Regional General Manager

About WestJet

Established in 1996, WestJet has grown from a modest airline with just over 200 employees and three planes servicing five destinations to a major Canadian traveler favorite. The company has reshaped affordable air travel in Canada, more than doubling the flying population and expanding its reach globally with nearly 200 aircraft and connections to over 100 destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. WestJet Group includes WestJet Airlines, WestJet Encore, and Sunwing Vacations Group, making it a leading Canadian employer committed to providing accessible and affordable air and vacation travel.

Role Overview

The Regional General Manager will spearhead strategic direction and leadership to ensure safe, efficient airport operations delivered by WestJet’s contracted service partners across the designated Canadian region. Reporting to the Vice President of Airports, you will mentor a team of Regional Managers and collaborate with both internal divisions and external stakeholders to preserve compliance with regulations, nurture partnerships, and maintain a consistent premium experience for guests at all airport touchpoints.

Key Responsibilities

• Promote a "Safety Above All" culture by ensuring adherence to safety targets and proactive risk identification among service partners.
• Lead and develop Regional Managers to achieve operational effectiveness, elevated guest satisfaction, team engagement, and fiscal goals.
• Oversee airport operations across the region, enforcing WestJet’s operational and guest experience standards consistently.
• Drive regional performance by meeting operational, guest service, and financial benchmarks, supported by actionable station-level plans.
• Conduct audits, reviews, and performance assessments for compliance and continuous improvement.
• Utilize operational and safety data analysis to pinpoint trends and risks, guiding decisions and resource prioritization.
• Act as a senior escalation contact providing leadership on complex operational and safety issues.
• Collaborate with Strategic Procurement to craft and implement service partner strategies for safe, high quality, and cost-effective operations.
• Build and sustain relationships at executive levels with airport authorities, government bodies, unions, and other stakeholders.
• Manage operational planning to prepare airports adequately for seasonal demand changes, network growth, and strategic initiatives including service transitions and station changes.
• Lead innovation and continuous improvements by leveraging data to enhance operations, guest experience, employee engagement, and financial outcomes.
• Participate actively in the Airports Leadership Team to shape departmental goals and strategies.

Candidate Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years leadership experience in airport operations.
• Proven business leadership skills managing complex networks with multiple dependencies.
• Strong business acumen including budgeting and departmental planning.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and adapt to shifting demands swiftly.
• Experience presenting complex materials to senior management.
• Post-secondary education with a business focus preferred.
• Competence in overseeing multiple teams and locations simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively and stay away for extended periods.
• Project management proficiency is an advantage.
• Knowledge of international aviation regulations (e.g., TSA, Civil Aviation, UK High Commission) is beneficial.
• Demonstrated capability influencing leadership and developing strong management teams.
• Experience with IATA Standard Ground Handling Agreement (SGHA) is an asset.

Work Environment and Benefits

• Opportunity to join a supportive and collaborative culture focused on success.
• Travel privileges extended to employees and their families immediately upon start.
• Flexible savings and benefits programs tailored to individual needs.

Additional Information

This role supports remote work eligibility within Canada under the mobile workforce program. WestJet is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging applicants with diverse backgrounds. Safety sensitivity is critical, and this position requires passing mandatory alcohol and drug testing per company policy.

For more detailed company information, inquiries about data privacy, or to discuss accommodations during the recruitment process, contact the Talent Acquisition team directly.