Director Inflight Safety, Standards Compliance

Company Alaska Airlines

The Team

Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day.

If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you.

Role Summary

The Director Inflight Safety, Standards, & Compliance sets the long-term strategy and oversees the performance of inflight safety, standards (policies & procedures) and compliance for Alaska Air Group (AAG) and its subsidiaries. As a people leader, this role establishes strategic goals and direction for a team of leaders to uphold cabin safety standards and ensure cabin operation standards are complying with all regulatory requirements and accountable for all inflight compliance-related matters.

Key Duties

• Sets strategic direction for the Inflight policy, procedure, and standards function, leading managers and cross disciplinary teams in the development, maintenance, governance, and publication of all Inflight manuals, bulletins, and handbooks to ensure alignment, accuracy, and consistency across company manuals.
• Serves as the functional authority and spokesperson on Inflight policy and procedural matters, ensuring alignment with FAA regulatory requirements (CFR, Advisory Circulars) and emerging safety expectations while shaping company-wide understanding of policy impacts.
• Owns functional decision-making for the creation, approval, integration, and long-term management of all Inflight policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with Safety Management System (SMS) principles and the company’s operational and cultural strategy.
• Leads the development of Inflight safety and long-term policy frameworks, using safety data, audits, observations, and employee feedback to drive continuous improvement and ensure our programs align with industry best practices and enterprise goals.
• Provides strategic oversight for Safety Risk Management (SRM) activities, ensuring data driven assessment of risks and implementing policy or procedural changes influenced by incidents, trends, and emerging areas of operational exposure.
• Directs cross functional alignment, representing Inflight in enterprise level policy and process discussions, building consensus across functions, and ensuring coordinated and timely communication of policy, procedural, and operational changes.
• Leads and develops managers and specialist teams, ensuring clear expectations, effective resource allocation, cultural leadership, and ongoing development that aligns team capabilities with long-term strategy and functional needs.
• Holds functional budget accountability and long-range operational responsibility, making decisions with significant impact on program performance, regulatory posture, operational execution, and resource utilization for a 12 month horizon.

Job-Specific Experience, Education & Skills

Required

• 8 years of experience in relevant aviation safety and/or compliance.
• 5 years of leadership experience, with at least 2 of those years directly leading people.
• Bachelor’s degree, or an additional two years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.
• Outstanding communication (e.g., verbal, written, and listening) and presentation skills, with a demonstrated commitment to clear and transparent communication.
• Deep understanding of aviation regulations and safety standards.
• Proven experience in conducting root cause analysis and building robust plans for comprehensive fixes to close gaps.
• Experience in ownership and accountability for department manuals that guide the daily Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to understand the root causes of issues and to resolve in a thorough manner.
• Experience with labor unions.
• Flight attendant qualified, or able to successfully complete 5 weeks of flight attendant training.
• Knowledge of applicable FAA…