Director Employee Communications

Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you.

The Director of Employee Communications is responsible for leading enterprise employee communications across Alaska Air Group’s portfolio of businesses and brands. This leader will develop and execute internal communications strategies and lead a team that connects employees to company strategy, support and drive enterprise transformation, strengthen culture and build trust during periods of change.  This role serves as a strategic advisor to senior executives and workgroup leaders, helping translate business priorities into clear, compelling communications that inspire action and engagement across a geographically dispersed workforce that spans the full enterprise. 

• Develop and execute the employee communications strategy supporting Air Group's business priorities and long-term vision that fosters trust, alignment and connection across the workforce.
• Ensure employees across our businesses and brands understand company strategy, performance, key initiatives and organizational priorities.
• Create communications that connect employees to purpose, values and culture while supporting distinct brand identities.
• Establish enterprise employee communications standards, governance and channel strategies that improve clarity, consistency and effectiveness across the organization while honoring the unique histories and cultures within each airline brand and operation.
• Ensure frontline employees receive timely, relevant and accessible information regardless of location, schedule or work environment.
• Collaborate closely with Labor Relations, HR, Operations, Commercial, Legal and Safety on internal communication strategies and employee engagement.
• Serve as strategic advisor to the Chief People Officer for Alaska Airlines and VP of People and Labor for Horizon Air to advance communication strategies that support HR priorities, employee experience and broader workforce strategy.
• Help ensure communication approaches support positive labor relationships and respect collective bargaining environments.
• Lead communication strategies supporting major enterprise transformations, integration efforts and organizational changes.
• Partner with executive leaders to navigate complex business initiatives and ensure employees understand the "why," "what" and "what's next."
• Develop change management communication plans that drive awareness, understanding, adoption and engagement.
• Anticipate employee sentiment, identify communication risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Help leaders communicate with authenticity, transparency and empathy.
• Create scalable communication tools that enable leaders to communicate effectively with teams across diverse workgroups.
• Develop executive communications for key moments including company updates, business performance, crises and strategic announcements.
• Lead and develop a high-performing employee communications team.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Establish communication measurement frameworks and use data to inform decisions.
• Manage budgets, vendor relationships and communication technology platforms.

Required

• 8 years of progressive communications experience, including time in employee communications.
• 5 years of leadership experience with either: 2 of those years directly leading people, or 3 years of advanced functional subject matter expertise in enterprise employee communications.
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Business or related field, or an additional two years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.
• Experience leading communications during major business transformations, integrations or organizational change efforts.
• Understanding of frontline workforce communication challenges and best practices.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership teams and advising senior leaders.
• Demonstrated success developing communication strategies that drive engagement and behavior change.
• Exceptional writing, storytelling and executive communication skills.
• Experience leading and developing communications professionals.

Preferred

• Experience in aviation, transportation, hospitality, retail or other highly operational industries.
• Experience working in unionized environments and partnering with labor relations teams.
• Background in culture transformation, employee engagement or change management.
• Advanced degree in Communications, Organizational Development, Business or related field.

Embody our values to own safety, do the right thing, be caring and kind, and deliver performance.

The pay range and total target compensation package listed above is the expected pay offered for this position at the start of employment. Your pay will be based on multiple factors, including and not limited to location, your relevant experience/level, experience level, and skillset while balancing internal equity relative to other Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon employees. Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon is committed to fair, unbiased compensation along with competitive benefits in all locations in which we operate.

Note: We don't typically hire at the top of the range. 

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air pay and benefits can vary by company, location, number of regularly scheduled hours worked, length of employment, and employment status.

• Free stand-by travel privileges on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air with high priority status 
• Select number of confirmed travel credits provided annually 
• Comprehensive well-being programs including medical, dental and vision benefits
• Generous 401k match program
• Annual bonus plans
• Generous holiday and paid time off 

For more information about Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon Total Rewards please visit our career site and view benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement  

It is the policy of Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment and to ensure equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and benefits of employment or potential employment.   

We also prohibit discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories.  

We have established an EEO Compliance Program under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 503”) and the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (“VEVRAA”).  All applicants and employees are treated without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. In addition, we have established an audit and reporting system to allow for effective measurement of its equal employment opportunity activities.   

To implement this policy, we will: 

(1) Recruit, hire, train and promote qualified persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and any other legally protected categories; 
(2) Ensure that employment decisions are based only on valid job requirements; and 
(3) Ensure that all personnel actions and employment activities such as compensation, benefits, promotions, layoffs, return from layoff, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air sponsored programs, and tuition assistance will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories. 

Employees and applicants for employment will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination because they have engaged or may engage in (1) filing a complaint, (2) opposing any act or practice made unlawful by, or exercising any other right protected by, any Federal, State or local law requiring equal opportunity, including Section 503 and the equal opportunity provisions of VEVRAA, or (3) assisting or participating in any investigation, compliance evaluation, hearing, or any other activity related to the administration of any Federal, State or local law requiring equal opportunity, including Section 503 and the equal opportunity provisions  of VEVRAA. 

Government Contractor & Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulations 
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT – regulations, 49 CFR part 40) and all applicants are advised that post-offer and/or pre-employment drug testing will be conducted to determine the presence of marijuana, cocaine, opioids, phencyclidine (PCP) and amphetamines or a metabolite of these drugs prior to any offer or employment or transfer into a safety-sensitive position. Failure to submit to testing or positive indications of drug use will render the applicant ineligible for employment with Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines/Horizon Air and any employment offer will be withdrawn.