Material Planner - Dallas

Material Planner

The Material Planner supports Technical Operations by serving as the subject matter expert for assigned commodities, leading material planning and forecasting efforts that ensure parts availability and operational reliability. They'll create and maintain stocking plans for designated Air Transport Association chapters while forecasting aircraft repair parts across maintenance bases and MRO locations. They'll support fleet campaigns and aircraft modification initiatives by adjusting forecasts, optimizing stocking levels, and proactively addressing material needs using data-driven insights and planning tools such as SPM. The Material Planner partners across teams and leads projects impacting their assigned commodities, leveraging strong analytical and problem-solving skills to improve inventory performance and support efficient, reliable maintenance operations.

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. is 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

• Validate and modify statistical, scheduled and causal part demand data to establish comprehensive, accurate part forecasts
• Implement robust stocking plans which account for supply chain constraints to achieve high service levels for assigned commodities and maintenance locations
• Establish thorough communication with SCM and Tech Ops groups impacted by material availability and new part initiatives
• Coordinate with cross-departmental peers and Leaders to mitigate operational disruptions, drive reductions in unscheduled aircraft downtime, ensuring abundant support for operational Teams
• Identify process gaps and operational inefficiencies; Recommend solutions to maintain optimal material availability at the lowest cost
• Define business cases for material requirements to attain budgetary approval, and support Leadership on the development of annual operating plan requirements
• Lead and support cross-functional parts-related projects, serving as a Supply Chain Management representative to other Departments and external stakeholders
• Investigate material disruptions by gaining understanding of broad supply and demand factors; Isolate causes and provide solution recommendations to Leadership
• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of material planning or service part planning principles and how they are applied in the supply chain lifecycle to provide optimal service
• Skilled in broad use of office productivity software, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems, and service part planning software
• Ability to manage time effectively through organizing work and seeking guidance as needed to resolve issues and questions in order to meet deadlines
• Skilled in communicating comprehensive information, including observations and insights, to Team Members, internal Customers, and Suppliers
• Ability to influence people outside area of responsibility in pursuit of Team and Department goals and objectives
• Skilled in asking the right questions to address complex issues with limited oversight, while taking personal responsibility for actions and incorporating feedback from others to make real-time adjustments
• Skilled in understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making
• Skilled in using logic and reasoning to identify multiple alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
• Skilled in performing detailed analysis, interpreting results, synthesizing information and providing recommendations
• Ability to support other Team Members to ensure accuracy and completeness of tasks and use of best practices

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED

Experience

• Intermediate-level experience, fully functioning broad knowledge in:
• Service part planning, production planning or master schedule planning
• Supply Chain, Finance, Accounting, Engineering, Logistics or related experience
• Preferred: Experience in SPM and Maintenix

Licensing/Certification

• A valid passport allowing travel across US borders

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 demonstrate the highest level of ethics and integrity in all supplier relations
• Must meet confidentiality expectations as to confidential, proprietary, and sensitive Company information
• Ability to work flexible hours to successfully meet deadlines; extended work hours, including occasional weekend coverage may be required
• Possible travel domestically/internationally 10-15%

Pay & Benefits

• Competitive market salary from $77,200 per year to $85,800 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:

*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.

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.