Mgr Cybersecurity - Privileged Access Management (PAM)

The Manager, Cybersecurity - Privileged Access Management (PAM), leads the Team responsible for securing and governing privileged access across Southwest’s technology environment.  They'll drive the strategy and modernization of enterprise PAM, including ownership of the Idira (formerly CyberArk) platform, ensuring access is controlled, auditable, and aligned to least privilege. In partnership with Technology Teams, they'll drive adoption of secure access practices, enabling Teams to move efficiently while reducing enterprise risk at scale. They'll assist in advancing modern security practices and automated privileged access solutions across the organization and lead critical modernization initiatives, including the transition from on‑premises Idira to Privilege Cloud. These efforts will enhance scalability, improve user experience, reduce risk, and advance cloud-based identity security solutions to strengthen Southwest’s overall security posture.

Additional details

• This role is open to Candidates located both within and outside the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) area. Workplace expectations are based on the Employee’s primary residence at the time of hire.

  • DFW‑based Employees (Onsite): Employees who reside in the DFW metroplex will be designated as onsite and are required to work from Southwest Airlines’ Dallas, TX Headquarters during business hours, with an expectation of being onsite four (4) days per week.
  • Non‑DFW Employees (Remote):
    Employees who reside outside the DFW metroplex will be designated as remote. The majority of work will be performed remotely, with required quarterly travel to Dallas, TX, including week‑long onsite visits for collaboration, planning, training, or other business needs.
     

• Please note, while this role is eligible for remote work, there is a limited group of states or localities in which Employees are ineligible to regularly perform their work. Those ineligible locations are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico.

• U.S. citizenship or current authorization to work in the U.S. required and no current or future work authorization sponsorship available.

We’re committed to fair hiring practices and to making employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics. 

• Guide and lead team members using SWA talent management practices to coach, develop, and engage employees
• Adhere to Company values and competencies to foster a culture of inclusion, recognition, and support of a safe work environment
• Invest in leadership and self-growth through participating in continuous learning and development

• Lead, support, and influence the achievement of the mission, goals and objectives of the department and organization
• Participate fully in organizational processes and initiatives, i.e. performance management, interviewing, budgeting, training, etc.
• Lead the resolution of organization, team and individual issues, making appropriate decision
• Develop and execute strategies and processes to improve performance and the value of products and services provided
• Lead cross-functional Teams to deliver solutions and services to meet enterprise needs
• Provide Cybersecurity thought Leadership related to assigned functional areas
• Deliver Cybersecurity solutions using best practices to achieve maximum Team productivity while delivering high quality products
• Stay abreast of Cybersecurity emerging trends, processes, and solutions related to assigned responsibilities
• Build strong, collaborative relationships and credibility while influencing and driving change across respective Business and Technology Teams
• Work with Technology and business partners to measure financial benefits and demonstrable business value
• May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders

• Knowledge of business/Leadership principals, including planning, organizing, directing, developing, and supervising
• Knowledge of personnel practices and regulations
• Knowledge of Cybersecurity best practices, software development practices, concepts, methodologies, tools and trends
• Knowledge of project management methodologies
• Skilled in excellent partnering, negotiation and communication in order to facilitate interactions with business Customers and technology teams in order to drive Cybersecurity agenda
• Ability to provide tactical leadership for Team(s)
• Ability to use appropriate motivation and influence techniques to achieve desired Team results
• Ability to set and manage stakeholder expectations
• Ability to deliver quality projects on time and within budget
• Ability to manage projects using the organization's project management methodology

• Required: High School Diploma or GED
• Required: Required: Bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration or related field and/or equivalent Cybersecurity formal training

• Required: Demonstrated experience in directly or indirectly leading team(s)
• Required: Fully functioning, broad knowledge in:
  • A Cybersecurity Business and/or Information Technology environment
  • Leading teams and providing work direction
• Preferred: Experience leading PAM engineering efforts
• Preferred: Experience implementing and managing Idira (formerly CyberArk) solutions, including cloud security and advanced PAM capabilities (e.g., JIT access, break glass)
• Preferred: Strong understanding of privileged account lifecycle, credential vaulting, and session management
• Preferred: Experience with automation and infrastructure as code (e.g., Python, Terraform, GitHub), including integration with CI/CD and ITSM tools
• Preferred: Experience working within Agile and DevOps environments to deliver secure, scalable solutions
• Preferred: Familiarity with cloud and enterprise environments (e.g., AWS, Kubernetes, Active Directory, Unix/Linux) and PAM integration patterns
• Preferred: Relevant certifications such as CISSP or CyberArk

• N/A

• Ability to perform work duties from [limited space work station/desk/office area] for extended periods of time
• Ability to communicate and interact with others in the English language to meet the demands of the job
• Ability to use a computer and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed and accuracy to meet the demands of the job

• Must maintain a well-groomed appearance per Company appearance standards as described in established guidelines
• Must be a U.S. citizen or have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must be able to comply with Company attendance standards as described in established guidelines
• Must meet confidentiality expectations as to confidential, proprietary and sensitive Company information
• Must be able to travel and /or attend Company and non-Company facilities and remote locations such as remote-based offices as necessary
• Ability to work extended hours as needed

Pay & Benefits

• Competitive market salary from $153,000 per year to $170,000 per year* depending on qualifications and experience. For eligible Leadership and individual contributor roles, additional bonus opportunities are available and awarded at the discretion of the company.

Benefits you’ll love

• Fly for free, as a privilege, on any open seat on all Southwest flights (your eligible dependents too) 
• Southwest will help fund your Retirement Savings Plan with Company contributions up to 9.3% of your eligible earnings** 
• Potential for annual ProfitSharing contribution in the Southwest Retirement Savings Plan- when Southwest profits, you profit*** 
• Competitive health insurance for you and your eligible dependents (including pets) 
• Southwest offers health plan coverage options that start from the very first day of employment. You will have 30 days to select and enroll in your health plan with coverage retroactively available to your first day of employment. 
• Explore more Benefits you’ll love: https://careers.southwestair.com/benefits

*Pay amount does not guarantee employment for any particular period of time.

**401(k) match contributions are subject to the plan’s vesting schedule and applicable IRS limits

***ProfitSharing contributions are subject to plan’s vesting schedule and are made at the discretion of the Company