Specialist/Sr Specialist, Communications

Intro

Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you’ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you’ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board!

Why You'Ll Love This Job

American Airlines is looking for a communicator who can help us effectively tell our story and manage issues response in a fast-paced environment specific to American’s operations at Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and the surrounding region. The role will include storytelling specific to our company’s core mission of caring for people on life’s journey and helping to support our communications strategy around our corporate goals. The right candidate is a strategic thinker, media relations expert, creative writer and team player, who will play a critical role in communicating to large internal and external audiences. The candidate will be based in Phoenix and will collaborate with a dynamic communications team, located in DFW and around the globe. This position will work closely with senior leaders in Global Engagement, as well as leaders in the operation and other business units.

What You'Ll Do

As noted above, this list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential functions (and certainly non-essential job functions) that are not referenced.  Management will modify the job or require other tasks be performed whenever it is deemed appropriate to do so, observing, of course, any legal obligations including any collective bargaining obligations.

• Works with the Manager and Senior Manager of Domestic Field Communications and other colleagues on the Operations Communications team, as well as the broader Global Engagement team to develop and execute internal and external communications strategies to achieve our business goals.
• Supports issues response and crisis communications throughout the U.S., serving as a first point of contact for the Communications team on local information and issues that will inform media and team member response in real-time.
• Works closely with senior leaders in the operation to drive meaningful internal communications and accurate external media coverage.
• Coordinates with team members in the operation to communicate complex aviation and industry issues.
• Provides logistics support for media events as well as draft media pitches and responses across key markets.
• Supports local leadership by developing internal and external story narratives, creating talking points, and creating social media content as needed.
• Drafts content for a variety of audiences and platforms.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, 24/7 environment to support American's communications efforts.
• Capability to aggressively defend American’s reputation and monitor media coverage to ensure accuracy.
• Identify proactive external media opportunities for the airline and assume media “on call” duties a few times a year.

All You'Ll Need For Success

Minimum Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience/training.
• 5 years of relevant work experience in communications or media relations.

Preferred Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Experience working in corporate communications or media relations for a large, multi-national organization
• Knowledge of and/or experience in aviation and the commercial airline industry
• Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills
• Ability to adapt and respond quickly to changing landscapes and to work well under pressure and tight deadlines
• Skilled in advising senior leaders on communications strategies
• Strong organization and analytical skills, solution and detail-oriented
• Strong ability to collaborate multiple stakeholders dealing with competing priorities
• Capable of anticipating needs and driving clarity on expectations
• High level of professionalism and discretion in handling confidential information
• Thrives in a fast-paced atmosphere where you work under pressure and can meet critical deadlines
• Strong team player

Skills, Licenses & Certifications

• Being hardworking and results-oriented and having the ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.
• Thriving in a fast-paced environment where you work under pressure and can meet critical deadlines both during normal business operations and after hours as warranted.
• The ability to make independent judgments and decisions while taking ownership of job responsibilities.
• Excellent time-management and project-management skills and the ability to handle multiple projects at once.
• Excellent written communication, verbal communication and presentation skills as well as strategic communications experience.
• Exercising sound business judgment and demonstrating professionalism and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Keen attention to detail and accuracy and a strong understanding of AP style and ability to following other style and branding guidelines.
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and digital signage platforms
• Graphic design experience helpful.

What You'Ll Get

Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer: 

• Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.
• Health Benefits: On day one, you’ll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that’s just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more. 
• Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself – that’s why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need.
• 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year.
• Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more

Feel Free To Be Yourself At American

From the team members we hire to the customers we serve, inclusion and diversity are the foundation of the dynamic workforce at American Airlines. Our 20+ Employee Business Resource Groups are focused on connecting our team members to our customers, suppliers, communities and shareholders, helping team members reach their full potential and creating an inclusive work environment to meet and exceed the needs of our diverse world.

Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life’s journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.