Job Description

Position Summary:

The Manager Charters Planning oversees the end-to-end lifecycle of all charter activities, including but not limited to marketing and sales, contract negotiation and execution, day-of-operations planning, and billing and reconciliation. The role drives charter sales growth by promoting the JetBlue experience and developing strategic relationships with key decision-makers and travel managers within organizations. This position involves strategic planning, business development, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver an excellent flight experience for charter customers while ensuring operational excellence and balancing company priorities.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Define overall marketing and sales strategy for charter flights, including managing relationships with third party charter brokers.
• Clearly define and communicate our unique competitive advantages.
• Develop new business (including but not limited to: collegiate and professional sports teams, corporate group travel, VIP travel) and manage existing accounts to achieve incremental revenue and market share goals.
• Respond to Request for Proposals (RFPs) and negotiate commercial contract terms and service level agreements for existing and newly-identified charter customers.
• Collaborate with System Operations, Network Planning, and Crew Planning to evaluate aircraft availability, routing feasibility, and crew needs for each potential charter contract.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders and business partners to ensure logistical planning is completed for each charter flight including ground handling, catering, crew, and day-of operations readiness.
• Coordinate with cross-functional stakeholders to identify and implement improvements to charter operational planning processes, driving efficiency and operational readiness.
• Coordinate closely with the Director of Operations (DO) and the System Operations Center (SOC) Duty Director to ensure charter flights are conducted in accordance with the air carrier’s operational control system, as required by 14 CFR Part 121 and FAA Advisory Circular 120-101.
• Oversee the assessment and coordination of charter flights to airports not listed in OpSpec C070, ensuring operational feasibility and alignment with regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with the finance department to understand all financial requirements for billing and reconciliation of each charter.
• Brief senior leadership and all applicable departments on upcoming charters.
• Coordinate all contracts with the legal department.
• Define and monitor key performance metrics and implement new programs as needed.
• Take a significant role in the development of crewmembers to support the engagement, growth, goal achievement and development of the succession plan and for the department.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Experience and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Aviation Management or a related field; OR demonstrated capability to perform job responsibilities with a combination of a High School Diploma/GED and at least four (4) years of previous relevant work experience.
• Five (5) years’ experience working with airline operations and/or charter operations
• Three (3) years’ experience working with sales and marketing or business development and account management
• Strong financial acumen
• Self-motivated and flexible in a constantly changing environment
• Strong business judgment, leadership and integrity
• Excellent communication skills; with the ability to communicate ideas and recommendations to all levels within the company
• Exceptional project and time management skills, including ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Able to build relationships and work across all levels and influence with impact
• Available for occasional overnight travel (10%)
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test
• Must be legally eligible to work in the country in which the position is located
• Authorization to work in the US is required, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship

Preferred Experience and Qualifications:

• Experience working with charter sales and marketing or business development and account management, including bidding and contract negotiation
• Understanding of operational and contractual constraints of charter flying
• Experience working on Operational, Safety and Financial audits
• Experience leading cross departmental projects
• Creating and managing an operating budget

Crewmember Expectations:

• Regular attendance and punctuality
• Potential need to work flexible hours and be available to respond on short-notice
• Able to maintain a professional appearance
• When working or traveling on JetBlue flights, and if time permits, all capable crewmembers are asked to assist with light cleaning of the aircraft
• Must be an appropriate organizational fit for the JetBlue culture, that is, exhibit the JetBlue values of Safety, Caring, Integrity, Passion and Fun
• Must fulfill safety accountabilities as prescribed by JetBlue’s Safety Management System
• Promote JetBlue’s #1 value of safety as a Safety Ambassador, supporting JetBlue’s Safety Management System (SMS) components, Safety Policy and behavioral standards
• Identify safety and security concerns, issues, incidents or hazards that should be reported and report them whenever possible and by any means necessary including JetBlue’s confidential reporting systems (Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) or Safety Action Report (SAR))
• Responsible for adhering to all applicable laws, regulations (FAA, OSHA, DOT, etc.) and Company policies, procedures and risk controls
• Uphold JetBlue’s safety performance metric goals and understand how they relate to their duties and responsibilities
• The use of ChatGPT or any other automated tool during the interview process will disqualify a candidate from being considered for the position.

Equipment:

• Computer and other office equipment

Work Environment:

• Traditional office environment

Physical Effort:

• Generally not required, or up to 10 pounds occasionally, 0 pounds frequently (Sedentary)

Compensation:

• The base pay range for this position is between $114,000.00 and $170,000.00 per year. Base pay is one component of JetBlue’s total compensation package, which may also include performance bonuses, restricted stock units, as well as access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan and company match, crewmember stock purchase plan, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, free space available travel on JetBlue, and more.