Advisor - Regulatory Affairs

WestJet Group; Calgary; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

WestJet Group seeks a senior Regulatory Affairs professional to manage licences, permits, and designations across global aviation authorities from Calgary. You will collaborate with network and fleet planning, maintain licensure records, and lead investigations into immigration-related issues.

You will provide expert regulatory counsel, engage with regulators and partners, and drive compliance initiatives while adapting to time-zone demands and complex data environments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in roles with significant exposure to WestJet operations, processes, and systems.
• Exceptional professional judgment, communication, tact, and diplomacy when handling sensitive matters.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships at all organizational levels and externally.
• Excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills with actionable insights.
• Ability to work under time-sensitive, high-pressure deadlines.
• Schedule flexibility to engage with licensing authorities across time zones.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Advanced knowledge of WestJet reservation and check-in systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage licences and permits with civil aviation authorities worldwide for WestJet operations.
• Partner with network planning, fleet planning, alliances, and stakeholders to align licensure with business goals and timelines.
• Maintain complete licensure records and documentation to support business continuity.
• Process customs and immigration violation notices and pursue mitigations with authorities.
• Identify patterns in violations and recommend actions to reduce exposure for WestJet.
• Serve as SME on immigration and travel-document requirements for passengers, crew, and animals.
• Provide regulatory counsel through forums and lead projects requiring compliance guidance.
• Build relationships with authorities, regulators, and partners to ensure compliance.
• Resolve data-transmission and data-quality non-compliance promptly.
• Support other Regulatory Affairs priorities to broaden knowledge.

Skills

Professional judgment

Communication

Diplomacy

Tact

Relationship building

Analytical thinking

Time management

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

SharePoint

Reservation & check-in systems

Job description

Overview of role

The successful candidate will help maintain WestJet's operating authorizations by managing licences and air operator designations, supporting compliance with facilitation regulations, and overseeing immigration-related infractions. The role works broadly across WestJet and with external partners, requiring a highly professional and collaborative approach. This senior-level individual contributor reports to the Director, Regulatory Affairs & Accessibility.

Key deliverables include:

• Manage WestJet's licences and permits with civil aviation authorities worldwide for scheduled, charter, ad hoc, cargo, and codeshare operations.
• Partner with network planning, fleet planning, alliances, and other stakeholders to define business requirements, establish timelines, and keep licensure readiness aligned with commercial and operational targets.
• Maintain complete licensure records and documentation to support business continuity.
• Process customs and immigration violation notices, investigate root causes with airports, corporate security, and external partners, and pursue mitigations with government authorities to avoid or reduce fines.
• Maintain violation records, identify patterns and trends, and recommend actions to reduce WestJet's exposure.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on immigration and travel-document requirements for passengers, crew, and animals, including how external technology systems interact with WestJet's systems and processes.
• Provide regulatory counsel through recurring and ad hoc forums, support projects requiring compliance guidance, and lead projects driven by regulatory change.
• Build and advance relationships with authorities, regulators, and service and technology partners to achieve and maintain compliance.
• Resolve data-transmission and data-quality non-compliance promptly to protect WestJet's good standing and operating authority.
• Support other Regulatory Affairs & Accessibility priorities to broaden knowledge and experience.

Experience and Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in roles with significant exposure to WestJet operations, processes, and systems.
• Exceptional professional judgment, communication, tact, and diplomacy, including the ability to manage sensitive matters and represent WestJet with external parties.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships at all organizational levels and externally.
• Excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills, with a track record of turning complex analysis into actionable insights and recommendations.
• Ability to work effectively under time-sensitive, high-pressure deadlines.
• Schedule flexibility, including occasional work outside standard Monday-to-Friday hours to engage with licensing authorities in other time zones.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Advanced knowledge of WestJet reservation and check-in systems; additional systems knowledge is an asset.