Public Affairs Manager - Oceania

About Booking.com:

Booking.com is one of the world's leading digital travel companies, offering a wide variety of accommodations, flights, car rentals, and more to travelers globally. As part of Booking Holdings, which includes brands like Priceline & Agoda, we're at the forefront of innovation and customer service in the travel industry. The Travel Media Network provides cutting-edge advertising solutions to help brands reach our extensive travel audience.

Role Description:

Booking.com, the world's leading accommodation website, is looking for a Public Affairs Manager for Oceania based in Sydney. The Public Affairs Manager will represent the interests of Booking.com before government, political and regulatory audiences and other relevant senior level officials within Japan and the wider Oceania region including New Zealand. Successful candidates will work closely with other parts of the Legal & Public Affairs department, as well as with business units, corporate units and corporate functions, the Accommodations BU, and align with the business priorities of our local and regional partner services offices.

This role contributes to the strategic positioning and reputation of the company among external stakeholders.

Key responsibilities:

External:

• Help develop and implement PA strategy to support business priorities and Booking.com's corporate profile in Australia and to a lesser priority, other markets in Oceania including New Zealand
• Liaise with elected members and government officials on business related public policy issues
• Facilitate high level meetings with key stakeholders, including legislative bodies regulatory bodies, industry association and alliance partners to promote and advocate for the company's PA priorities
• Articulate Booking.com positions in briefing papers, consultation responses, internal and external meetings
• Support the management of our trade association memberships and represent the company

Internal:

• Serve as the key internal advisor/partner for Booking.com Oceania business leaders
• Effectively internally represent the PA function, serving as the PA ambassador to internal stakeholders while also influencing and steering internal stakeholders in decision making
• Ensure continuous monitoring and evaluation of political stakeholder activity and regulatory developments
• Work closely with the broader PA team to align messaging and provide colleagues with a thorough understanding of PA priorities

Role Qualifications and Requirements -

• Bachelor's Degree or higher
• 6-9 years of relevant experience in Oceania, ideally in a government institution in combination with in-house or consultancy experience in the area of public affairs
• Strong influencing skills (particularly to a corporate internal audience) and ability to inspire confidence, as well as the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships at all levels
• Demonstrable knowledge of and experience in influencing policy-making.
• Good understanding of policy and legal challenges facing the tech industry and affinity with the tourism and travel industry in Australia and New Zealand would be a plus
• Excellent oral communications skills and ability to distill complex information into clear messages that will resonate with political and regulatory audiences, as well as into succinct updates for the business teams
• High quality written skills and practical experience in drafting materials for use by regulators, senior executives or politicians
• Experience developing creative and effective public affairs campaigns that underpin the company's business objectives
• Outstanding organizational abilities, in particular, the capacity to manage multiple work streams at one time and the proactivity to drive work programmes forward and co-ordinate the involvement of all relevant stakeholders
• Experience working in fast-paced, multicultural environments
• Experience with managing sensitive reputational issues and/or crises
• Ability to engage directly with policy makers and to act as a spokesperson for the business
• Native English speaker, other languages an advantage
• Self-starter that is also an excellent team player
• Strong influencing skills and ability to inspire confidence, as well as the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships at all levels
• High level of integrity with ability to develop both internal and external credibility
• Hands-on, results-focused and impactful

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
• Industry leading product discounts - up to 1400 per year - for yourself, including automatic Genius Level 3 status and Booking.com wallet credit

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.