Managing Director, Cargo Global Operations

Company

Alaska Airlines

The Team

Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you. 

Role Summary

The Managing Director, Cargo Global Operations sets the long-term strategy, oversees the financial performance and ensures a safe and compliant operation, while exceeding all cargo operational, service and cost metrics and regulatory compliance guidelines across the Alaska Air Group (AAG) network globally.  As a people leader, this role establishes strategic goals and direction for a team of leaders and unionized employees at Alaska Airlines (AS) and Hawaiian Airlines (HA) self-handled operations including the cargo call center and cargo network support team at approximately 100 airport locations.   

Key Duties

• Sets the strategy along with the Vice President for the cargo division’s global operational execution, forging relationships with AS/QX/HA leaders and vendors to ensure compliance with company service standards.
• Oversee all aspects of cargo operations 24 hours/day with full authority to make decisions critical to business continuity, safety and regulatory compliance objectives.
• Manages, trains and develops all cargo operational leaders supporting labor contract administration, performance appraisals and discipline.
• Serve as the lead negotiator for all vendor contracts related to warehouse, mail and freighter operations as well as any additional agreements that arise in global cargo in the US and abroad.
• Build strategic relationships with local and multi-national ground handling providers.
• Work directly with senior leadership of vendor partners and TSA/FAA to ensure optimal performance and compliance.
• Partner with Airport Operations Customer Service (AOCS) to successfully develop and execute all cargo training delivery objectives.
• Ensure Known Shipper and Cargo Claims departments are managed as per established regulations.
• Lead by example with the Safety Management Systems (SMS) program to ensure a just culture mentality, while adhering to full compliance with SMS protocols and requirements.
• In partnership with Corporate Real Estate, evaluate the long-term facility plans in all the cargo locations while providing senior leadership support for all cargo station openings and facility moves, overseeing for optimum efficiency, productivity and financial performance.
• Develop people through effective performance management and ongoing feedback, focusing on fostering strategic and systems thinking, development of talent, and succession planning across teams and functions.
• Drive effective diversity, equity and inclusion practices to build a culture of belonging while actively supporting and executing the company’s DEI initiatives, goals and commitments.
• Full engagement and participation in supporting positive company culture and integration activities.

Job-Specific Experience, Education & Skills

Required

• Minimum of 10 years operations management experience
• 5 years of people leadership experience
• Bachelor’s degree or a willingness to attain a degree within six years of start date
• Strong strategic thinker with a track record of demonstrating good judgement, strong business acumen, executing plans with a sense of urgency and motivational skills
• Experience in fiscal control systems, staffing processes and administration of a labor contract 
• Excellent negotiation skills including preparing, responding to and managing proposals
• Ability to readily adapt to situations where there may be ambiguity in requirements or systems processes
• Strong communication (e.g. verbal, written and presentation).
• Strong interpersonal skill with the ability to drive outcomes in the best interest of the company directly (particularly with direct reports) and indirectly with others in the organization
• High proficiency in MS Office
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to multi-task and follow-through to completion
• Ability to find solutions to complex issues that incorporate the needs of a variety of user
• Must be flexible to work weekends, holidays, various shifts and on-call
• High school diploma or equivalent is required
• Minimum age of 18
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Preferred