Crew Planning Specialist

About the role

The Crew Planning Specialist is entrusted with the comprehensive oversight and meticulous execution of both long and short term crew staffing objectives and processes across all operational bases. This critical role involves actively analyzing and administering complex variables such as vacancy, TDY, vacation, and the intricate preparation of monthly schedule bids and awards. The specialist must maintain vigilant monitoring of staffing levels across every base, seat, and fleet to ensure the company achieves its strategic financial and operational goals. Success in this position requires close collaboration with the Supervisor of Crew Planning to gather data, perform rigorous audits, and compile detailed monthly reports. The role demands strict adherence to regulatory compliance, schedule continuity, CBA compliance, and unwavering adherence to established company policies and procedures. Furthermore, the specialist will be a key contributor in the implementation of new enterprise systems and software, driving the automation of current manual processes and procedures. This position is pivotal in ensuring the right people are in the right seat at the right time.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Partner with Network Planning teams to meticulously coordinate the creation of flight pairings, leveraging optimization software to balance coverage with cost efficiency.
• Provide indispensable support in outlining and modeling Pilot and Flight Attendant headcount requirements to guarantee that base staffing levels are robust and aligned with company operational demand.
• Develop comprehensive monthly schedule bidding resources and prepare all necessary bid documentation for both crews and internal departments with precision and accuracy.
• Assume responsibility for the timely and accurate updating of Merlot base changes, TDY assignments, bid flags, and other critical personnel status indicators within core systems.
• Collaborate closely with leaders from Flight Crew Operations, Crew Planning, Financial Planning and Analysis, and Crew Strategy to establish TDY parameters, voluntary leave policies, and monthly hour ranges for each bid period.
• Lead the annual crew vacation bid process and manage week-to-week vacation requests, diligently monitoring post-bid adjustments and implementing necessary changes within Company portals upon award confirmation.
• Continuously monitor crew member bidding eligibility in relation to qualification status, leaves of absence, and voluntary time off to maintain data integrity.
• Work synergistically with multiple departments, including Pilot Training Scheduling, Crew LOA, Records, and Qualifications, to ensure absolute accuracy of bid statuses for all crew members.
• Strategize and execute the entire vacancy bidding process, ensuring the organization's staffing needs are met through effective deployment of personnel.
• Conduct thorough audits of all data contained within bid packets to ensure full regulatory and CBA compliance for accuracy and completeness.
• Generate pre-bidding pairings as well as finalize bid awards within the Crew Management System, ensuring all outputs are validated and error-free.
• Maximize crew utilization while working in close partnership with management and crew member representatives to steadily improve crew member quality of life and operational satisfaction.
• Audit the integration of data between bidding interfaces and crew member schedules both pre and post bid to identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding and coordination of Flight Operation regulatory items including green on green flying, consolidation or knowledge, high minimums, and other operational constraints.
• Liaise effectively with cross-functional teams to resolve discrepancies and streamline crew planning workflows.

Requirements

• Must be authorized to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Act of 1986, with valid work eligibility documentation.
• Must successfully pass a comprehensive Criminal Background Check prior to employment consideration.
• Possess a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Bring a minimum of three (3) years of total professional experience within the Airline Industry.
• Accumulate a minimum of three (3) years of specific experience either in part 135/121 scheduling/dispatching or in Crew scheduling/planning roles.
• Maintain proficiency with exceptional Microsoft Office skills, placing a strong emphasis on advanced Excel usage and high degree of familiarity with Excel formulas.
• Exhibit a strong ability to communicate effectively and professionally in both written and verbal formats.
• Must be capable of clearly and concisely articulating ideas, recommendations, and complex information interdepartmentally.
• Demonstrate the ability to read, write, and speak English proficiently to receive and understand instructions, directives, and to ensure safety.
• Possess the ability to interact professionally with customers, internal teams, and external partners as required by the role.
• Thrive in a high-stress environment and excel while working unsupervised in a fast-paced, dynamic setting.
• Display a high level of self-discipline and intrinsic motivation to interact effectively with all levels of personnel.
• Exhibit exceptional ability to manage complex administrative duties and multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Must be a self-starter who demonstrates extreme discretion when handling matters of confidential information and sensitive data.
• While primarily adhering to standard administrative hours, the incumbent must be willing and able to work varying shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays should business needs require it.

Nice to have

• Possess prior Airline experience with Collective Bargaining Agreements and their application.
• Have a working knowledge of hiring development and related personnel processes.
• Demonstrate an understanding of staffing/headcount modelling techniques and forecasting methodologies.
• Show proven conflict resolution skills in previous roles.
• Have a working knowledge of FAR 121 and FAR 117 operations as they specifically pertain to crew operations.
• Bring experience with crew management systems and scheduling systems.
• Show familiarity with PBS and other optimization software platforms.
• Ability to analyze complex data sets and transform them into actionable tools for effective decision-making by management.

Practical notes

This role operates primarily during standard administrative hours; however, flexibility to work varying shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, may be required to meet operational demands. The position is based in Las Vegas, NV, and does not require travel. Employment eligibility requires authorization to work in the United States, and the role is not contingent upon visa sponsorship.