As a Managing Director Capacity Planning, you’ll lead all capacity planning decisions for Southwest, shaping strategies that align with the Company’s overall network direction while optimizing city and regional capacity for strong financial performance. This Leader represents the Capacity Planning function with Senior Leaders and external city, community, and industry partners, while driving awareness and alignment of network and market strategies across Commercial Leadership and Teams.

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.

Model the Southwest Way

• Guide and lead Team Members using SWA talent management practices to coach, develop, and engage Employees

• Adhere to Company values and competencies to foster a Culture of inclusion, recognition, and support of a safe work environment

• Invest in Leadership and self-growth through participating in continuous learning and development

Responsibilities

• Develop, lead and execute of the vision, purpose, objectives, and near-term strategy for all network capacity, including all base schedules and Annual Capacity Plan

• Set the capacity plan for Southwest's Annual Operating Plan

• Provide support and leadership to the Director of Capacity Planning and Team regarding the development of all Integrated Planning initiatives and ensuring that these initiatives are successfully implemented inside all network capacity

• Continually deliver a series of material value-creating capacity initiatives that drive incremental material improvement to Southwest’s financial performance each fiscal year

• Serve as Network Planning representative to Executive and Senior Leaders across the Company on key initiatives by sharing the vision/purpose, objective and value proposition narrative to drive alignment and facilitate connections between Network Planning and other Departments

• Organize and drive communication, coordination, and planning across the Commercial functions on topics related to network and city strategies and plans

• Build and maintain awareness and alignment to network strategies and city plans across Revenue Management, Pricing, Marketing, and Southwest Business

• Lead development of supporting analyses, including financial/analytical models to evaluate and support potential strategic opportunities (e.g. Industry capacity adjustments)

• Manage and maintain positive relationships with all relevant external stakeholders including airport leadership, air service development Teams, community and local Leaders, and other relevant industry stakeholders

• Confidently present to large Industry groups in reference to SWA and/or airline industry actions

• Align long term strategic plans and current market conditions into Southwest Airline's route network

• Manage the capacity inputs to Current Schedules and provide recommendations to Network Planning processes to improve forecasts and other business processes and tools

• Ensure the department has strong business relations with external online cities and airports and preparing and delivering presentations to these external partners to enhance our relationships with these important partners

• Engage and influence Leaders from Commercial, Operational, Financial, and Technology functions to advance Network Planning strategic opportunities, remove or address obstacles, and deliver initiatives

• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee’s Leaders

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources

• Expert knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data

• Expert ability to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions

• Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits

• Highly skilled in communication (written and verbal) and executive presence; strong story telling abilities

• Skilled in data analysis, including competitive analysis, with the ability to transform findings into easy to understand visual narratives that clearly articulate strategy, drive new initiatives, or communicate value propositions and tangible next steps to stakeholders

• Ability to motivate and lead teams successfully, including prioritizing work and driving high level output

• Ability to build critical partnerships in a matrix/cross cultural organization

• Ability to understand and apply information to contribute to the organization’s strategic plan

• Ability to weigh the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED

Experience

• Demonstrated experience in directly leading team(s)

• Advanced level Business Acumen in functional area

• Seasoned and specialized knowledge in:

  • Commercial and Operational performance metrics and targets

  • Industry standard codeshare and airline partnerships

  • Network Planning software systems and data

  • Managing and delivering a portfolio of projects and initiatives

  • Impact of Network Planning systems/processes on downline internal/external systems/processes

  • Airline industry knowledge, including an understanding of competitors operational and commercial tactics and recent performance

  • Network design strategies, constrained locations, and how to translate operational and commercial goals into schedule parameters

  • Advanced skill in managing and developing People and building great Teams

  • Advanced experience in planning, aviation, or a related field

Licensing/Certification

• N/A

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

Pay & Benefits:

• Competitive market salary from $225,800 per year to $250,900 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 401(k) retirement savings with Company contributions up to 9.3% of your eligible earnings**

• Potential for annual ProfitSharing contribution in the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan- when Southwest profits, you profit***

• Competitive health insurance for you and your eligible dependents (including pets)

• Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You will have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan with coverage retroactively available to your first day of employment.

• Explore more Benefits you’ll love: https://careers.southwestair.com/benefits

​*Pay amount does not guarantee employment for any particular period of time.

**401(k) match contributions are subject to Retirement Savings Plan vesting schedule and applicable IRS limits.

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