Data & AI Governance Senior Operational Excellence Specialist

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. Leadership/Team Quote: 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 for leveraging secure, trusted, accessible data for data driven decision making through: An overarching Data & AI Policy to include associated standards Data & AI Governance including meta and master data management Data & AI Delivery Governance Data & AI Quality including both technical and business quality measures This enables the maturity of Data and AI capabilities across Booking.com, unlocking innovation and business value through leveraging data and AI. Role Description: The Data & AI Governance Senior Operational Excellence Specialist reports into the Change Manager in the Data & AI Governane Team in Data and Machine Learning within Central Tech. The role is responsible for driving process efficiency and effectiveness of Data & AI Governance capabilities and their adoption across the business, with special focus on leveraging an expertly enabled Data & AI Stewardship and Ownership community. Key items in the scope of the role are: Identify, prioritize and deliver on improvement projects, in collaboration with the broader team. Drive improvements in efficiency and/or effectiveness in the processes and playbooks underpinning the adoption of Data & AI Governance. Become a domain knowledge expert within the team and work with the Change Manager to support the communication, training and education of the business on the adoption of Data & AI Governance. Actively engaging engineering teams where appropriate to identify and test improvements Key Job Responsibilities and Duties: Organizational: Contribute to building and implementing a defined method for data driven process optimization to drive efficiency, commercial growth & governance adoption Develop, train and coach process innovation capabilities within the broader federated Data & AI Governance teams/ SMEs in the business domains. Improve efficiency and effectiveness: Identify and prioritize process and system improvement areas using a range of ideation sources within Data & AI Governance Drive process improvement utilizing a pragmatic approach that combines tools like lean six sigma and design thinking Provide regular progress reports to key stakeholders within Data & AI Governance. Collaboration: Drive process and system changes within the department to support local adoption across Booking e.g. Trips, Accommodations, Marketplace, Tax, Finance & Fintech Document and assess implemented solutions to make sure they meet business objectives Serve as liaison between the central Data & AI Governance function and the local business units for the translation of improvement requirements, process recommendations and strategies Work independently with the local business units & host process innovation workshops Role Qualifications and Requirements: 3+ years of hands-on experience leading and delivering projects internationally and with a diverse stakeholder field Proven project management or lean six sigma experience in a service or commercial environment Proven track record working with data and using this to identify and drive change Ability to formulate and mitigate project risks and provide clear and precise project progress updates Attention to detail, adaptability, self-starter, and high degree of personal accountability Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally within all levels of the company Ability and wish to continuously learn new concepts and project methodologies Data and/ or AI Governance experience preferable 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: This section should provide: 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. 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.