Business Development Account Manager - HDQ

Southwest Airlines • Dallas, TX

1d • $60,650 - $67,400 • Onsite

About The Position

The Business Development Account Manager helps grow Southwest Business by converting leads and prospects into revenue-generating partnerships. The role identifies and qualifies opportunities, connects with travel decision-makers, and aligns Southwest solutions with the needs of small businesses, groups, and meeting planners. Through proactive account management and digital sales strategies, the Account Manager guides prospective Customers through early sales-cycle stages, negotiates and implements agreements, and strengthens engagement across accounts of varying sizes. The role also supports Southwest Business Teams and Customers by responding to sales inquiries and building trusted relationships that create mutual value, expand business partnerships, strengthen Customer loyalty, and drive sustainable revenue growth.

The position is based at Southwest Airlines’ Dallas, Texas Headquarters and is required to work there during business hours. U.S. citizenship or current U.S. work authorization is required; work authorization sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Entry-level experience developing skills and knowledge in business-to-business sales and marketing.
• Knowledge of the airline industry and competition, particularly corporate travel options for small-business accounts.
• Ability to represent Southwest and the Team confidently in cross-functional internal and external projects and meetings.
• Ability to prospect, cold call, and qualify corporate clients within and outside the Southwest Airlines network.
• Ability to identify Customer objectives and align solutions to overcome barriers and drive sales.
• Successful negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of product and service promotion and sales, including marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstrations, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Knowledge of Customer and personal service principles and processes, including assessing Customer needs, meeting service quality standards, and evaluating Customer satisfaction.
• Knowledge of English-language structure and content, including word meanings and spelling, composition, and grammar.
• Active listening skills, including giving full attention, understanding points made, asking questions as appropriate, and avoiding inappropriate interruptions.
• Ability to understand and apply information to contribute to the organization’s strategic plan.
• Ability to actively look for ways to help people.
• Ability to listen, understand, and communicate ideas in writing and speech.
• Ability to combine information to form general rules or conclusions and identify relationships among seemingly unrelated events.
• Ability to concentrate on a task over time without distraction.
• Ability to perform work duties at a limited-space workstation, desk, or office area for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate and interact with others in English to meet job demands.
• Ability to use a computer and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed and accuracy.
• Must maintain a well-groomed appearance in accordance with Company appearance standards.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or have U.S. work authorization as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must comply with Company attendance standards.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing Customer accounts.
• Experience supporting business development activities.
• Experience with the beginning stages of the sales cycle.

Responsibilities

• Generate new partnerships by qualifying inbound and outbound leads, identifying travel decision-makers, and understanding their travel program needs.
• Identify small-business needs and align appropriate solutions to provide mutual benefit to the company and Southwest.
• Influence revenue growth from small businesses through digital sales cycles, proactive account management, and engagement.
• Execute the sales cycle, including negotiating and implementing contracts to grow small-business, meetings, and groups revenue.
• Negotiate and implement corporate agreements, including soft-dollar programs and meetings contracts for small-business accounts.
• Support Southwest Business Teams and Customers by responding to and managing sales inquiries.
• Perform other job duties as directed by Employee’s Leaders.

Benefits

• Free travel on any open seat on Southwest flights for the Employee and eligible dependents.
• Company contributions to the Retirement Savings Plan of up to 9.3% of eligible earnings.
• Potential annual ProfitSharing contribution to the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan, at the Company’s discretion.
• Competitive health insurance for the Employee and eligible dependents, including pets, with coverage options beginning on the first day of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED