Senior Tech Ops Project Manager - DMX

Department:
Technical Operations

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:

As a Senior Tech Ops Project Manager, you’ll lead either aircraft retirement projects or aircraft lease return projects for Southwest Airlines. You’ll guide initiatives from planning through completion, aligning cross-functional Teams, Leaders, business partners, and vendors around project scope, schedules, budgets, risks, and expected outcomes. Your ability to navigate challenges, influence without authority, and keep stakeholders connected will be critical to delivering these projects successfully. You’ll provide clear communication to Senior Leaders and Executives, support change management, oversee project financials, and identify opportunities to improve project management practices. You’ll also mentor other Project Managers and help strengthen the Team’s technical and professional capabilities while supporting Southwest’s operation and long-term business strategy.

Additional Details

- The culture of Southwest Airlines means we value the camaraderie, collaboration, and innovation that occurs when we come together and interact face-to-face at our vibrant Corporate Campus. Due to the nature of this role, you would be required to work from our Dallas, TX Headquarters facility during business hours.
- U.S. citizenship or current authorization to work in the U.S. required and no current or future work authorization sponsorship available.

We’re committed to fair hiring practices and to making employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics.

Responsibilities

- Define project plans for multiple simultaneous projects, varying in level of complexity including scope, budget and schedule, risks and issues. Executes tasks defined in the project plan to achieve project goals
- Validate and define project scope and drive alignment with Customers, utilizing this to develop objectives and goals
- Establish clear lines of communication with all key stakeholders within and outside of Technical Operations, ensuring alignment on scope, expectations, deliverables, and timelines throughout the project lifecycle.
- Use standard project management methodologies and practice, adjusting to the needs of the projects
- Partner with resource managers, business partners, and vendors to assemble a project Team and provide ongoing motivation to drive projects to completion
- Lead and facilitate project meetings and presentations to Leadership, including Sr. Leadership and Executives
- Proactively monitor and communicate risks, issues, and scope, ensuring the appropriate level of priority, mitigation strategy, contingency plans, visibility, and escalation
- Lead change management activities, ensuring smooth transitions and adoption of new processes or technologies by the impacted teams
- Resolve conflicts effectively by mediating between stakeholders and fostering collaboration to maintain project momentum
- Build trust and influences without authority cross-functionally and across diverse teams
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement within project teams, providing coaching and support to develop Team members’ skills and enhanced performance
- Encourage innovation and process improvement within the project management framework, ensuring best practices and emerging technologies are leveraged for maximum efficiency and impact
- Support business case development and validation to drive alignment with Customers and Partners
- Facilitates appropriate alternative solutions and articulates cost/benefit options
- Provides critical feedback to project stakeholders and/or their Leaders to achieve project goals
- Oversee financial aspects of projects, including cost management, resource allocation, and budget tracking to ensure efficient use of resources and adherence to financial targets
- Serves as a mentor to other Project Managers on the team to develop technical PM skills and professional skills
- Must be able to meet any physical ability requirements listed on this description
- May perform other job duties as directed by Employee’s Leaders

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

- Advanced level knowledge of project management processes, problem management tools and procedures with a rigorous strategic approach
- Expert skill in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
- Skilled in presenting findings, solutions, recommendations, project updates, in an executive summary format to include data and substantiation to support the message
- Skilled in leading large cross-functional teams to deliver on timelines and scope, such as technology implementations or business process improvements
- Advanced skilled in project management tools such as MS Project, think-cell, Visio, MS Office Suite including SharePoint, PowerPoint, etc.
- Ability to gather requirements across cross functional work groups, create meeting minutes, action item lists, and drive assigned actions to close
- Expert ability to effectively listen to, understand, and communicate ideas presented in writing and/or in speaking with all levels of the organization, including Sr. Leadership and Sr. Executives
- Ability to quickly understand assignments and complete them autonomously
- Ability to lead, manage, and direct resources with no formal or written authority
- Ability to drive teams to execute to project plan
- Experience and solid understanding of project budgeting, funding, and tracking variances.

Education

- Required: High School Diploma or GED

Experience

- Expert level experience, seasoned and specialized knowledge in: Coordinating, managing and aligning cross-department stakeholders
- Developing and working with project schedules or integrated project schedules
- Identifying and managing issues and risks

- Preferred: Knowledge of aircraft and engine terminology

Licensing/Certification

- Must be able to obtain a SIDA (Secured Identification Display Area) badge and meet all local airport requirements

Physical Abilities

- Ability to perform work duties from [limited space work station/desk/office area] for extended periods of time
- Ability to communicate and interact with others in the English language to meet the demands of the job
- Ability to use a computer and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed and accuracy to meet the demands of the job

Other Qualifications

- Must maintain a well-groomed appearance per Company appearance standards as described in established guidelines
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must be able to comply with Company attendance standards as described in established guidelines
- Ability to travel 10-30% of time depending on need for local field support

Pay & Benefits:

Competitive market salary from $132,200 per year to $146,900 per year* depending on qualifications and experience. For eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles, additional bonus opportunities are available and awarded at the discretion of the Company.

Benefits you’ll love:

- Fly for free, as a privilege, on any open seat on all Southwest flights (your eligible dependents too)
- Southwest will help fund your Retirement Savings Plan, which includes a dollar for-dollar 401(k) Company match contribution of up to 9.3% of your eligible earnings**
- Potential for annual profit-sharing contribution in the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan—when Southwest profits, you profit***
- Competitive health insurance for you and your eligible dependents
- Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You'll have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan, and coverage will be retroactively available to your first day of employment.
- Explore more benefits you’ll love: https://careers.southwestair.com/benefits

*Pay amount doesn’t guarantee employment for any particular period.

**401(k) Company match contributions are subject to the plan’s vesting schedule. Match contributions may vary based on the position.

*** Profit-sharing contributions are subject to the Retirement Savings Plan vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company.

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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