Case manager (For contingent workers)

A key focus for 2026 is enhancing our organizational capability in long-term sickness prevention and reintegration. As we simultaneously transform our People Operating Model at Booking.com, we are establishing a small, highly skilled, dedicated team to lead the resolution of complex long term sickness cases and support the transition into the new People Operating Model.

Role Purpose

This is a high-intensity, 6-month assignment for a specialist who excels in the "gray area" of Dutch labor law and employee relations. While an internal dedicated Reintegration Advisor manages the technical compliance and Dutch Gatekeeper Act (Wet Verbetering Poortwachter) obligations, your role is to lead the resolution of cases where sickness is just one layer of a more complex problem (e.g., workplace conflict, performance issues, or legal deadlock).

You are the "closer" for cases that are stuck, ensuring they move toward a sustainable resolution and do not result in avoidable long-term liability.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Collaboration: Partner closely with the Reintegration Advisor. While they handle the "medical/compliance" track, you own the "strategic/conflict" track to ensure both tracks move in sync toward resolution;

  
  

• Complex Case Navigation: Take the lead on a portfolio of high-risk cases where medical issues are intertwined with non-medical factors (disputes, compliance, or performance concerns);

  
  

• Conflict Resolution: Act as the primary driver in cases requiring mediation-style interventions or tactical legal exit;

  
  

• Tactical Advice to Managers: Provide "firm-but-fair" guidance to People Managers, helping them navigate the complexities of managing an employee in complex situations;

  
  

• Risk & Sanction Mitigation: Proactively identify cases trending toward a 3rd-year wage penalty or UWV sanction and intervene to change the trajectory.

  
  

• Transition to new OpModel: Nearing the end of your assignment you will partner closely with the new team that will take responsibility for complex case management.

Required Experience & Profile

• Advanced Dutch Labor Law Knowledge;

  
  

• Experience in resolving "stuck" employment situations through negotiation, settlement agreements, or conflict intervention.

  
  

• You understand how to work effectively alongside a Reintegration Advisor without duplicating their compliance-focused work.

  
  

• Comfortable operating in high-friction environments with senior stakeholders and legal counsel.

  
  

• You are focused on resolution (reintegration elsewhere, settlement, or cleared conflict) rather than just process management.

The payrate for independent contractors is 35-85 EUR/hour.