Manager - Strategy and Business Operations

N.B. This role does not come with relocation assistance , therefore candidates must be currently based in the UK in order to be considered.

Role Description

While we are well known for our experience and selection in Accommodation, the Trips BU is pivotal to our ambition to make it easier to travel the world by offering a multi-product and full trip experience. Today you can book Accommodations, Flights, Taxis, Rental Cars and Insurance on but we are just getting started to make this a seamless experience. Our Trips BU mission is to make it easier for everyone to go where they want and do the things they love.

The Trips Business Unit Data Family plays an essential role in enabling both the broader Connected Trip vision and our Trips vertical strategies, for example by driving Data democratisation, modernisation and compliance as well as customer centric metrics. The Strategy and Business Operations Manager will be responsible for shaping a robust strategy, operational governance and program management of key work streams

The Strategy and Operations Manager will be part of the Trips Data Leadership Team (LT) and support the Director and the rest of the LT to make sure ambitious 2026+ objectives are molded and met.

Role & Responsibilities

Strategy (c.30% of role and rising)

• Collaborate with the Director, with input from the Data LT to shape a long term strategy and vision, ensuring line of sight to Trips and overall Strategy

• Work with the Data LT and Data Management Teams teams to translate the key elements of the strategy into discipline and team level visions, roadmaps and goals

• In partnership with Product leadership, drive the quarterly planning process and make sure it has the right buy-in from all the different Trips verticals and horizontal teams

• Work in partnership with the Product and Tech teams to challenge the track level goals and metrics to make sure they are fit for purpose and consistent with the Trips vision

• Shape and lead a comms and change management strategy to promote, validate and protect the team's strategy and vision

• Have a direct business impact through cross team and cross BU partnering and championing of innovation initiatives - including AI adoption (i.e. find ways to accelerate delivery and scale it beyond team or BU)

• Identify strategic opportunities to optimize data asset or Data Product design

Business Operations (c.40% of role):

• Refine the operating model for the management team. This includes setting up the governance for the different areas, identifying the right cadence and facilitating key meetings

• Make sure that the whole team is fully and correctly embedded into the Trips Operational cadence, such as OKRs updates and leadership updates.

• Support the preparation of Quarterly Planning Reviews with BU leadership, by making sure they include accurate and balanced reviews and updated and inspiring forward plans

• Support the Data team to drive an effective engagement model with all the other parties they collaborate with. This includes having a strategic intake process, a logical prioritization and a smooth way to engage and collaborate with the Trips verticals and other (sub-)departments (eg. ML, Customer Insights)

• Support leadership with the definition and delivery of the communications strategy, including a clear process to grant visibility to the Data team initiatives and strong engagement with stakeholders

• Strategic planning & Business Operations: Supports the budget and planning yearly cycle, driving some workstreams

• Develop a cross-team culture health overview, proactively identifying opportunities for improvements or flagging risks, with a particular mid-term eye on improving fluidity and consistency between teams

Program Management (c30% of role):

• For high risk, profile or need initiatives, provide Program Management oversight, direct steering or consultancy - depending on need

• Responsible with limited to no supervision to define scope, kick-off, manage and execute every phase of initiatives related to the areas, specifically:

• Create clear planning documents and roadmaps together with involved teams and departments such as Data

• Collaborate closely with TPM colleague(s)

• Implement the right level of control for the planned milestones and make sure the eventual critical dependencies are highlighted and mitigated.

• Establish a solid governance routine which involves (sr) mgmt updates and reporting. Holds stakeholders and business partners accountable for next steps and objectives and proactively identifies risks and issues.

• Enables teams & leaders to make quality decisions and supports prioritization exercises.

• Think customer first by identifying opportunities to improve the impact & experience for our customers (internal or external), partners and our business.

• Establish a productive working relationship between all the involved teams and functions to deliver against our strategy.

• Productively interact with and manage senior stakeholders (up to VP level)

• Create and drive programme portfolio-level risk management for the Data Function

Requirements

The below requirements play to the broad range of experience and skills typically needed to be successful in this role, but expert level in all is not expected.

• Collaboration, innovation and a drive to be the catalyst that helps the Data Family deliver exceptional impact are the essential requirements.
• Proven track record in delivering measured business outcomes through leading high complexity technology or data programmes and project portfolios
• Strategic mindset and business strategy background
• Ability to lead change and tailor engagement tactics to the audience
• Have a solid business understanding, independently use quantitative and qualitative data to drive decision making
• Analytically skilled and mastering data handling and measuring success, ability to tell a clear story with data/insights
• Think holistically and be able to articulate long term vision for the wider team and own programs
• Strong interpersonal skills focused on collaboration. Building and maintaining lasting relationships and connections with diverse teams, across the organization and outside
• Be able to effectively communicate with people of diverse background, seniority and domains including large audiences while building and maintaining lasting relationships. Skilled communicator and proven relationship builder, able to operate within a multitude of formal and informal networks while managing the competing interests of varied stakeholders.
• Ability to influence and steer leadership, senior management and groups (up to Senior Director level). Can productively interact with VP level
• Ability to break up a complex problem into actionable and easy to understand solutions.
• Able to function well within ambiguity and in a constantly changing environment
• Degree or equivalent level of education

Benefits & Perks: Global Impact, Personal Relevance

's total rewards philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. Our rewards are aimed at making it easier for you to experience all that life has to offer - all the messy, beautiful, and joyful bits - on your terms. So you can focus on what really matters. We offer competitive compensation as well as thoughtful, valuable, and even fun benefits which include:

• A great, brand new office to in the heart of Manchester

• Free breakfast and lunch

• 25 days' paid holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata)

• Health & well-being benefits such as mental health support, access to health insurance, etc.

• Employer contribution pension

• Industry-leading parental leave and adoption leave

• Great discounts on accommodation, car rentals and other group benefits

• Hybrid Working (UK): We believe in office attendance at least 40% of your time whilst empowering you with the flexibility to plan where to do your best work.

Inclusion at

Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: "At , the diversity of our people doesn't just create a unique 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."

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.