Partner Solutions Architect - Hotel Chains

Booking.com - world’s #1 accommodation site and 3rd largest global e-commerce player - is looking for Partner Solutions Architects to join the Connectivity Partnerships Team based out of the US (Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas or New York). 

The Connectivity Partnerships Team is managing the ecosystem of technology companies, who are providing IT solutions for our accommodation partners, ranging from channel management to Property Management Systems and from online booking engines to Revenue Management. The objective of the Connectivity Partnerships team is to become the trusted advisor for Booking.com’s Connectivity Partners. To develop existing and recruit new connectivity partnerships, to drive a joint and healthy business operation and accelerate on a mutual growth ambition.

As the world’s leading accommodation site, Booking.com is at the center of a fast transforming market where guests expect the best possible experience in arranging their travel accommodation. To lead this transformation and to deliver on Booking.com’s mission, it’s of strategic importance to drive a high adoption of the products and connectivity innovations by Booking.com’s eco-system of Connectivity Partners.

The Partner Solutions Architect is a technical professional in the Connectivity Partnerships Team working with our most strategic partners (Global Chains and Premier Connectivity Partners) on technical and transformational projects. In this role you will lead the design and implementation of technical solutions to help Connectivity Partners optimize, scale and respond to market opportunities in alignment with our strategy. 

As a Partner Solutions Architect, you'll be driving the technical decision at our Connectivity Partners. You help them understand our products and services and guide them to implement technical solutions to enable their business. You support architecture design and drive proof-of-concepts to demonstrate customer success. You stay on top of industry trends and guide Connectivity Partners on technology opportunities that enable mutual growth.  

Internally you will partner with product management and software development teams to deliver feature enhancements to accommodate the needs of Connectivity Partners and Chains. You will collaborate with Regional Connectivity Partner and Chains teams around the globe to define the technical account direction.  

To be successful it's required you have related experience in technical pre-sales or technical consulting roles. You have a proven track-record in leading architecture and implementation discussions with senior executives.  You are  well versed in pitching technical solutions backed up with business data to Connectivity Partners and internal product teams. You are an excellent communicator with strong presentation skills who strives to consistently meet or exceed partner expectations.

B.Responsible

• Establish deep relationships with the IT decision makers of Global Chains & Premier Connectivity Partners with the aim to drive value-add to their company and Booking.com.
• Build up a thorough understanding of the technical systems of our Global Chains and identify, validate and grow opportunities to accelerate the adoption of our product innovation.
• Lead mapping of business challenges to architecture/technology solutions while taking a systems-wide view of the partner's existing solution landscape.
• Define the high level architecture of potential connectivity solutions between Booking.com and 3rd party software.
• Create the business case to justify the creation or revision of internal technical solutions using qualitative & quantitative data. 
• Drive consensus from internal stakeholders in the various product teams to prioritize the technical development of the solution. 

• Influence Global Chains IT decision makers to prioritize the creation or implementation of technical solutions which increase joint commercial value. 

• Act as a trusted advisor to our Global Chains and establish joint technical roadmaps.

• Work closely with Key Account Managers and/or Partner Business Managers to ensure the development and implementation of technical solutions for the respective Chain/Connectivity Partner are part of the overall account strategy. 

• Oversee the delivery of technical transformation projects to Chains and/or Connectivity Partners. Manage scope changes, overall timelines and keep stakeholders informed. 

• Build and improve Connectivity Partner’s technical capabilities around the Booking.com platform and infrastructure, by developing and delivering a scalable learning path and technical (Architecture) workshops.
• Enable the Connectivity Partner in identifying technology opportunities that enable and/or support the creation of differentiated offers in the market.

B.Skilled

• BA/BS in Computer Science, Information Technology or related field experience required.

• 5-7+ Years in technical architecture, technical presales or technical consulting role. 

• Deep understanding of cloud computing technologies, solution architecture within web and mobile environments, business drivers, and emerging computing trends. Tech experience in the hospitality industry is desirable. 
• 7+ Years experience in customer facing roles with a proven track record of effective collaborations across multiple internal organizations and interactions with partners. 
• Ability to assess and advise on existing application architecture.
• Understanding of programming languages and application & networking architecture. 
• Experience in creating business cases for technical solutions using qualitative & quantitative data.   
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are a must. Past experience writing and publishing technical whitepapers desirable. 
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to meet tight deadlines in an environment with competing priorities.
• A self-starter with a proactive attitude, motivated by the end result. Driven by your own performance, yet actively able to contribute to a team.
• Willing to face all challenges with enthusiasm, and positivity. 
• Ability to solve complex problems, deal with constraints and can come up with creative solutions.
• Fluent in English both spoken and written, additional languages are a plus.
• Results driven – excels in getting things done.
• Ability to effectively network within a fast growing and changing organization.
• Availability up to travel up to 30% of the time.