Director - Tech Ops Strategy

United Airlines; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 155,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

United Airlines is seeking a Director of Tech Operations to lead strategic initiatives within the Technical Operations team. This role involves managing execution, alignment of strategies, and improving operational performance while mentoring a skilled team. Ideal candidates possess strong leadership qualities and a background in aviation or related fields, with significant experience in strategic planning and program management.

Benefits

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k)

Paid time off

Flight privileges

Employee assistance program

Parental leave

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience needed.
• Strong leadership skills with a visionary mindset essential.
• Tech Ops Business Acumen required.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning for Tech Ops and manage portfolio improvement.
• Drive developement of TechOps strategy and key initiatives.
• Mentor team members and enhance their career growth.

Skills

Critical thinking

Interpersonal communication

Data-driven mindset

Coaching

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Achieving our goals starts with supporting yours. Grow your career, access top-tier health and wellness benefits, build lasting connections with your team and our customers, and travel the world using our extensive route network.

Come join us to create what’s next. Let’s define tomorrow, together.

Description

At United, we have some of the best aircraft in the world. Our Technical Operations team is full of aircraft maintenance technicians, engineers, planners, ground equipment and facilities professionals, and supply chain teams that help make sure they’re well taken care of and ready to get our customers to their desired destinations. If you’re ready to work on our planes, join our Tech Ops experts and help keep our fleet in tip-top shape.

Job overview and responsibilities

This role is responsible for leading the execution of strategic planning for Tech Ops and owns governance of the portfolio of work to improve the business and ensuring strategies and initiatives align with the division’s objectives. The Director will drive the development, management, and understanding of an overarching, integrated TechOps Strategy and the key work that composes it, while leading a team responsible for execution, implementation and managing key strategic initiatives with the Tech Ops organization.

• Strategic Planning & Innovation
  
  • Work with Tech Ops Leadership to define Tech Ops divisional objectives and the strategic workstreams that, together, achieve those objectives
  • Evaluate long-term technical operations strategies and key initiatives to ensure alignment with the airline's overall business objectives
  • This includes identifying opportunities for growth, cost reduction, consistency, and innovation in addition to risk identification and mitigation planning

• Portfolio Ownership & Program Management
  
  • Accountable for managing and driving the portfolio of Tech Ops Workstreams to improve the division’s operating performance
  • Oversee the governance of key strategic initiatives including developing and maintaining integrated roadmap of key initiatives, activities, milestones, progress and owners; responsible for ensuring key workstreams are driven to completion by the Strategy team members

• Stakeholder Alignment
  
  • Collaborate and communicate with leaders within Tech Ops (including Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, etc.) and across the airline (Finance, Corporate Real Estate, etc.) to ensure alignment, integration, and delivery of strategic initiatives
  • Oversee the architecture and development of context-appropriate updates of Tech Ops’ strategy and the various work that composes it

• Team Leadership
  
  • Manage and mentor a team of professionals, providing guidance and support to help them reach their full potential and excel in their careers at United

Qualifications

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree (B.S.) or equivalent experience inAviation Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Information Technology, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field
• 10+ years of relevant experience
• Thinks critically and broadly, anticipating potential enterprise and individual stakeholder impact
• Visionary, continuous improvement mindset toward innovation
• Bias toward challenging the status quo in a constructive, solution-oriented manner
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Outstanding story-telling skills and comfort presenting to executive audiences
• Ability to coaching the development of team members and hold the team accountable to deliver results while managing complex projects
• Adept at influencing and manage change ‘across’, instead of through hierarchical authority
• Tech Ops Business Acumen
• Comfort in autonomously charting a course through ambiguity
• Self-motivated curiosity to ‘connect the dots’
• Data-driven mindset
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
• Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
• Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):

• Continuous improvement experience
• 5+ years of leadership experience
• 4+ years’ experience leading / collaborating on large scale growth initiatives
• 3+ years of experience in strategic planning, corporate development, data analytics or process improvement

The base pay range for this role is $155,895.00 to $212,410.00.
The base salary range/hourly rate listed is dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience, education, and skills. This position is also eligible for bonus and/or long-term incentive compensation awards.

You may be eligible for the following competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision, life, accident & disability, parental leave, employee assistance program, commuter, paid holidays, paid time off, 401(k) and flight privileges.

United Airlines is an equal opportunity employer. United Airlines recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, veteran status and other protected status as required by applicable law. Equal Opportunity Employer - Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions. Please contact [e-mail] to request accommodation.