Senior Manager Crew Planning & Staffing

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, Crew Planning & Staffing leads the team responsible for short-term Flight and Inflight Crew Staffing, the automated Preferential Bid Schedule (PBS) process, and the optimization of pairings for both workgroups. This role provides strategic direction across multiple functions while ensuring compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations, JetBlue Work Rules, and Quality of Life standards. The Senior Manager partners cross-functionally to align crew staffing plans with the broader business strategy and oversees a growing leadership team, including the Manager of Crew Planning, Supervisors, and Analysts.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership to the Crew Planning Manager, Supervisors, and Analysts, ensuring clarity of purpose, alignment to departmental goals, and excellence in execution across all crew planning functions.
• Ensure all team functions, including pairing optimization, PBS award processes, and staffing model updates, are executed accurately, timely, and with a strong focus on customer service and compliance.
• Own and evolve the crew staffing strategy, aligning near-term execution with long-term business plans, block hours, base strategy, hiring timelines, and operational goals.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with senior leaders in Flight Ops, Inflight, Finance, and Network Planning, influencing key decisions and providing insights that support workforce and schedule planning; partner closely with Enterprise Planning, Crew Operations, Airline Optimization, and Data Science to align crew strategies with enterprise-level forecasting, modeling, and long-term resource planning.
• Oversee analysis and reporting of crew utilization and staffing efficiency metrics, preparing executive-level briefings that support resource planning and productivity discussions.

• Lead and continuously improve annual vacation and monthly APTO bidding processes while driving enhancements based on historical data and operational feedback.

• Administer and oversee monthly and quarterly crew system bids to ensure accuracy, compliance, and fairness.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to set operational reserve minimums and crew productivity targets (e.g., bid divisors), ensuring business continuity and cost efficiency.
• Partner with IT and Crew Services Business Solutions to identify, prioritize, and implement system improvements that enhance automation, accuracy, and user experience.
• Guide the development of optimized pairing solutions balancing legal compliance, cost, and crewmember quality of life.
• Conduct scenario planning for base changes, co-terminal operations, and regulatory updates, providing senior leadership with data-driven recommendations.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, innovation, and continuous development across the Crew Planning team.
• Take a significant role in the development of crew members to support their engagement, growth, and goal achievement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Experience and Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) Diploma.
• Seven (7) years of Crew Scheduling and/or Planning experience, including two (2) years in a leadership or people-management role.
• Strong knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations for domestic, international, and supplemental operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead leaders and scale teams through change and complexity.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making abilities; comfort presenting to senior leaders and cross-functional partners.
• High energy, positive leadership style with strong communication and team-building skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment while maintaining composure and clarity.
• Available for occasional overnight travel (up to 10%).
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
• Must be legally eligible to work in the country in which the position is located.
• Authorization to work in the US is required. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Aviation Management, or a related field.
• Prior experience with Preferential Bidding Systems (PBS) and pairing optimization software.
• Experience managing leaders (e.g., Managers, Supervisors) and scaling operational teams.
• Experience with forecasting, capacity modeling, or workforce planning tools.
• Track record of cross-functional influence and successful project execution.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.

Crewmember Expectations:

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  • Regular attendance and punctuality.
  • Potential need to work flexible hours and be available to respond on short-notice.
  • Able to maintain a professional appearance.
  • When working or traveling on JetBlue flights, and if time permits, all capable crewmembers are asked to assist with light cleaning of the aircraft.
  
  
  
  
• Must be an appropriate organizational fit for the JetBlue culture, that is, exhibit the JetBlue values of Safety, Caring, Integrity, Passion and Fun.
• Must fulfill safety accountabilities as prescribed by JetBlue's Safety Management System
• Promote JetBlue's #1 value of safety as a Safety Ambassador, supporting JetBlue's Safety Management System (SMS) components, Safety Policy, and behavioral standards
• Identify safety and/or security concerns, issues, incidents or hazards that should be reported and report them whenever possible and by any means necessary including JetBlue's confidential reporting systems (Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) and Safety Action Report (SAR))
• Responsible for adhering to all applicable laws, regulations (FAA, OSHA, DOT, etc.) and Company policies, procedures and risk controls
• Uphold JetBlue's safety performance metric goals and understand how they relate to their duties and responsibilities

• The use of ChatGPT or any other automated tool during the interview process will disqualify a candidate from being considered for the position.

Equipment:

• Computer and other office equipment.

Work Environment:

• Traditional office environment.

Physical Effort:

• Generally not required, or up to 10 pounds occasionally, 0 pounds frequently. (Sedentary)

Compensation:

• The base pay range for this position is between $111,400.00 and $156,600.00 per year. Base pay is one component of JetBlue's total compensation package, which may also include performance bonuses, restricted stock units, as well as access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan and company match, crewmember stock purchase plan, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, free space available travel on JetBlue, and more.