Senior Global HR Business Partner

Southwest Airlines • Dallas, TX

1d • $132,200 - $146,900 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Global HR Business Partner will help shape the People strategy and infrastructure that support Southwest Airlines’ international office and global partnerships. This role serves as a trusted advisor to global and local Leaders, translating enterprise priorities into integrated workforce, talent, organizational, and Employee solutions while balancing Southwest standards with local market, cultural, and statutory requirements.

The position will initially help stabilize and scale the Hyderabad Office, partnering with People Teams, Legal, Privacy, Finance, HR Technology, and local resources to address complex challenges and build sustainable capabilities. The role will establish governance, playbooks, and scalable practices to guide Southwest’s evolving international presence, reduce risk, and strengthen the Employee and Leader experience.

Based at Southwest’s Dallas, Texas Headquarters facility, the role requires international travel and flexibility to work across supported time zones, including occasional early mornings, late evenings, late nights, weekends, and extended hours.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Expert-level experience and expansive, far-reaching knowledge in the stated areas.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior Leaders and leading complex cross-functional initiatives across multiple functions and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in HR strategy, transformation, consulting, operations, program management, organizational effectiveness, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience supporting global and international Employees, Leaders, and business operations across multiple countries, cultures, or geographic markets.
• Knowledge of HR operating models and Employee lifecycle practices, including workforce planning, organizational design, talent and performance management, Total Rewards, Employee Relations, change management, and HR service delivery.
• Knowledge of international workforce considerations and the relationship between enterprise standards and local employment, statutory, data privacy, payroll, benefits, policy, and cultural requirements.
• Ability to develop trusted partnerships and influence senior Leaders, functional stakeholders, and cross-cultural teams without direct authority.
• Skills in executive communication, facilitation, consulting, structured problem solving, conflict navigation, and risk management.
• Skills in leading complex cross-functional initiatives and translating ambiguous business needs into practical strategies, plans, governance, and measurable outcomes.
• Skills in using HR technology, workforce data, and qualitative insights to identify trends, evaluate options, and communicate decision-ready recommendations.
• Ability to balance enterprise and local requirements, manage competing priorities across geographies and time zones, exercise sound judgment, and adapt between strategic planning and hands-on delivery.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or have authorization to work in the United States; no current or future work authorization sponsorship is available.
• Must be at least 18 years of age and comply with Company attendance standards.
• Must be able to work effectively across cultures, geographies, and time zones to meet business needs.
• Must be able to travel domestically and internationally, including overnight stays, and work varying schedules, including early mornings, late evenings, and extended hours.
• Must possess and maintain a current U.S. passport as required for international travel.
• Must maintain a well-groomed appearance per Company appearance standards.
• 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 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.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced experience as a Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP).
• Experience working within a large, complex organization with a global footprint.
• Experience supporting global teams and international business operations.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including cross-functional initiatives.
• GPHR (Global Professional in Human Resources) certification.
• Experience within the aviation industry in a Human Resources strategy function.
• Bachelor’s degree or professional certification in Human Resources, change management, program management, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the People strategy for assigned international offices by understanding business objectives, workforce needs, operating realities, risks, and measures of success.
• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor and escalation point to global and local Leaders on organizational, workforce, talent, Employee, and change matters.
• Partner with local People Teams, HR Business Partners, Centers of Excellence, HR Technology, and business functions to deliver integrated People solutions aligned with Southwest standards and local statutory, market, business, and cultural requirements.
• Build and evolve scalable international HR operating practices, including governance, decision rights, service expectations, controls, escalation paths, and repeatable processes.
• Lead or partner on workforce planning, organizational design, restructuring, talent, performance, merit, calibration, succession, and capability initiatives based on the needs and accountabilities of each international operating model.
• Lead complex cross-functional initiatives by aligning stakeholders on priorities, roles, risks, dependencies, and tradeoffs, and driving timely decisions through influence.
• Partner with Legal, Privacy, Finance, HR Technology, local Leaders, and external advisors to identify and address cross-border employment, data, payroll, benefits, policy, compliance, and operational risks.
• Support sustainable local ownership through knowledge transfer, documentation, transition planning, role clarity, and continued global functional guidance.
• Use workforce data, technology, and qualitative insights to identify trends, evaluate alternatives, measure outcomes, and provide decision-ready recommendations to Leaders.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts and apply lessons learned to strengthen international HR capabilities, playbooks, integration practices, and approaches for future locations.
• May perform other job duties as directed by the Employee’s Leaders.

Benefits

• Competitive market salary from $132,200 to $146,900 per year, depending on qualifications and experience.
• Additional bonus opportunities for eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles, awarded at the Company’s discretion.
• Free travel, as a privilege, on any open seat on Southwest flights for the Employee and eligible dependents.
• Company contributions to the Retirement Savings Plan up to 9.3% of eligible earnings.
• Potential annual ProfitSharing contribution to the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan.
• Competitive health insurance 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 of employment.

What This Job Offers

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