Localisation Lead - Bulgarian, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian
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.
Team description
The Localization team at Booking.com ensures that the company’s products, content, and customer experiences are tailored to global audiences. They develop and implement localization strategy, manage relationships with translation vendors, set and uphold rigorous quality standards, and collaborate with internal partners like Marketing and Product. The team leverages automation and internal/external expertise to deliver culturally relevant, high-quality translations at scale across multiple languages and regions. Their work enables Booking.com to connect with users worldwide, drive engagement, and support strategic initiatives like the Connected Trip, all while maintaining consistency, accuracy, and effectiveness across diverse markets.
Role Overview
The Localization Lead is responsible for production, delivery and quality of localization for their market and ensures all localization requirements are delivered on time, within budget and in line with local market needs. They help ensure that our platform and channels are culturally resonant, brand-aligned and market-optimized.
In this role, the Localization Lead oversees the quality of their language for all streams of localization, working closely with the central Quality Team. They will monitor and optimise language quality, and identify and escalate systemic issues affecting quality. They will also oversee product testing for their market conducted by third party vendors.
The Localization Lead acts as the ambassador for localization in the market(s), proactively building relationships with key stakeholders. They will also look for opportunities for market-specific localization strategy - as well as informing central localization strategy - to deliver a more locally-relevant and customer-centric experience.
Key Job Responsibilities and Duties
Delivery
- Ensure on-time delivery of localization work for their language(s)/market(s)
Quality Monitoring:
- Monitor quality of localized content for their market, provide feedback to quality vendors, address issues with translation vendors, take a lead role in arbitrations, and escalate recurring issues to the central Quality Team as required;
- Oversee localization product testing for their market;
- Manage localization assets (Localisation Style Guides, Glossaries, Translation Memories);
Vendor Management:
- Assess and onboard new vendors;
- Build and foster rapport with vendor linguists;
Localization services:
- Provide urgent ad-hoc marketing translations as required;
- Provide consultation on selected localisation services such as transcreation, voice-over, post-editing, etc.;
Strategy
- Provide local market perspective to inform central localization strategy as required;
- Identify localization opportunities in customer journey to enhance international customer experience for their market;
- Be ambassador for localization and establish relationships with key localization stakeholders in the market;
- Provide cultural, linguistic, and market consultation to the business as required;
- Facilitate research, experimentation, and A/B testing as required
Role Qualifications and Requirements
- Bachelor degree and above in language, translation, localization or international studies, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years experience in a similar localization role in the online space
- Proven experience in translation, localization and language quality management
- Native level of Bulgarian, Estonian, Latvian or Lithuanian with fluent English
- Experience managing linguistic teams and/or multiple Language Service Providers
- Deep understanding of the end-to-end localization processes
- Good knowledge of localization technology, incl. CATs, TMSs, MT and post-editing
- Good understanding of internationalization with experience in product testing and bug reporting
- Experience in creative writing, media or online marketing industry a plus
- Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills with ability to influence diverse stakeholders across business and leadership levels
- Proven track of conflict resolution and mediation
- Ability to show initiative, work independently, and drive initiatives at strategic level
- Strong business acumen and analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and draw conclusions to make business decisions and drive actions
**Inclusion at Booking.com: **
Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: “At Booking.com, 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.”
Read all about DEI and the Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at Booking.com here
**Total Reward Philosophy: **
- The benefits and perks offered by the company can be found here.
Career Development Opportunities:
- Learn more about Your Career Journey here.
- Become a Mentee and benefit from a mentoring relationship with a more experienced person to help you identify and achieve your professional and personal development goals.
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.