Vice President Employee Rewards & Experience

Department:

People Learning & Development

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 Vice President of Employee Rewards & Experience will define, in partnership with the broader People team, what Southwest commits to its Employees and how those commitments are delivered across the employee lifecycle. This role provides strategic direction and oversight to Total Rewards, Employee Experience & Servicing, HR Technology & Employee Digital, People Analytics & Insights, and Awards & Recognition.

Additional Details

• The culture of Southwest Airlines means we value the camaraderie, collaboration, and innovation that occurs when we come together and interact face-to-face at our vibrant Corporate Campus. Due to the nature of this role, you would be required to work from our Dallas, TX Headquarters facility during business hours.
• U.S. citizenship or current authorization to work in the U.S. required and no current or future work authorization sponsorship available. 

We’re committed to fair hiring practices and to making employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics.

Model the Southwest Way

• Guide and lead Team Members using SWA talent management practices to coach, develop, and engage Employees
• Adhere to Company Values and competencies to foster a Culture of inclusion, recognition, and support of a safe work environment
• Invest in Leadership and self-growth through participating in continuous learning and development

Responsibilities

• Lead a company-wide employee experience strategy that brings Southwest's Employee Promise to life across the employee lifecycle.
• Strengthen employee trust and engagement, building on Southwest's employee-centric heritage as the company enters its next chapter.
• Connect rewards, programs, tools and day-to-day people processes to the moments that matter most within the employee experience.
• Partner across the People organization so the employee experience is delivered consistently
• Provide strategic oversight of Total Rewards, including benefits, compensation and retirement, ensuring programs support employee wellbeing and business priorities.
• Understand how rewards decisions affect the organization and how downstream processes deliver on those commitments.
• Partner closely with the Technology organization to define, prioritize, and advance the HR technology roadmap.
• Advance Southwest's HR technology toward a modern, Employee-centered digital experience.
• Provide data-driven perspective to the People Leadership Team and senior business leaders to inform decisions.
• Act as an enterprise leader, bringing business judgment and influence to discussions well beyond the immediate function.
• Build strong partnerships across COEs and executive functions to drive alignment, integration, and shared accountability
• Perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of HR disciplines, including Total Rewards, Employee Experience, HR Technology, and HR Operations
• Knowledge of HRIS systems and analytics tools to inform data-driven decision-making
• Skilled in building and maintaining trusted relationships with executive leadership, boards, and cross-functional partners
• Skilled in managing change and leading through transformation in fast-paced or complex environments
• Ability to set an agenda, shape direction at the senior leadership level and move complex initiatives from strategy through execution
• Ability to build trust quickly and earn credibility across a diverse organization, from the executive suite to the front line.
• Ability to connect seemingly unrelated information to form a clear, long-term point of view on what will keep Southwest a place where people want to build their careers.
• Ability to lead large, multi-functional HR teams with a focus on collaboration, innovation, and accountability
• Ability to communicate complex people-related topics clearly and persuasively to a wide range of audiences
• Ability to influence outcomes without direct control through partnerships, collaboration, and subject matter expertise.
• Ability to handle sensitive employee and organizational matters with discretion, empathy, and sound judgment
• Ability to articulate a compelling, purpose-driven case for change that resonates with Southwest's People at every level
• Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining a strategic focus and delivering high-quality results
• Ability to translate data into insights and effectively tell the story at an executive level

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED

Experience

• Demonstrated experience leading multiple teams or functions through subordinate Leaders
• Advanced level Business Acumen in functional area with understanding of broad business impacts
• Expansive and far-reaching knowledge in:
  • Human Resources with a clear understanding of how rewards, employee experience, technology, and people operations connect
  • Leading people strategy through periods of change, restructuring, or rebuilding
  • Strengthening Employee trust and engagement in a large, complex organization
  • Organizations with large frontline, distributed and diverse employee populations
  • Partnering with Technology to prioritize and advance HR technology capabilities
  • Leading large, strategic initiatives and developing business cases

Licensing/Certification

• NA

Physical Abilities

• Ability to perform work duties from [limited space workstation/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 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
• Must demonstrate and maintain an extremely high regard for confidential and sensitive information

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Please print/save this job description because it won't be available after you apply.