Data & AI Governance Senior 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. About the team: 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 to leveraging secure, trusted, accessible data for data driven decision making through: An overarching Data & AI Policy to include associated standards Data & AI Governance, including cataloging, classification, metadata, lineage Data Access and Usage Control, in compliance with regulatory requirements Data & AI Delivery Governance Data & AI Observability and Quality This enables the maturity of Data and AI capabilities across Booking.com, unlocking data and AI applications as assets for delivering innovative growth opportunities and cost saving operational efficiencies. Role Description: The Senior Data & AI Governance Specialist is an expert in Data & AI Governance. This role will contribute to the strategy execution and implementation of Data & AI Governance frameworks and drive best practice across a broad range of Data & AI capabilities across the company. In particular, this role requires a subject matter expert focused on the end-to-end data lifecycle including defining, implementing, and monitoring data retention, deletion, and legal hold across our data ecosystem. This is a ‘bridge’ role where you will translate legal and regulatory requirements into governance standards, assist in creating technical Product Requirement Documents (PRDs) and work alongside engineering teams to ensure our data estate remains compliant, and governed. Key to success in this role is the ability to translate an expert level of Data & AI Governance knowledge into communication and storytelling for executive sponsors and key stakeholders while delivering and highlighting tangible benefits for the business. This role demands skills as an evangelist and a partner, at a time where transformation and modernisation of our data ecosystem is an Org level priority. Key Job Responsibilities and Duties: Contribute to the definition, review, update and roll-out of the Data & AI Governance framework and related standards and guidelines. Lead the end-to-end data lifecycle management process by collecting complex retention and deletion requirements from Legal/Privacy teams and translating them into actionable technical standards and PRDs. Partner with Product and Engineering teams to design and validate automated deletion workflows, ensuring Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) and statutory retention periods are baked into the data architecture. Partner with the Data & AI Governance Solution Architect in ensuring architecture designs and tooling solutions are embedding Data & AI Governance principles and needs, throughout the Data & AI lifecycle in all strategic Data & AI initiatives and programs. Define and implement the operational framework for Legal Holds, ensuring specific data sets are preserved and excluded from automated deletion cycles when required. Draft and maintain the global standard for Data Lifecycle Management (DLM), moving beyond ‘storage’ to focus on active data minimization and disposal. Define and track KPIs for lifecycle health (e.g., deletion success rates, volume of expired data, legal hold coverage) and build monitoring dashboards to ensure compliance. Act as the functional lead in validating that new tooling or in-house builds meet the governance Definition of Done for retention and deletion capabilities. Collaborate with Risk, Privacy, and Security to ensure alignment between Data Governance policies and the technical execution of DMA, DSA, and GDPR obligations. Lead proactive and reactive resolution of Data & AI Governance compliance risks, reporting key KPIs to relevant stakeholders, including the Data & AI Governance boards Ensure alignment between Data & AI governance methodology, Data Privacy procedures and requirements, the IT Information Security strategy and any new regulatory compliance such as DMA/ DSA and EU AI Act by working closely with cross functional teams. Qualifications and Skills: 5+ years’ experience in designing and implementing Data Governance / Management in large-scale organisations; AI Governance experience preferred. Hands-on experience specifically designing and implementing Data Lifecycle Management (DLM), including retention schedules, automated deletion, and archiving strategies. Experience with data cataloging tools from the market (Collibra, Informatica, Alation, Atlan, Microsoft Purview, Polaris, etc.) Proven track record of working directly with cross functional teams including Legal/Privacy counsel to interpret regulations and drafting guidelines for product and engineering teams to execute. Expert knowledge of Data & AI Governance principles, processes and standards. Practical experience with data cataloging (preferably in Collibra),metadata, data classification, data lineage, critical data elements, workflows, and relative tools from the industry, ideally including tool assessment, rollout and management. Expert knowledge of implementing and leading Data & AI Governance risk and issue assessment and strategy. Good knowledge of Data & AI Regulatory policies, e.g., GDPR, DMA, SOx, EU AI Act, etc., and first-hand experience with regulatory compliance frameworks in complex organizations. Experience in setting up a Data Maturity evaluation framework, in identifying and elevating less mature areas. Good knowledge of Atlassian Jira and Confluence. 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: 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.