New

Sr External Communications Specialist

Southwest Airlines
401(k)
United States, Texas, Dallas
Sep 05, 2025
Department: Culture & Communications 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: Southwest Airlines promises to provide Employees with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. The Senior External Communications Specialist develops and executescommunication plans, content, story curation, event planning and execution, and program management of external campaigns. They'll collaborate with various stakeholders to support the external Communications strategy and determine best practices surrounding content management and our Southwest brand. The Senior External Communication Specialist is detail-oriented and a skilled communicator ready to drive the future of 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. Responsibilities Able to distill multiple complex issues down to easily understandable and actionable messages for various stakeholders, including media, Employees, and Customers across a variety of internal and external channels Demonstrate knowledge of communication strategies, tactics and tools and an ability to leverage different communication methods to appeal to different audiences Plan external press events to announce Southwest news and maintain favorable public, media, and stockholder perceptions of the organization's accomplishments, results, and strategies Manage Executive Platforms for multiple Leaders, guiding presence and message for our internal and external channels Prepare media talking points, briefing materials, and media strategy documents for Leaders in preparation for local and national media interviews and external speaking engagements Serve as an External Spokesperson by responding to requests for information from the media and performing the research and writing necessary to provide external responses on behalf of the Company, including serving on the On Call Team Stay current with advancements and trends in communication and media May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge of traditional and social media landscapes, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods, including alternative ways to inform, engage, and influence via written, oral, and visual media Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar Skilled in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems Skilled in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents Ability to listen to, understand, and communicate ideas presented in writing and/or in speaking with others in a clear, concise manner Ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense Ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem Ability to pitch media to effectively earn news stories Education Required: High School Diploma or GED Experience Intermediate-level experience, fully functioning broad knowledge in: Communications Indirectly leading cross-functional teams Working well with Team to accomplish shared goals Preferred: At least 3 years of experience in Public Relations or with a PR Agency Licensing/Certification N/A 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 mobile device 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 Pay & Benefits: Competitive market salary from $71,450 per year to $79,400 peryear* depending on qualifications and experience. For eligible Leadership and individualcontributor roles, additional bonus opportunities are available and awarded at thediscretion 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 Retirement Savings Plan, which includes a dollarfor-dollar 401(k) Company match contribution of up to 9.3% of your eligible earnings** * Potential for annual profit-sharing contribution in the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan-when Southwest profits, you profit*** * Competitive health insurance for you and your eligible dependents * Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You'll have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan, and coverage will be retroactively available to your first day of employment. * Explore more benefits you'll love: https://careers.southwestair.com/benefits Pay amount doesn't guarantee employment for any particular period. 401(k) Company match contributions are subject to the plan's vesting schedule. Match contributions may vary based on the position. Profit-sharing contributions are subject to the 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.