This position requires in-person collaboration up to five days a week. This arrangement is subject to change based on business requirements.
Why WestJet:
Since our story took off in 1996, WestJet has strived to enrich the lives of everyone in our world; a career with us is no exception. We’re proud to be one of Canada’s most admired and respected corporate cultures and continuously aim for the highest standards of service and success.
Join us, this is where your career story takes off.
Overview of role:
The Transformation organization sits at the core of the WestJet Group and is accountable for translating the enterprise strategy into delivered, measurable financial outcomes. Program Managers within Transformation own a single enterprise program end to end, including the business case, the benefit commitments embedded in the annual budget and five-year plan, and the program delivery budget. These roles are designated for top-tier talent with a proven record of delivering transformation at scale and serve as a developmental platform for future leadership roles.
As a member of this team, the Program Manager, Transformation (Crew) leads end-to-end delivery of the Crew Productivity, Resilience & Flexibility program and is accountable, in partnership with the Program Sponsor, for the realization of $10–50M in annual run-rate EBITDA benefit. Reporting to the Director, Corporate Strategy and working in close partnership with the VP – Operations Planning & Performance and the Director, Group Resource Planning, this role sets delivery strategy and cadence, secures decisions from executive sponsors and the Executive Committee, and directs cross-functional and external delivery resources so committed transformation benefits are achieved.
Key Responsibilities
- Own end-to-end delivery of the Crew Productivity, Resilience & Flexibility program, including scope, integrated plan, milestones, decision gates and the committed outcome of $10–50M in annual run-rate EBITDA benefit, so that transformation value is realized and sustained
- Own the program business case and benefit commitments with Finance and the Program and Executive Sponsor(s) – size unsized components, set and defend the benefit assumptions used in the annual budget and five-year plan, and report realized value against baseline, so that committed savings are credible and auditable
- Direct matrixed delivery teams drawn from Operations, Commercial, Technology, Finance, People and Experience, plus external consulting and vendor partners – define the work, set standards and hold delivery owners to committed outcomes without formal reporting authority
- Drive the crew North Star and scorecard: translate the long-term fleet and network plan into a multi-year crew vision, objectives, KPIs and targets that balance productivity, resilience and flexibility
- Lead delivery across the five program workstreams – workforce and labour strategy, planning process and parameters, day-of process and crew scheduling coordination, advanced tooling and analytics, and core technology modernization
- Support the long-term crew and basing strategy, dynamic workforce modelling and the CBA toolkit, including peer benchmarking to inform upcoming pilot and cabin crew negotiations, in close partnership with Labour Relations / People / InFlight / Flight Ops
- Partner with business and technology leaders to advance the crew technology roadmap, delivering transformational platform upgrades and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, financial commitments, and operational outcomes
- Engage executive stakeholders on a regular basis, including the Executive Sponsor(s), Chief Transformation Officer and the Executive Committee – frame trade-offs, recommend decisions on scope, sequencing and investment, and secure alignment and resources, so that the program is unblocked at the pace required
- Determine and manage the program delivery budget, including approved external consulting spend, and establish the delivery operating system – war rooms, escalation paths, RAID discipline, structured lookbacks and Lean problem solving – so that risk, interdependencies and change impacts are controlled
- Integrate the crew agenda with adjacent transformation programs and enterprise planning cycles so that crew decisions, network and schedule decisions, and budget assumptions remain connected and consistent
Competencies & Attributes
- Strategic and analytical mindset with the ability to synthesize operational, financial, labour and system inputs into concise, compelling insights and defensible benefit cases
- Deep crew domain credibility; able to move fluently between workforce planning, pairing and rostering, reserve and day-of scheduling, crew pay and contractual rules
- Politically astute and organizationally savvy; skilled at navigating labour-sensitive topics, anticipating risks, surfacing trade-offs and mitigating challenges before they materialize
- Demonstrated excellence in program, portfolio and stakeholder management, with meticulous attention to detail and a bias for execution under tight timelines
- Highly trusted and discreet; adept at handling sensitive information, labour strategy, investment decisions and executive communications with integrity and professionalism
