeply in areas of passion.
Holistic Advice: Providing holistic, integrated legal and public affairs advice that considers the full business context.
Continuous Improvement: Continuously improving Legal Operations, innovating our processes, and sharing best practices across the organization and industry.
Learning Culture: Learning from mistakes and embracing growth, creating a psychologically safe environment for innovation.
Collaborative Spirit: Working collaboratively with a sense of humor and enjoying the journey together, because work should be fulfilling and even fun.
Benefits & Perks: Global Impact, Personal Relevance
Booking.com's Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about comprehensive benefits that support your whole life. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, as well as unique-to-Booking.com benefits.
Time Off & Leave Policies
- Generous annual paid time off to rest and recharge
- Comprehensive paid leave scheme including parental leave, grandparent leave, bereavement leave, and care leave, recognizing the full spectrum of life events
Flexible Working Arrangements
- Hybrid working model including flexible working arrangements that respect your need for focus time and collaboration time
- Up to 20 days per year working from abroad (from your home country), allowing you to explore the world while staying connected to work
Travel & Lifestyle Benefits
- Industry-leading product discounts up to €1,400 per year for yourself, allowing you to experience the platform you're helping to build and protect
- Automatic Genius Level 3 status, giving you the best available rates
- Booking.com wallet credit for additional travel experiences
Additional Benefits
Beyond these highlights, we offer a comprehensive benefits package tailored to our Amsterdam location, including health insurance, retirement planning support, and various other perks designed to support your wellbeing and professional development.
Inclusion at Booking.com: Our Commitment to Diversity
Inclusion has 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. This diversity is not just a statistic—it's the foundation of our innovation and success.
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 fully in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. We are committed to creating an accessible workplace where everyone can thrive.
Our Equal Opportunity Commitment
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 proactively to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive and bring their authentic selves to work.
Application Process: Let's Go Places Together
We're excited to learn more about you and how you can contribute to our mission. When you apply, please ensure your application materials clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the qualifications and responsibilities outlined above.
Our hiring process is designed to be thorough yet respectful of your time. You can expect to engage with multiple team members throughout the process, giving you a comprehensive view of the role, the team, and Booking.com's culture. We'll provide detailed information about next steps as your application progresses.
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 verification of employment history, education credentials, and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position. This process is conducted with full respect for your privacy and in compliance with all applicable data protection laws.
Ready to Make Your Mark?
If you're passionate about privacy, cybersecurity, and fintech law, and you're ready to make a global impact in the travel industry, we want to hear from you. Join us in shaping the future of travel technology while protecting the data and privacy of millions of travelers worldwide.
Apply now to begin your journey with Booking.com's Legal & Public Affairs team.
Booking.com is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and are dedicated to providing an environment where everyone can thrive.
.jpg)
