• Job Description

  Req#: R-2023-34046

  Department:

  Culture & Communications

  Our Company Promise

  
  We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Above all, Employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer.

  Job Description:

  Job Summary:

  • The People of Southwest Airlines come together to deliver on our Purpose, which is to connect People to what’s important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel. The Social Media Senior Specialist on the External Communications Team is responsible for developing and executing organic social media communication plans, drafting content, story curation, sourcing User Generated Content (UGC), program management of campaigns, and crisis response—primarily for external audiences. Responsible for advising internal and external clients on strategy and tactics to find creative and effective communication solutions, providing executive communication support, drafting, editing, and routing materials to gain approval from internal Departments, Leaders, and Partners. The Sr External Communications Specialist is excited to join this passionate and integral Team, where they’ll champion storytelling and build on Southwest’s Vision of being the world’s most loved, most efficient, and most profitable airline.

  Additional details:

  • The culture of Southwest Airlines means we embrace a flexible workplace and value the camaraderie, collaboration, and innovation that occurs when we come together and interact face-to-face at our vibrant Corporate Campus. This role is a hybrid position based out of our Corporate Campus in Dallas, TX, which requires Employees to work onsite on our Corporate Campus at least three days a week. The Department designates the specific three days of the week Employees must work on-site.

  • U.S. citizenship or current authorization to work in the U.S. is required, and no current or future work authorization sponsorship available.

  Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We continue to look for opportunities to reflect the communities we serve, and welcome applicants with diverse thoughts, backgrounds, and experiences.

  Responsibilities

  • Draft social content that is compelling, informative, educational, and inspires travel; as well as source UGC for Southwest’s social channels, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, X (formerly known as Twitter), and YouTube

  • Able to distill multiple complex issues down to easily understandable and actionable messages for various stakeholders, including media, Employees, and Customers across a variety of internal and external channels

  • Demonstrate superior knowledge of communication strategies, tactics and tools and an understanding of their convergence

  • Develop and maintain the company's corporate image and identity, evaluating social content opportunities including integration of Southwest into various properties

  • Develop strong, lasting relationships and strategic partnerships that bring storytelling opportunities to meet company objectives and reach new audiences

  • Demonstrate autonomy in the development of message and channel strategy; collaborating with other departments or outside partners as needed to build and execute communication plans, primarily rooted in social media

  • Serve as an External Spokesperson by responding to social media & content requests for information from the media and performing the research and writing necessary to provide external responses on behalf of the Company

  • Will serve in a rotation of co-hearts for 24/7 on-call coverage to monitor and respond to issues that happen after hours and on weekends

  • Stay current with advancements and trends in communication, specifically in the areas of mobile messaging, social and collaborative sites, digital presence, branded content and entertainment, and partnership marketing

  • Execution on large scale promotions and activations

  • May perform other job duties as directed by Employee’s Leaders

  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Knowledge and experience using social media channels and ability to use them to support business needs and drive results

  • Knowledge of traditional and social media landscapes, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods, including alternative ways to inform, engage, and influence via written, oral, and visual media

  • Knowledge of digital and internet-based communications platforms, technologies, engagement patterns, and new and existing trends

  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, production methods, and coordination of people and resources

  • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods including alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media

  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar

  • Skilled in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems

  • Skilled in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents

  • Ability to listen, understand, and communicate ideas presented in writing and/or in speaking with others

  • Ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense

  • Ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem

  Education

  • Required: High School Diploma or GED

  Experience

  • Intermediate-level experience, fully functioning broad knowledge in:

    • Marketing/Communications/Branded Content & Entertainment

    • Leading project teams and delegating to others

    • Leading cross-functional teams

  • Preferred: Knowledge of social media strategies and tactics

  • Preferred: Experience/knowledge with short form video storytelling

  • Preferred: Knowledge of social media platforms and technologies

  Licensing/Certification

  • N/A

  Physical Abilities

  • Ability to perform work duties from [limited space work station/desk/office area] for extended periods of time

  • Ability to communicate and interact with others in the English language to meet the demands of the job

  • Ability to use a computer and mobile device and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed and accuracy to meet the demands of the job

  Other Qualifications

  • Must maintain a well-groomed appearance per Company appearance standards as described in established guidelines

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986

  • Must be at least 18 years of age

  • Must be able to comply with Company attendance standards as described in established guidelines

  Pay & Benefits

  Competitive market salary from $76,500 - $85,000 per year* depending on qualifications and experience. For eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles, additional bonus opportunities are available and awarded at the discretion of the Company.

  Benefits You’ll Love

  • Fly for free, as a privilege, on any open seat on all Southwest flights (your eligible dependents too)

  • Up to a 9.3% 401(k) Company match, dollar for dollar, of your eligible pay, per paycheck *

  • Potential for annual Profit-sharing contribution toward retirement - when Southwest profits, you profit**

  • Explore more Benefits you’ll love: https://careers.southwestair.com/benefits

  *Pay amount does not guarantee employment for any particular period of time.

  **401(k) match contributions are subject to the plan’s vesting schedule and applicable IRS limits

  ***Profit-sharing contributions are subject to plan’s vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company.

  Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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• About the company

  Southwest Airlines Co., typically referred to as Southwest, is one of the major airlines of the United States and the world's largest low-cost carrier.

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