- Exceptional communication and executive writing skills; able to tailor messaging from the front line to the Executive Committee
- Collaborative and team-oriented, yet self-directed and confident in assuming leadership without formal authority
- Optimistic, resilient and solution-focused, with a passion for delivering meaningful organizational impact through operational change
Professional Experience & Qualifications
- Minimum of 8–12 years of progressive experience in transformation, operations leadership, crew planning or enterprise program delivery within large, complex or matrixed organizations
- Demonstrated accountability for delivering large-scale, enterprise-wide transformation programs of comparable financial scale at another organization – the successful candidate will have done this before, not led it for the first time
- Deep, ideally end-to-end, crew experience with a track record of delivering results in this area of the business, spanning long-range workforce and basing strategy, crew planning and parameter setting, pairing and rostering, reserve optimization, and day-of crew scheduling
- Practical understanding of collective agreement mechanics and their productivity, resilience and cost implications, including experience preparing or supporting negotiation strategy and modelling contractual scenarios
- Experience delivering crew system implementations or replacements (e.g., crew management, pairing and rostering, vacancy bidding or crew analytics platforms), including vendor selection and benefits realization
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives across operations, commercial, technology and finance, driving alignment and execution across diverse stakeholder groups without formal authority
- Strong familiarity with corporate governance processes, including preparation of Board and executive committee materials, business case approval, budget cycles and enterprise portfolio governance
- Lean / Continuous Improvement background, with Lean Six Sigma certification preferred; PMP or equivalent an asset
- Aviation or comparable complex operating environment experience preferred
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, Aviation Management or a related field required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred
The benefits of being a WestJetter:
WestJet provides all WestJetters with a competitive total rewards package. On top of that, we offer:
- A fun and friendly culture with colleagues who work together to win
- Travel privileges for you and your family, effective from your start date
- Savings and Benefit programs that are flexible to meet your specific needs
Think we’re a great fit? Apply now!
About WestJet Group of Companies
WestJet took to the skies in 1996 with just over 200 employees and three aircraft operating service to five destinations. Since then, WestJet has pioneered low-cost travel in Canada, cutting airfares in half, and increasing the flying population in Canada by more than 50 per cent. Since the Sunwing Airlines integration in 2025, more than 15,000 WestJetters support nearly 200 aircraft and connect guests to our global network of more than 100 destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. The WestJet Group is a major Canadian employer and includes WestJet Airlines, WestJet Encore and Sunwing Vacations Group. We’re Canada’s leading value airline and largest vacation provider, with a united purpose of providing affordable and accessible air and vacation travel to Canadians.
Our safety promise
At WestJet, the safety and security of our people and our guests is a core value and at the heart of what we do. Safety and security are shared responsibilities all team members are expected to use safe work practices to ensure their well-being and the safety of others. WestJet recognizes that the use of Alcohol and Drugs can adversely impact a safe work environment and the well-being of others including guests, suppliers and the public, as well as place WestJet's operations at risk. All roles that are identified as Safey-Sensitive are required to pass a Pre-Employment Alcohol and Drug Test as per WestJet's Alcohol and Drug Policy.
Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
We embrace what makes each of us unique, and what makes us uniquely WestJet. We welcome diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds so if you're passionate about this role, we encourage you to apply – even if you don't meet every qualification listed. WestJet is committed to inclusiveness, equity and accessibility throughout the selection process. If you require accommodation at any stage, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].
We value the time and effort you put into your application. Our recruitment process is highly competitive and while every applicant will receive communication regarding their application status, only those selected to move forward will be contacted with next steps. If this role isn’t the right fit, we encourage you to explore future opportunities with us.
For more information about everything WestJet, please westjet.com/aboutus.
If you wish to withdraw your application or request that your personal information be deleted, please contact us at [email protected].
