Director Alliances & Airline Partnerships

Alaska Airlines • Seatac, WA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Alliances & Airline Partnerships sets the long-term strategy and oversees the financial performance of alliances and airline partnerships at Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air. As a people leader, this role establishes strategic goals and direction for a team of leaders to execute, grow and sustain alliances and partnerships, ensuring Alaska maximizes the value of its partnership portfolio to drive revenue, build guest loyalty, and ensure a seamless guest experience.

Requirements

• 8 years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships/alliances or related area.
• 5 years of leadership experience, with at least 2 of those years directly leading people.
• Bachelor’s degree, or an additional two years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.
• Robust knowledge of alliance and partnership structures.
• Awareness of global development trends.
• Exceptional analytical background with proven ability to navigate complex datasets.
• Strong communication skills (e.g., verbal, written, and listening) with an ability to communicate clearly and concisely to both internal and external constituencies.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to create collaborative relationships that drive outcomes in the best interest of the company, with others in the organization, and key external business partners.
• Detail oriented and highly organized, with ability to multi-task and work independently.
• Sense of urgency to complete assignments quickly and thoroughly.
• Able and willing to travel at least 20% of the time to meet with airline partners.
• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Minimum age of 18.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

• Airline industry knowledge/experience.

Responsibilities

• Establish strategic goals and direction for Alaska’s alliances and partnerships team, steering viable potential partner agreements and providing strategic recommendations to leaders across the organization to improve revenue capture, advance guest loyalty and eliminate operational pain points.
• Set long-term strategy and planning for the partnerships portfolio, determining the type and level of co-operation in line with competitive strategy, and cultivating relationships with executives at partner airlines and companies, along with the oneworld management company.
• Serves as Alaska’s senior delegate to the oneworld alliance and the subject matter expert for oneworld stakeholders, with day-to-day ownership of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air’s relationship with the oneworld management company.
• Owns the strategy for maximizing the value from Air Group’s multi-billion West Coast International Alliance (WCIA).
• Evaluates existing partnership agreements to determine value, and partners cross-functionally to achieve partnership objectives. Influences across loyalty, marketing, sales and ecommerce teams to deliver on objectives.
• Responsible for success of alliances and partnerships platform, including establishing and implementing codeshare and interline infrastructure and communication processes within Alaska Airlines and partners, and managing project’s budget and timelines.
• Negotiates alliance and partner agreements, including interline, codeshare, frequent flyer, partner loyalty, and other agreements that drive over $500M a year of Air Group revenue. Ensures partnerships are sustainable and mutually beneficial.
• Grows Alaska Mileage Plan’s portfolio of airline partners to increase member loyalty through greater program relevance and increased opportunities to earn and redeem miles and engage with Alaska.
• Applies deep understanding of the competitive environment both domestically and globally to remain cognizant of second-order effects from shifting allegiances that could impact Alaska.
• Develops people through effective performance management and ongoing feedback, focusing on fostering strategic and systems thinking, development of talent, and succession planning across team.
• Shapes culture of the team through action, presence, and reforming of behaviors.

Benefits

• Free stand-by travel privileges on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air with high priority status
• Select number of confirmed travel credits provided annually
• Comprehensive well-being programs including medical, dental and vision benefits
• Generous 401k match program
• Quarterly and annual bonus plans
• Generous holiday and paid time off

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees