Director, Labor Relations - Flight

IntroAre you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you’ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you’ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board!Why you'll love this jobThe Director, Labor Relations - Flight will support all aspects of the Company's labor relationship with the Allied Pilots Association (APA) and will be responsible for the implementation, administration, interpretation, and ongoing maintenance of the collective bargaining agreement covering American Airlines pilots. This role will also provide labor relations support for other represented and non-represented team member groups, as needed, and serve as a key partner to operational leadership on contract compliance, dispute resolution, negotiations, and labor strategy.What you'll doThis list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential functions (and certainly non-essential job functions) that are not referenced. Management will modify the job or require other tasks be performed whenever it is deemed appropriate to do so, observing, of course, any legal obligations.Develops and maintains a constructive and effective labor-management relationship with the APA, fostering open communication and collaborative problem-solving.Establishes and maintains strong partnerships with Flight Operations and other senior business leaders to support operational objectives and labor relations strategies.Ensures Company compliance with collective bargaining agreement provisions, applicable labor laws, and regulatory requirements; oversees the administration, interpretation, and application of pilot labor agreements.Leads efforts to resolve labor disputes and complex team member relations matters, negotiating practical and sustainable solutions with union representatives and management.Serves as a trusted advisor to leaders across multiple corporate departments, providing timely and strategic guidance on labor and employment matters.Designs, develops, and delivers labor relations training and education programs to enhance management effectiveness and contract compliance.Monitors developments in labor relations law, collective bargaining trends, arbitration decisions, and industry practices to identify risks and opportunities and inform business strategy.Provides leadership, direction, and development to Labor Relations team members, ensuring high quality support and consistent application of labor relations policies and practices.Oversees grievance administration and dispute resolution processes, including preparation for and participation in mediations, system boards, and arbitration proceedings.Supports collective bargaining initiatives, contract negotiations, and strategic labor planning efforts, including the development of bargaining positions, analysis of proposals, and executive level reporting.Drives continuous improvement in labor relations processes and outcomes.All you'll need for successMinimum Qualifications – Education & Prior Job Experience Bachelor’s degree in relevant studies, such as Industrial Relations, or equivalent experience/training7 years of experience in Labor Relations, or operational/strategic leadership at an airlinePrevious collective bargaining agreement and negotiations experienceExperience as a company representative or System Board member during arbitration, litigation, and/or government hearingsExperience in early dispute resolution strategyAbility and willingness to travel, as necessary Preferred Qualifications – Education & Prior Job Experience Advanced degree preferred, legal or labor-related degree a plusSkills, Licenses, and CertificationsDemonstrates the highest standards of ethics and integrityAbility to think strategically, negotiate skillfully, digest complex details, and use sound judgment and initiative in making decisions Exceptional problem solving, analytical, and critical thinking abilityAbility to be highly collaborative, form consensus, build relationships, and work productively with a broad range of experienced professionals throughout the companyAbility to effectively advocate and communicate on behalf of American Airlines with all levels of external officials Ability to build and facilitate long-term relationships at all levels, both internally and externallyAbility to delegate effectively and handle multiple responsibilities, manage available resources, make timely decisions, and understand the impact of those decisions on othersAbility to demonstrate time management, multi-tasking, and organizational skillsAbility to demonstrate flexibility and work a varied scheduleAbility and willingness to remain current with industry practices and developmentsMentoring and relationship building skills with ability to manage group and interpersonal conflict situationsExcellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with ability to handle complex topics comfortably and to interact effectively with all levels and colleagues across internal departments, both verbally and writtenAbility to thrive in a fast-paced, changing, and complex environmentExcellent organizational and project management skillsWhat you'll getFeel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer:Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.Health Benefits: On day one, you’ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that’s just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more. Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself – that’s why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need.401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year.Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Member Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and moreFeel free to be yourself at AmericanFrom the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+ Team Member Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world.Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life’s journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.