Senior Tech Ops SCM Category Manager

As a Senior Supply Chain Management (SCM) Category Manager supporting Tech Ops Supply Chain, you'll partner across Engineering, Reliability, Repairs, Operations, Finance, and Legal to drive sourcing and contract strategies that support aircraft availability, operational resilience, and safety. This role balances commercial rigor with operational realities by ensuring suppliers and vendors align with Southwest's performance expectations, long-term objectives, and enterprise standards, while identifying opportunities for cost reduction, value recovery, and contract optimization. You'll translate data into actionable insights, evaluate business cases and ROI tradeoffs, support the adoption of new processes, systems, and analytics, and influence internal and external stakeholders without direct authority to improve operational reliability, cost discipline, supplier performance, accountability, and cross-functional alignment, all while preserving strong long-term supplier relationships.

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.

Responsibilities

• Provides subject matter expert (SME) level procurement advice to SCM leadership in support of Strategic Initiatives

• Develops and leads multiple cross-functional groups through strategic cost savings initiatives in long term agreements, as well as drives the execution of contracts to ensure cost savings realization

• Works closely with internal Strategic Sourcing team to drive best-in-class operational and strategic initiatives with our Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers

• Serves as the department Diverse Supplier advocate, ensures inclusive quoting and bids to promote increased diverse spend

• Responsible for cultivating long term strategic relationships with critical and diverse suppliers and determining the best management method to attain proper oversight and value

• Leads thorough and inclusive sourcing efforts to obtain best prices and availability for assets, including a strong knowledge of alternate products that can result in both cost and time savings

• Develops meaningful metrics for tracking and reporting Supplier and internal operational performance. Able to compile and present metrics to Senior Leadership

• Analyze and calculate commodity total cost of ownership and suggest methods obtain long term strategic value

• Mentors, develops and trains Category Managers in all aspects of procurement, to increase department skill sets in order to provide added value

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

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates a strong ability to challenge and influence at all levels on the most complex issues and programs

• Strong ability to drive value by providing alternative and sometimes challenging views as a trusted advisor

• Ability to transfer knowledge and experience to junior Category Managers to build a stronger, more knowledgeable, cross functional team

• Strong knowledge of the business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources while adhering to FAA/ Regulatory, Financial and Quality Compliance standards

• Strong ability to read and comprehend various technical documentation such as: Complex engineering documents, Service Bulletins, Airworthiness Directives, Component Maintenance Manuals, and Illustrated Parts Catalogs.

• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing Customer and personal services including Customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of Customer Satisfaction

• Skilled and proficient with financial models; able to perform should-cost scenarios and cost-benefit analysis techniques; thorough knowledge of Total Cost Ownership cost models

• Skilled in understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making

• Possesses a successful track record in managing a project or program, including an understanding of all aspects of the supply chain process from start to finish

• Skilled at driving change among a diverse group of stakeholders, both internal and external, managing multiple initiatives and priorities concurrently

• Ability to construct clear, concise written and verbal communication and develop presentations for Executive Leaders.

• Ability to identify problems and drive toward resolution; master at bringing others together to reconcile differences ; manages conflict internally and externally at various levels of leadership

• Demonstrates ability to challenge and influence at all levels on the most complex issues and programs

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED

• Required: Bachelor's Degree

Experience

• Expert level experience, expansive and far reaching knowledge in:

  • Supply Chain, Finance, Accounting or Aviation processes

  • Economic/ financial analysis, commodity management, and cross-functional team leadership

  • Leading small Team projects or some larger interdepartmental projects with some senior stakeholders

  • Leading complex negotiations with all suppliers

• In-depth knowledge of various technologies (e.g. SAP ERP, Maintenix, Aeroxchange, QuickBase database management, Alteryx, Tableau, Salesforce, Workiva)

• Preferred: Working knowledge of contract structures and ability to align performance data to contractual obligations

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 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 meet confidentiality expectations as to confidential, proprietary, and sensitive Company information

• Day shift with the ability to work other shifts as needed with little to short notice in support of strategic activities or critical problem solving.

• Possible travel domestically and/or internationally 5-10%

Pay & Benefits

• Competitive market salary from$119,900per year to$133,200 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)

• Southwest will help fund your 401(k) retirement savings with Company contributions up to 9.3% of your eligible earnings**

• Potential for annual ProfitSharing 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.