• Job Description

  Req#: 11636

  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 Vice President of Labor Relations will lead and oversee all aspects of labor relations at Alaska Airlines and will play a pivotal role in building and maintaining positive, productive, and cooperative relationships with labor unions and internal stakeholders, ensuring a harmonious working environment, and promoting the long-term growth and success of Alaska Airlines and business objectives. The Vice President of Labor Relations functions as a strategic company leader and will manage multiple complex collective bargaining agreements while ensuring a collaborative environment and constructive approach to labor negotiations.

  Key Duties

  • Labor Relations Strategy: Develop and execute a 24+ month clear labor relations strategy for the labor relations team in alignment with the company's goals and values. This includes setting the direction for labor communications (including social media), labor negotiations, contract management, and dispute resolution.
  • Union Relations: Build and maintain constructive relationships with labor unions representing Alaska Airlines employees. Collaborate with union leaders to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes and work toward a harmonious labor environment.
  • Collective Bargaining: Lead negotiations during collective bargaining agreements, ensuring that contracts are consistent with industry standards and competitive while safeguarding the company's interests and position in the industry.
  • Contract Management: Oversee the administration and interpretation of labor contracts, ensuring compliance and consistency in application across the organization. Provide guidance and support to HR and operational teams in contract-related matters.
  • Business Acumen: Become a business subject matter expert to interpret and negotiate contracts effectively. Thoroughly understands that future contract language and interpretation of existing contact language is fundamental in functioning a successful operation.
  • Dispute Resolution: Assists the legal function in labor matters before various courts and arbitration panels.
  • Labor Compliance: Stay up to date with labor laws and regulations, ensuring that the company complies with all relevant requirements. Provide guidance to internal clients on policy development to maintain compliance and mitigate risks.
  • Communication and Transparency: Develop and maintain an internal information-sharing process to ensure all constituents are briefed on evolving situations. Proactively communicate any breakdowns or potential issues, providing well-reasoned recommendations for proceeding.
  • Influence: Utilize and maintain strong levels of influence internally and externally to align goals, reduce friction, manage proactive as well as negative communications, and secure language and economic terms that support the company's business model.
  • Labor Data Analysis: Utilize labor data and analytics to make informed decisions, identify trends, and drive continuous improvement in labor relations and workforce management.
  • Change Management: Collaborate with senior leadership to implement changes and initiatives that impact labor relations, fostering cooperation and minimizing resistance.
  • Employee Engagement: Develop people through effective performance management and ongoing feedback, focusing on fostering strategic and systems thinking, development of talent, and succession planning within the Labor division.
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Drive effective DEI practices to build a culture of belonging while actively supporting and executing on the company’s D&I initiatives, goals and commitments.
  • Budget Management: Manage the labor relations department's budget effectively, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently and in line with company goals.

  Job-Specific Experience, Education & Skills

  Required

  • Extensive experience in labor relations, including a minimum of 15 years in progressively responsible leadership roles. A minimum of 7 years of leadership experience.
  • Bachelor’s degree, or a willingness to attain a Bachelor’s degree within six years of start date. An advanced degree or relevant certifications are a plus.
  • Exceptional negotiation, conflict resolution, and communication skills.
  • Ability to create a broad labor strategy that will result in win-win collective bargaining agreements that prove to serve the interests of organized labor groups and the airline.
  • Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to build and lead a high-performing team.
  • Demonstrated ability to build strong working relationships with labor leaders prior to, during, and after collective bargaining negotiations.
  • Detailed understanding of the financial and operational impacts of labor agreements on the airline.
  • Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

  Preferred

  • Experience in the airline industry is a plus but not required.

  Job-Specific Leadership Expectations

  • Embody our values to own safety, do the right thing, be kind-hearted, deliver performance, and be remarkable.
  • Skilled at making and defending tough decisions, while demonstrating care and concern for the opinions of others, both inside and outside the organization.
  • Innovative, apolitical, resilient, fact-based, and creative solutions-focused mindset, with ability to thrive in a rapidly-changing, collaborative environment and to manage conflict.

  Starting Rate

  Salary Range

  $228,300 - $376,700 / year

  Total Target Compensation Range (incl. bonus & equity)

  $513,700 - $847,600

  Bonus

  Salary Details

  The pay range and total target compensation package listed above is the expected pay offered for this position at the start of employment. Your pay will be based on multiple factors, including and not limited to location, your relevant experience/level, experience level, and skillset while balancing internal equity relative to other Alaska/Horizon employees. Alaska/Horizon is committed to fair, unbiased compensation along with competitive benefits in all locations in which we operate.

  Total Rewards

  Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air pay and benefits can vary by company, location, number of regularly scheduled hours worked, length of employment, and employment status.

  • Unlimited confirmed travel privileges on Alaska Airlines & Horizon Air
  • Comprehensive well-being programs including medical, dental and vision benefits
  • Generous 401k match program
  • Quarterly and annual bonus plans
  • Equity grants
  • Generous holiday and paid time off
  • Lounge membership

  For more information about Alaska/Horizon Total Rewards please visit our career site and view benefits.

  FLSA Status

  Exempt

  Employment Type

  Full-Time

  Regular/Temporary

  Regular

  Requisition Type

  Executive

  Apply by 7:00 PM Pacific Time on

  12/15/2023

  Location

  Seattle

  Equal Employment Opportunity

  We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action (AA) employer that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all qualified applicants and employees and do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information (including family medical history), political views or activity, or other legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We may use your information to maintain the safety and security of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, its employees, and others as required or permitted by law. People of color, women, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

  L:

  #LI-B

• About the company

  Alaska Airlines is a major American airline headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area.

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