Director Inflight Base Operations - California
Alaska Airlines is seeking a highly skilled and experienced aviation professional for the position of Director Inflight Base Operations - California, based in Los Angeles, CA. This full-time role is central to ensuring the exceptional service and safety standards that define Alaska Airlines.
Company Overview
Guided by a strong purpose, core values, and leadership principles, Alaska Airlines is dedicated to creating an airline that people love. Corporate teams develop the strategies and operational plans essential to the company's success. A shared passion for travel and guests motivates employees across various divisions, including operations, to achieve excellence daily. The company fosters a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration across all teams.
Role Summary
The Director Inflight Base Operations – California is responsible for leading and motivating the Inflight leadership teams across all California Flight Attendant domiciles. This role ensures Flight Attendants consistently deliver superior customer service, uphold professional standards, support safety protocols, exercise sound judgment, and perform duties in accordance with company policy and the flight attendant manual. The Director implements operational plans to meet performance objectives and compliance guidelines for their base locations, evaluating facility plans for efficiency, productivity, and financial performance. The position acts as a liaison to other operational teams, promoting alignment and best practices. This key leadership role oversees Inflight operations for Alaska Airlines across multiple bases and brands.
Key Responsibilities
- Manages and motivates Inflight leadership teams to ensure Flight Attendants provide superior customer service, uphold professional standards, support safety, demonstrate good judgment, and adhere to company policies and the Flight Attendant Manual (FAM).
- Proactively influences operational outcomes, sets strategy, and develops/monitors action plans to achieve department goals, with particular focus on on-time performance, customer service standards, sick leave management, and safety initiatives.
- Cultivates team leadership through mentoring and developing direct reports.
- Supports employee engagement, fostering a culture of care, belonging, and providing career succession and growth opportunities for Inflight Leaders.
- Champions company and Inflight objectives, effectively managing change initiatives.
- Leads team leadership and development by mentoring direct and indirect reports, strengthening the leadership pipeline, and fostering career growth opportunities while creating a culture of trust, support, accountability, and respect.
- Conducts regular meetings for the Inflight leadership team to ensure consistency, address concerns, and communicate company updates.
- Ensures timely and ongoing communication with Flight Attendants regarding work-rule changes, new policies, company objectives, and addressing concerns.
- Facilitates communication between Flight Attendants and supervisory staff.
- Maintains financial objectives through participation in the divisional budgeting process and monthly reviews of base and departmental budgets.
- Maintains current knowledge of Flight Attendant procedures, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, and contractual requirements.
- Participates in the Flight Attendant selection and hiring process.
- Partners with operational groups to achieve company goals and objectives.
- Maintains excellent working relationships with cross-divisional frontline workgroups and Flight Attendant Union (AFA) leadership through collaboration and trust.
- Performs other assigned duties.
Qualifications
Required:
- A minimum of 10 years of operational or airline experience.
- A minimum of 5 years of experience leading or mentoring teams.
- Demonstrated high energy, positive, and executive-level presence, coupled with excellent written and verbal communication, public speaking, influencing, and motivational skills.
- Proven ability to influence change and initiate actions with strategic impact, driving a high-performance culture.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships internally and externally to drive outcomes in the company's best interest.
- Strong track record of effectively managing teams and experience developing and mentoring employees through engagement.
- Demonstrated ability to anticipate staff needs and maintain an upbeat, positive attitude.
- Exposure to contract labor environments.
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 30% of the time.
- High school diploma or equivalent is required.
- Minimum age of 21.
- Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Preferred:
- A Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.
- Current or previous Inflight experience.
- A minimum of 2 years of Flight Attendant experience.
Job-Specific Leadership Expectations:
- Embodies company values: owns safety, does the right thing, is kind-hearted, delivers performance, and is remarkable.
- Possesses an innovative, apolitical, resilient, fact-based, and creative problem-solving mindset, thriving in a rapidly-changing, collaborative environment and managing conflict effectively.
- Demonstrates a professional work ethic and the ability to work with all work groups, addressing people courageously, directly, and candidly.
Compensation & Benefits
The salary range for this position is $131,350 - $203,600 per year. The starting pay will be based on multiple factors including location, relevant experience level, and skillset, while balancing internal equity. Alaska Airlines is committed to fair, unbiased compensation and competitive benefits.
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package which may vary by company, location, hours worked, length of employment, and status. Benefits include:
- Free stand-by travel privileges on Alaska 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.
More information about Alaska/Horizon Total Rewards is available on the career site.
Application Details
This is a Regular, Full-Time, Exempt position.
Regulatory information regarding Airport SIDA Badges and DOT drug testing applies.
Alaska Airlines is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.