Manager, Business & Strategic Planning

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At Piedmont Airlines, our strength is the way we deliver industry-leading service to our customers and airline partners. To continue our standard of excellence, Piedmont is seeking a motivated and forward-thinking leader to join our team as ​Manager, Business & Strategic Planning. The ​Manager, Business & Strategic Planning is ​responsible for ​leading financial and ​operational ​analysis, business planning, ​productivity ​initiatives, and performance measurement ​to support the organization's strategic and ​financial ​objectives. This role ​partners with Finance, Operations, ​and ​other ​cross-functional ​leaders to ​identify ​opportunities ​to improve ​cost ​performance, productivity, and ​operational efficiency. The ​Manager ​leads the ​development of financial and labor ​models, performance ​reporting, business cases, and key performance indicators that enable informed ​decision-making. ​A ​key responsibility ​of ​this position is ensuring that ​identified ​productivity ​and efficiency opportunities ​translate into measurable ​business ​results by establishing ​expected benefits,​ tracking implementation, ​validating ​realized savings ​and ​operational ​improvements, and ​incorporating ​results ​into forecasts ​and business ​plans. The successful candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study coupled with five years of progressively responsible work experience in a related field. This position will report to the Senior Director, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A).

Essential Duties:

• ​Lead financial, operational, and productivity ​analysis to ​identify trends, ​performance ​gaps, cost ​drivers, risks, ​and opportunities for improvement
• Partner ​with Finance, Operations, ​and ​functional leaders to ​develop and execute ​business and ​strategic planning initiatives ​aligned ​with ​organizational priorities
• Lead the ​development of ​business cases, financial models, scenario ​analyses, and ​recommendations supporting strategic and ​operational decisions
• ​Develop and ​maintain labor and productivity models that ​provide insight ​into ​staffing ​requirements, operational performance, and ​cost ​efficiency
• ​Support ​annual budgeting, ​forecasting, and long-range ​planning by providing analysis ​of productivity, labor, ​cost ​drivers, operational assumptions, and ​strategic ​initiatives
• ​Establish ​and monitor ​key performance indicators (KPIs), performance scorecards, and management ​reporting to measure ​productivity, efficiency, financial ​performance, and ​progress ​against organizational objectives
• Lead the ​development of dashboards and ​executive-level ​presentations ​that clearly ​communicate ​business ​performance, trends, risks, opportunities, and recommended actions
• Identify ​opportunities ​to ​streamline ​processes, improve productivity, reduce costs, and enhance organizational ​effectiveness
• Partner ​with cross-functional ​teams ​to prioritize and implement ​productivity, cost-efficiency, and process-improvement ​initiatives
• ​Establish ​financial and ​operational baselines, expected benefits, ​implementation ​milestones, and ​success measures for ​productivity ​and ​strategic ​initiatives
• Track ​initiatives from business case ​through ​implementation ​and benefits ​realization, identifying gaps ​between projected ​and actual results and recommending corrective ​actions ​when ​necessary
• Validate realized cost savings, cost avoidance, productivity improvements, and ​other ​business benefits ​in partnership ​with ​FP&A, Accounting, Operations, ​and ​other stakeholders
• Ensure realized ​benefits ​and ​changes in ​business assumptions are appropriately ​reflected ​in forecasts, budgets, and long-range plans
• Maintain ​visibility into ​the organization's portfolio ​of ​productivity ​and efficiency ​initiatives, including expected ​value, ​realized ​value, timing, risks, and implementation status
• Provide ​data-driven ​recommendations ​to senior leadership and effectively communicate ​complex ​financial and ​operational information ​to financial and non-financial ​stakeholders
• ​Support strategic ​projects and enterprise initiatives ​through ​financial ​analysis, business planning, project coordination, and performance ​measurement
• ​Promote ​the effective ​use ​of automation, artificial ​intelligence, business intelligence, and analytics tools ​to improve productivity, reporting, ​and ​decision-making
• ​Develop standardized methodologies, tools, ​and ​processes ​for ​business planning, financial modeling, productivity analysis, benefits ​realization, and performance reporting
• ​Manage, ​coach, ​and develop team ​members; establish priorities, ​provide ​guidance, and ​ensure timely ​delivery of high-quality analysis and ​reporting
• Foster ​a culture of ​accountability, collaboration, innovation, ​and continuous improvement

Job Qualifications and Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in ​Finance, ​Accounting, Economics, Business ​Administration, Data ​Analytics, or another relevant ​field
• ​Five (5) years ​of progressively ​responsible experience in ​financial ​planning and ​analysis, business planning, operational finance, strategy, data analytics, or ​a ​related field
• ​Strong ​financial acumen with demonstrated experience in ​budgeting, forecasting, ​financial modeling, ​labor modeling, ​and ​business-case development
• ​Demonstrated experience ​developing, implementing, or measuring productivity, cost-efficiency, ​or continuous-improvement ​initiatives
• ​Strong understanding ​of benefits ​realization, including establishing ​financial baselines, measuring results, ​and ​distinguishing ​sustainable savings from ​cost ​avoidance ​or ​timing ​differences
• Advanced analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills ​with ​the ability ​to translate ​complex data into ​actionable business ​recommendations
• ​Demonstrated ability ​to ​lead cross-functional ​initiatives ​and influence stakeholders without direct ​authority
• ​Strong business partnership skills ​with ​the ability ​to work ​effectively with operational ​and ​senior leadership
• Excellent ​written, verbal, presentation, ​and ​executive ​communication skills
• Advanced ​proficiency ​in Microsoft ​Excel and ​financial modeling
• ​Proficiency with Business Intelligence tools and experience developing ​dashboards, ​reports, ​and ​data ​visualizations
• ​Demonstrated ability ​to ​manage multiple priorities and ​projects in ​a ​fast-paced ​environment
• ​Strong attention ​to ​detail while ​maintaining a ​broader strategic and enterprise ​perspective
• ​Ability ​to ​constructively ​challenge existing processes ​and drive meaningful change
• Experience ​leveraging technology, automation, and analytics ​to improve business processes ​and organizational ​productivity
• ​Demonstrated ​commitment to developing ​team members ​and ​creating ​an environment ​of ​accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA), equivalent advanced degree, or professional certification
• Experience implementing AI-driven solutions in financial planning or operational processes
• Prior leadership experience managing teams in a dynamic environment

Work Environment:

• Standard office environment, use of telephones, computers, and other office equipment
• Some travel may be required

Physical Requirements:

•  Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds 

The above statements provide a brief description of the general nature of work performed and are not intended to be a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this position. Duties and expectations are subject to change as needed.

Employment is contingent upon a clear driving record, 10-year Criminal History Records Check, and drug screen as required. We also require proof of high school or GED completion. Minimum 18 years of age.

Benefit package includes paid training, holiday pay, 401(k), vacation, and family travel on the American Airlines network.  Medical and dental available.

Starting Rate:

Piedmont Airlines, Inc. is committed to recruiting, hiring, training, and making all employment decisions based on business needs and job-related qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic.

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer bonuses awarded in accordance with company policies and applicable criteria.

Job Application Deadline: