Department:

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:

Job Summary

As a Business Development Account Manager, you’ll help grow Southwest Business by turning leads and prospects into revenue-generating partnerships. You’ll identify and qualify new opportunities, connect with travel decision-makers, and align Southwest solutions with the needs of small businesses, groups, and meeting planners. Through proactive account management and digital sales strategies, you’ll guide prospective Customers through the early stages of the sales cycle, negotiate and implement agreements, and strengthen engagement across accounts of all sizes. You’ll also support Southwest Business Teams and Customers by responding to sales inquiries and building trusted relationships that create mutual value. Your ability to understand Customer objectives, overcome barriers, and confidently represent Southwest will help expand our business partnerships, strengthen Customer loyalty, and drive sustainable revenue growth.

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

• Generate new partnerships via qualifying inbound and outbound leads to determine who the travel decision maker is and understand their travel program needs.
• Identify Small Business needs and align the proper solution to provide mutual benefit to the company and Southwest.
• Influence revenue growth from small businesses through use of digital sales cycles, proactive account management, and engagement.
• Executes sales cycle including negotiating and implementing contracts to grow small business, meetings, and groups revenue.
• Negotiates and implements corporate agreements, including soft dollar programs and meetings contracts for small business accounts.
• Provide Customer support to Southwest Business Teams and Customers by responding to and managing sales inquiries
• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee’s Leaders

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledgeable on the airline industry and competition, specifically regarding corporate travel options for small business accounts
• Ability to confidently represent Southwest and the Team in cross functional internal and external projects and meetings
• Ability to prospect, cold call, and qualify corporate clients, within and outside the Southwest Airlines network
• Ability to identify a Customer's objectives and align solutions to overcome barriers and drive sales
• Must demonstrate successful negotiation skills
• Knowledge of the principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services including marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems
• Knowledge of the principles and processes for providing Customer and personal services including Customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluating Customer Satisfaction
• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
• Skilled in giving full attention to what other People are saying, taking the time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
• Skilled in understanding and applying information to contribute to the organizations strategic plan
• Skilled in actively looking for ways to help people
• Ability to listen, understand, and communicate ideas presented in writing and/or in speaking with others
• Ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events)
• Ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or GED

Experience

• Entry level experience, developing skills and knowledge in:
  • Business to Business Sales
  • Marketing
• Preferred: Experience managing Customer accounts
• Preferred: Experience supporting business development activities
• Preferred: Experience with the beginning stages of the sales cycle

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 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 $60,650 per year to $67,400 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 Retirement Savings Plan 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.
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