Managing Director Technology SCM

Southwest Airlines
401(k)
United States, Texas, Dallas
Jul 14, 2025
Department: Supply Chain Management Our Company Promise 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: The Managing Director Technology Supply Chain Management is a high-impact role at the intersection of Technology, procurement, and enterprise strategy. Leading a team of 50+ Leaders and Cohearts, you'll oversee the sourcing, negotiation, and management of complex Technology agreements across hardware, software, telecom, infrastructure, and professional services. This role partners closely with Senior Leaders up to the CIO, driving procurement strategies that fuel innovation, optimize costs, and manage risk across the enterprise. Success in this role requires a strong ability to guide strategic, high-stakes technology relationships and to proactively engage with Senior Technology and Business Leaders early in the planning process to enable smarter, longer-term decisions around technology cost and capability management. If you're a decisive, collaborative Leader with deep IT sourcing expertise and a passion for building high-performing Teams, this is your opportunity to shape the future of Technology at Southwest Airlines. 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. Model the Southwest Way Guide and lead Team Members using SWA talent management practices to coach, develop, and engage Employees Adhere to Company values and competencies to foster a Culture of inclusion, recognition, and support of a safe work environment Invest in Leadership and self-growth through participating in continuous learning and development Responsibilities Lead the efficient execution of a high volume of procurement activities, ensuring timelines, budgets, and quality standards are met Drive data-driven decision-making and reporting on sourcing performance and cost savings Partner with Technology Vendor Management to manage supplier relationships through structured performance reviews, scorecard development, and continuous improvement initiatives that support value creation, innovation, and accountability Champion governance, compliance, and transformation initiatives by supporting business case development, enforcing procurement policies and risk frameworks, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strategic collaboration Drive process improvement and automation by formulating strategies for transaction processing, championing new initiatives, and integrating best practices to enhance scalability, efficiency, and stakeholder satisfaction Provide strategic leadership in the development and execution of enterprise-wide technology sourcing and procurement strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, operational excellence, and financial performance targets Develop and lead enterprise-wide sourcing strategies for software, hardware, cloud services, telecom, infrastructure, and emerging technologies Optimize supplier base to ensure performance, innovation, cost-effectiveness, and compliance Oversee complex negotiations and contract lifecycle management for a high volume of technology agreements, including master services agreements, SaaS, licensing, and cloud contracts as well as hardware, infrastructure, and telecom Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of sourcing and procurement professionals Drive accountability, continuous improvement, and excellence in execution, and build a collaborative, engaged, and results-oriented team culture Partner with key stakeholders to align sourcing initiatives with business and technology priorities and roadmaps Develop and deliver executive-level reporting and presentations for leadership and cross functional stakeholders to support data-driven decisions, track progress, and influence enterprise sourcing strategies Establish and maintain strong stakeholder partnerships to educate business leaders, align expectations, and drive consensus on complex issues such as commercial structures, intellectual property, data security, service level agreements, and contractual risk May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Expert knowledge of technology contract commercial structures including pricing and licensing models, and other terms, such as intellectual property (IP) ownership, service level agreements (SLAs), cybersecurity, data protection, and compliance frameworks Advanced knowledge of key technology methodologies and concepts such as SaaS, Agile development, DevOps, cloud computing, and emerging digital transformation trends Advanced knowledge of business and management principles encompassing strategic planning, resource allocation, human capital management, and operational coordination Advanced expertise in applying business principles to optimize the design, production, and delivery of goods and services within technology supply chains Advanced ability to craft and deliver compelling messages across written, verbal, and visual communications Advanced ability to analyze complex information, evaluate costs and benefits, solve problems by synthesizing diverse data points, and make sound, data-driven decisions aligned with organizational strategy Advanced leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, including team building, maintaining focus on critical objectives, and driving consensus across technical, legal and business partners to achieve strategic outcomes Education Required: High School Diploma or GED Required: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain, IT, or other related field Experience Demonstrated experience in directly or indirectly leading Team(s) Advanced level Business Acumen in functional area Seasoned and specialized knowledge in: Strategic sourcing and procurement, with significant focus on technology categories Procurement, finance, IT, and business disciplines, with extensive hands-on experience in technology supply chain management, contracting, and complex negotiations Strategic procurement and sourcing, including developing strategies, leading cross-functional teams on sourcing initiatives, and negotiating contracts Experience and demonstrated success managing complex, transformational, high-value technology agreements and vendor relationships Cost management and optimization across multiple technology and non-technology spend categories (e.g., professional services), delivering measurable savings and value Supplier relationship management, including performance evaluation, risk mitigation, and collaborative innovation to support business objectives Demand planning and forecasting, aligning supply chain activities with evolving technology and business needs to ensure operational continuity and agility Leveraging procurement technologies and digital tools to automate processes, improve data visibility, and enhance decision-making Navigating complex regulatory, compliance, and cybersecurity requirements relevant to technology sourcing and supply management, and ensuring appropriate risk mitigations are incorporated into business practices (e.g., GDPR, SOC 2, InfoSec) Leading transformational change, driving continuous improvement, and cultivating a high-performance culture within supply chain and procurement teams Working in large, matrixed organizations; ability to influence, build consensus, drive change and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups Procurement systems (e.g., SAP Ariba, Coupa) and contract lifecycle management (CLM) platforms Licensing/Certification N/A Physical Abilities Ability to perform work duties from limited space workstation/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 Occasional travel and extended work hours may be required Must be able to travel domestically and internationally Pay & Benefits: Competitive market salary from $219,250 per year to $243,600 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. Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.** Please print/save this job description because it won't be available after you apply.