Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to Executives, Senior Leaders, and stakeholders by providing expert communication counsel on critical business issues, enterprise initiatives, and reputational opportunities or risks, including anticipating and identifying communication needs before they arise and building proactive strategies to address
• Develop, lead, and execute comprehensive communication strategies and plans that align with Company objectives, determining tone, message, and channel for internal audiences
• Strategically assess when external or social implications require involvement from other Teams, and partner with External and Social Communications Teams as needed to shape and deliver aligned communications. Anticipate and surface communication challenges, analyze metrics and Employee sentiment, and deliver actionable, data-driven insights and recommendations that strengthen impact, expand reach, and align communications with business priorities
• Support Senior Leader communication platforms, including key messages, speechwriting, engagement prep, and proactive storytelling
• Lead internal communication strategy during times of crisis, providing rapid, high-quality guidance to protect reputation and ensure transparency with Employees
• Partner across functions to drive integrated communication strategies that ensure consistent, effective storytelling across internal, external, and digital channels
• Mentor junior Team Members and contribute to thought leadership, methodologies, and best practices on communication and engagement trends
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with internal and external partners, influencing without direct authority to achieve aligned outcomes
• Develop and deliver compelling reports and executive-level presentations that synthesize complex information into clear narratives, telling the story behind the data and shaping recommendations that influence senior decision makers
• Monitor industry, media, and communication trends to adapt strategies and maintain Southwest’s leadership in innovative communication

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Expert-level experience, expansive and far-reaching knowledge in: Communications strategy, executive messaging, public relations, and crisis communication
• Leading cross-functional, enterprise-level communication projects
• Knowledge of communication strategies, tactics, tools, and their execution across diverse audiences
• Skilled in written and verbal communication, including production of Executive-level materials
• Skilled at analyzing complex information, identifying challenges, and recommending clear, actionable solutions
• Skilled in public speaking and presentation, including comfort in front of Executive audiences and media
• Ability to anticipate challenges, adapt quickly, and lead through ambiguity and crises
• Ability to influence and advise senior stakeholders with confidence and diplomacy
• Ability to connect communication to business outcomes utilizing strong business acumen

Benefits

• Fly for free, as a privilege, on any open seat on all Southwest flights (your eligible dependents too)
• Southwest will help fund your Retirement Savings Plan with Company contributions up to 9.3% of your eligible earnings**
• Potential for annual Profit Sharing contribution in the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan- when Southwest profits, you profit***
• Competitive health insurance for you and your eligible dependents (including pets)
• Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You will have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan with coverage retroactively available to your first day of employment.
• 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 Retirement Savings Plan vesting schedule and applicable IRS limits
• ***ProfitSharing contributions are subject to Retirement Savings Plan vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company