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. This Technology Supply Chain Management (SCM) Category Manager invests in the future of Southwest’s People in their work as a trusted advisor for managing a portfolio and categories of related Technology suppliers, particularly Technology for the Air Operations groups – including Flight Operations, Network Operations Control, and Inflight Operations. This Category Manager is capable of supporting complex and high-value contracts, and they work with cross-functional Teams to ensure suppliers successfully meet business objectives. They help to maximize supplier value and mitigate our risk by leading strategic sourcing events, negotiations, and drafting of contracts. This role serves as a consultant in Air Operations Technology spend and supplier related issues, and they’ll help to mentor more junior level Cohearts in this space. The Technology SCM Category Manager is excited to join this growing and impactful Team, where they’ll have the opportunity to pilot where their career with heart takes them and help drive the future of Southwest Airlines.

Additional details:

• This role is offered as a regional workplace position and Employees must work in the region they support. This could require working from a mix of on-site Company facilities and remote based offices to perform the job function in a regional location determined by business need. Each Department will provide Employees with guidance on when and where presence is required with as much notice as reasonably possible.
• Please note, while this is a regional position, there is limited group of states or localities ineligible for Employees to regularly perform their work off-site. Those ineligible locations are: Alaska, Delaware, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
• 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

• Advise technology and Stakeholders on common risk elements of a supplier agreement and/ or program or project
• Assist Leaders with decision-making process by encouraging competitive evaluation of new suppliers through the RFP process
• Create and implement negotiation strategies
• Manage supplier communications and coordinates contract negotiation and strategic sourcing events
• Collaborates with internal Customers to gain a solid understanding of business requirements
• Educate Stakeholders and set expectations to achieve improved business outcomes and align around key positions on issues such as IP, data security, LOL, and SLA development
• Manage on-going demand planning with technology and/ or business Stakeholders for assigned agreements and renewals
• Support multiple technical categories, across multiple programs and areas of the business
• Identify potential procurement opportunities through data analysis, category and industry knowledge, current and emerging business models, and discussions with Stakeholders
• Communicate performance and concerns with suppliers that may result in redefining the relationship
• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee’s Leaders