International Execution Director

Alaska Airlines • Seatac, WA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The International Execution Director is a subject matter expert and strategic leader responsible for supporting the successful delivery of Alaska Air Group's international franchise. Operating on a matrixed basis from Seattle, this role partners with Regional Heads in Asia, Pacific, and Europe to ensure consistent execution of operational standards, guest experience delivery, and performance improvement initiatives. As an individual contributor, this role leads cross-functionally and partners with the Regional Heads to deliver world-class performance across launch readiness initiatives, performance improvement programs, and guest experience enhancements.

Requirements

• 10+ years airline operations experience with proven international launch expertise.
• Bachelor’s degree, or an additional two years of relevant experience in lieu of this degree.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Data-driven approach to problem-solving with ability to translate insights into action.
• Experience managing complex, multi-workstream projects across geographically distributed teams.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum age of 18
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with regulatory compliance frameworks (TSA, CBP, IATA standards).
• Background in network planning, station management, or ground operations.
• Excellent communicator across all levels within an organization providing clarity to complex concepts and solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end operational readiness for new international route launches, ensuring all systems, processes, and teams are prepared for day-one success.
• Define the long-term strategy for international launch readiness with an 18–24 month horizon, ensuring proactive planning and alignment with broader network and enterprise growth goals.
• Partner to adapt operational frameworks for international stations, including ground handling procedures, turnaround protocols, and customer service standards.
• Coordinate cross-functional readiness activities across Network Planning, Airport Operations, Inflight, Maintenance, and other Operational and Commercial teams.
• Present launch-readiness recommendations and long-range plans to senior operational and commercial leadership to drive alignment on investment, resource allocation, and go-to-market timing.
• Develop market entry playbooks that standardize launch activities while allowing customization for local market requirements.
• Partner with Regional Heads to drive operational performance improvements across completion factor, on-time performance, mishandled baggage, and other ops metrics.
• Lead international schedule signoff process with an eye toward resilience and operational success, partnering with Network Planning.
• Advise enterprise leaders on long-term operational goals for international flying, ensuring decisions reflect future-state performance, resource needs, and competitive positioning.
• Design and implement performance dashboards providing real-time visibility into international operations metrics.
• Establish benchmarking frameworks to measure Alaska's international performance against industry standards and competitive sets.
• Identify and execute initiatives that differentiate Alaska's international guest experience, particularly for premium cabin passengers.
• Partner with Guest Experience teams to enhance key journey moments: check-in efficiency, customs/immigration facilitation, connection management, and post-flight engagement.
• Implement feedback mechanisms to capture guest sentiment and rapidly address service gaps.
• Work cross-functionally to map guest experience touchpoints across the international experience.
• Develop service recovery protocols specific to international operations challenges.
• Present guest-experience insights, performance trends, and long-term recommendations to senior Commercial and Operations leadership to inform strategic decisions.

Benefits

• Free stand-by travel privileges on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air
• 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