Sr Business Data Analyst - AI & Analytics

Department:
Technology

Our Company Promise

We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Above all, Employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer.

Job Description:
Job Summary
- This role will serve as a senior analytical partner driving Southwest’s enterprise Analytics & AI initiatives, translating complex business challenges into scalable data and intelligence solutions. This role leads analytical discovery, defines KPIs and reporting standards, and develops modern analytics products that power operational and strategic decision‑making across the organization.

Responsibilities
- Partner with Business Stakeholders to understand operational challenges, strategic priorities, and analytical opportunities.
- Lead analytical discovery sessions and help shape analytics roadmaps and priorities.
- Translate business objectives into analytical roadmaps, requirements, user stories, and measurable outcomes.
- Design, develop, and enhance Tableau dashboards, scorecards, reports, and analytical products.
- Develop advanced SQL and Python-based analytical solutions that support operational and strategic decision-making.
- Define and govern business metrics, KPIs, reporting standards, and analytical frameworks.
- Analyze large and complex datasets to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and operational insights.
- Drive analytical strategy and recommendations that influence operational and strategic decisions.
- Mentor and guide Business Data Analysts on analytical techniques, stakeholder engagement, and solution development.
- Partner with Product Owners to prioritize analytical initiatives and roadmap items.
- Collaborate with Data Engineers to define data requirements, integrations, and analytical data structures.
- Leverage Alteryx workflows where appropriate to support reporting processes, business automation, and analytical solutions.
- Support self-service analytics, AI-enabled analytics, GenBI, and analytics modernization initiatives.
- Present analytical findings, recommendations, and business insights to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
- Drive data validation, reconciliation, and quality assurance activities.
- Participate in Agile ceremonies and delivery activities.
- Create and maintain business documentation, analytical specifications, reporting inventories, and data dictionaries.
- May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders
- Lead business analysis, stakeholder engagement, analytical discovery and roadmap definition.
- Translate business objectives into data-driven requirements, KPIs and reporting solutions.
- Design and develop executive dashboards and analytical insights using Tableau, SQL and Alteryx.
- Conduct data validation, reconciliation and governance activities.
- Mentor analysts and drive reporting standards and best practices.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Advanced knowledge of Python for data analysis, automation, analytical solution development, and business process optimization.
- Advanced knowledge of SQL, relational databases, data analysis techniques, and analytical data structures.
- Advanced knowledge of Tableau dashboard development, data visualization best practices, and analytical storytelling.
- Intermediate knowledge of Alteryx workflows, data preparation, and business process automation.
- Knowledge of self-service analytics platforms, semantic layer concepts, and modern business intelligence architectures.
- Knowledge of AI-enabled analytics, GenBI, and emerging analytics technologies.
- Skilled in stakeholder engagement, requirements gathering, facilitation, communication, and business process analysis.
- Skilled in Agile methodologies and iterative delivery practices.
- Skilled in data validation, reconciliation, and quality assurance practices.
- Ability to transform business challenges into scalable analytical solutions and actionable business insights.
- Ability to define, document, and govern business metrics, KPIs, reporting standards, and analytical frameworks.
- Ability to communicate complex analytical concepts and findings to both technical and non-technical audiences, including executive leadership.
- Ability to mentor analysts and establish analytical best practices.
- Ability to balance business priorities, analytical rigor, and technical feasibility when delivering solutions.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Business Analytics, Data Science, or related field and/or equivalent formal training.

Experience
- Advanced level experience, seasoned and specialized knowledge in: Business analytics, reporting, business intelligence, and data-driven decision support.
- Utilizing one or more business intelligence, analytics, or data visualization platforms (e.g., SQL, Tableau, or similar technologies)
- Utilizing Python for data analysis, automation, and analytical solution development.
- Leading analytical initiatives and partnering directly with business stakeholders.
- Defining KPIs, reporting frameworks, business metrics, and analytical standards.
- Delivering enterprise reporting and dashboard solutions.
- Supporting self-service analytics, business intelligence, and analytics modernization initiatives.
- Mentoring analysts and providing analytical leadership.
- Presenting analytical recommendations and business insights to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
- Working in Agile delivery environments.
- 5–7+ years of relevant work-related experience

Preferred Qualification

- Finance domain exposure, analytics project experience, GenAI/GenBI awareness, and exposure to modern cloud analytics platforms.

Other Qualifications
- Must meet confidentiality expectations as to confidential, proprietary and sensitive Company information
- Ability to work extended hours as needed

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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