Global Category Manager (For independent contractors)

The role owns third-party contracts and relationships for Legal, Consultancy and other Professional Services across Booking Holdings brands, including Booking.com, Agoda, Priceline, KAYAK and OpenTable, Rentalcars.com, with total category spend exceeding $100 million.

The role is based in Amsterdam and operates as an experienced individual contributor. It partners with Legal, Finance, People, Technology, Risk, Security, Procurement leadership and business stakeholders globally to deliver value, manage risk, maintain supplier performance and leave a clear handover at the end of the assignment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and execute category strategies for Legal, Consultancy and other Professional Services, aligned to business priorities and Total Cost of Ownership.

• Deliver continuity for the existing category pipeline, including sourcing events, renewals, negotiations, contracting, supplier governance and handover activities.

• Drive measurable value through demand management, competitive sourcing, benchmarking, rate-card governance, supplier consolidation and process improvement.

• Build trusted relationships with global stakeholders and translate business requirements into clear sourcing strategies, recommendations and decisions.

• Manage key third-party relationships, supplier performance, reporting, risks, escalations and resolution of commercial or operational issues.

• Support Procurement policies, processes, tools and controls, while improving transparency and collaboration across Booking Holdings brands.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 8-12 years of relevant experience in strategic sourcing, category management or procurement, preferably in Legal, Consultancy, Professional Services or another complex indirect category like Financial Services.

• Proven experience developing and executing category strategies and leading end-to-end RFPs, negotiations, renewals and contracting activities.

• Strong understanding of Legal services, Consultancy and Professional-Services supplier markets, commercial models, rate cards and statements of work.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver measurable savings, cost avoidance, risk reduction, service improvements or other value outcomes.

• Experience managing supplier relationships, performance reviews, governance, escalations and contract portfolios.

• Strong stakeholder-management, influencing and negotiation skills, including credibility with senior Legal, business and Procurement stakeholders.

• Ability to work globally across a decentralized, multi-brand organization and collaborate across EMEA, APAC and the US.

• Comfort working independently in a fast-moving environment with ambiguity, changing priorities and complex requirements.

• Strong analytical, project-management, written and verbal communication skills.

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Business, Finance, Law or a related discipline; a relevant professional qualification is a plus.