Program Manager, Operational Performance

WestJet Group; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

WestJet Group is seeking a Senior Performance Advisor to drive operational transformation. You will partner with frontline leaders to define improvement roadmaps, diagnose performance gaps, and translate strategy into action across multiple initiatives.

In this role you will apply Lean, Agile, and structured problem-solving to deliver measurable outcomes, coordinate cross-functional workstreams, and build executive-level updates for ongoing priorities.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Business, Operations, Analytics, or a related field.
• 8-12 years of experience in operations, continuous improvement, business consulting, or advisory roles.
• Foundational project management experience or training.
• Experience working directly with frontline or operational leaders to support performance improvement.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into action.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Powerpoint, Excel and performance reporting tools.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and cross-functional stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Comfortable leading small to medium-sized projects independently.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of transformation initiatives in support of operational performance improvements, including opportunity identification, assessment, prioritization, and roadmapping.
• Lead and deliver prioritized transformation initiatives within the assigned operational domain, ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives and WestJet’s long-range plan.
• Act as a strategic partner to frontline leaders, enabling decision making and execution through performance analysis, process redesign, and implementation support.
• Apply structured problem-solving frameworks and leverage Lean, Agile, and continuous improvement methodologies to diagnose root causes, co-develop solutions, and track performance outcomes.
• Facilitate cross-functional steering committees, working groups, and stakeholder workshops, providing informal leadership and coaching to drive accountability.
• Build executive-level presentations and lead regular workstream updates for senior operational leaders, presenting progress, recommendations, and ensuring alignment on priorities, actions, and next steps.

Skills

Analytical skills

PowerPoint

Excel

Stakeholder engagement

Project coordination

Education

Post-secondary degree in Business/Operations/Analytics

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Performance reporting tools

Job description

Overview of role:

This role is a senior stakeholder who plays a critical role in WestJet’s operational transformation. The Performance Advisor partners directly with frontline leaders and functional teams to define and translate strategy into day-to-day performance. By bringing structure, analysis, and coordination to operational improvement efforts, the Performance Advisor helps ensure priorities are clear, progress is sustained, and operational performance targets are consistently achieved.

The Performance Advisor partners with operational leaders to identify, assess, prioritize, plan, and deliver initiatives that improve operational performance. This role supports leaders in defining improvement roadmaps, diagnosing root causes of performance gaps, and determining the most effective actions to address them.

Working across operational teams, the Performance Advisor coordinates multiple initiatives simultaneously, defines and operationalizes performance measures, and supports the adoption of performance management practices that improve visibility, accountability, and execution. The role combines analytical problem-solving, initiative coordination, and stakeholder engagement to help translate operational priorities into measurable results.

Reports to: Senior Manager, Operational Performance

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of transformation initiatives in support of operational performance improvements, including opportunity identification, assessment, prioritization, and roadmapping.
• Lead and deliver prioritized transformation initiatives within the assigned operational domain, ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives and WestJet’s long-range plan.
• Act as a strategic partner to frontline leaders, enabling decision making and execution through performance analysis, process redesign, and implementation support.
• Apply structured problem-solving frameworks and leverage Lean, Agile, and continuous improvement methodologies to diagnose root causes, co-develop solutions, and track performance outcomes.
• Facilitate cross-functional steering committees, working groups, and stakeholder workshops, providing informal leadership and coaching to drive accountability.
• Build executive-level presentations and lead regular workstream updates for senior operational leaders, presenting progress, recommendations, and ensuring alignment on priorities, actions, and next steps.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Business, Operations, Analytics, or a related field.
• 8-12 years of experience in operations, continuous improvement, business consulting, or advisory roles.
• Foundational project management experience or training.
• Experience working directly with frontline or operational leaders to support performance improvement.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into action.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Powerpoint, Excel and performance reporting tools.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and cross-functional stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Comfortable leading small to medium-sized projects independently.

Assets:

• Experience in the airline, aviation, transportation, or logistics industry.
• Certification or formal training in Lean, Continuous Improvement, or Agile methodologies.
• Experience supporting change management and adoption of new processes, tools, or ways of working.