Business Development Account Manager - HDQ

Southwest Airlines • Dallas, TX

4d • 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 new opportunities, connects with travel decision-makers, and matches Southwest solutions to the needs of small businesses, groups, and meeting planners. Through proactive account management and digital sales strategies, the position guides prospective Customers through early sales-cycle stages, negotiates and implements agreements, and strengthens account engagement. The role also supports Southwest Business Teams and Customers by responding to sales inquiries and building trusted relationships that create mutual value and contribute to business partnership growth, Customer loyalty, and sustainable revenue growth.

This role is based at Southwest Airlines’ Dallas, Texas Headquarters and must be performed there during business hours. U.S. citizenship or current authorization to work in the United States is required; current or future work authorization sponsorship is not available. The position requires a high school diploma or GED and entry-level experience developing skills and knowledge in business-to-business sales and marketing. Preferred experience includes managing Customer accounts, supporting business development activities, and working with the beginning stages of the sales cycle.

The listed salary range is $60,650 to $67,400 per year, depending on qualifications and experience. Eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles may also receive bonus opportunities at the company’s discretion. Benefits include space-available travel privileges 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 contributions, and health insurance options for the Employee and eligible dependents, including pets. Health plan coverage options begin on the first day of employment, with 30 days to select and enroll and coverage retroactively available to the first day.

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, especially 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 principles and methods for promoting and selling products or services, including marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing Customer and personal services, including Customer needs assessment, 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 understanding others’ points, asking appropriate questions, 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 into general rules or conclusions, including finding relationships among seemingly unrelated events.
• Ability to concentrate on a task over time without being distracted.
• Ability to perform work duties at a limited-space workstation, desk, or office area for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate and interact in English to meet the demands of the job.
• 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 authorized to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• 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.
• Drive small-business revenue growth 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

• Space-available travel privileges 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.
• Health insurance for the Employee and eligible dependents, including pets.
• Health plan coverage options available from the first day of employment, with enrollment within 30 days and coverage retroactively available to the first day.
• Potential bonus opportunities for eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles, awarded at the company’s discretion.

What This Job Offers

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