American Airlines

Director, Senior Attorney

American Airlines • $130K — $180K *
Fort Worth, TX 76137In-Person
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Reposted 1 week ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active member in good standing of a State bar
  • Minimum of five years of experience in labor and employment law, with a focus on arbitration
  • Proven first chair experience in labor arbitrations, preferably under the Railway Labor Act
  • Experience collaborating with executives, especially in unionized work environments
  • Strong command of employment and labor laws, including collective bargaining agreements and litigation skills

Responsibilities

  • Lead counsel for system boards of adjustment and RLA arbitration proceedings
  • Develop comprehensive case strategy, evaluating merits and advising internal clients
  • Prepare and present cases, overseeing all aspects from preparation to post-hearing briefing
  • Align arbitration strategy with labor-management goals while collaborating closely with stakeholders
  • Advise on grievance resolution and participate in collective bargaining strategies
  • Educate internal stakeholders on arbitration and grievance processes, ensuring documentation quality
  • Drive process improvements in grievance handling and case preparation workflows

Benefits

  • Travel perks for you and your family on a wide network of flights
  • Comprehensive health benefits available from day one
  • Wellness programs to support personal health and growth
  • 401(k) program with employer contributions after one year
  • Additional benefits including Employee Assistance Program and discounts on various services
Full Job Description
7/7/26

Location: DFW Headquarters Building 8 (DFW-SV08)
Cities: Fort Worth - TX
Requisition ID: 84039

Job Description

What you'll do

As noted above, this list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential functions (and certainly non-essential job functions) that are not referenced. Management will modify the job or require other tasks be performed whenever it is deemed appropriate to do so, observing, of course, any legal obligations including any collective bargaining obligations.
  • Serves as lead counsel for system boards of adjustment and RLA arbitration proceedings for all relevant represented groups
  • Develops comprehensive case strategy, including evaluating merits, identifying legal risks, developing issue framing and arbitration themes, and advising internal clients on recommended case posture
  • Prepares and presents arbitration cases from case preparation through post-hearing briefing
  • Partners closely with Labor Relations, People Business Partners, and operational leadership to align arbitration strategy with broader labor-management goals, including reliability, profitability, accountability, and market-competitive labor solutions
  • Offers counsel on contract interpretation, grievance handling, and discipline, ensuring decisions are consistent with collective bargaining agreements and arbitration precedent and advises on contract interpretation issues, grievance trends, and potential negotiation implications
  • Advises on grievance resolution strategies and participates in select collective-bargaining strategy discussions, providing legal analysis of proposed changes, historical precedents, and arbitration risk
  • Stays current on arbitration awards, labor law developments, and industry trends, and ensures internal stakeholders understand their operational implications
  • Educates internal stakeholders on contractual standards, arbitration exposure, evidentiary requirements, and documentation best practices
  • Drives continuous improvement in grievance handling, case assessment, and arbitration preparation workflows
  • Contributes to policy updates, training modules, and best practice materials to improve consistency and documentation quality across departments
  • Oversees and manages outside counsel on some matters requiring external representation, ensuring alignment with AA legal strategy and cost effective performance


All you'll need for success

Minimum Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience
  • Demonstrates the highest level of ethics and integrity
  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, excellent academic record, and active member in good standing in at least one State bar
  • At least five (5) years of successful experience practicing labor and/or employment law, preferably at a national law firm and/or in-house
  • Successful first chair arbitration or trial experience, preferably handling labor arbitrations under the Railway Labor Act
  • Experience in collaborating with company executives, including People Business Partners, Labor Relations, and union leadership, in the context of a unionized workforce preferred
  • Strong command of employment and labor laws, regulations, and best practices, including experience with collective bargaining agreements
  • Strong litigation skills, including direct and cross-examination, brief writing, and oral advocacy
  • Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear and actionable guidance for non-lawyer clients
  • Ability to thrive under pressure in a fast-paced, changing, and complex environment
  • Ability to render persuasive, diplomatic, practical, and legally compliant advice in a timely fashion
  • Superior problem solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills, with ability to be highly meticulous and detail-oriented
  • Ability to influence through outstanding collaboration and negotiation skills
  • Excellent written and oral communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with ability to interact effectively with all levels and colleagues across internal departments
  • Ability to travel independently, including overnight trips of varying duration
  • Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and the ability to build and facilitate long-term relationships at all levels, both internally and externally
    • Believes in, promotes, and embodies in daily actions the American Airlines five leadership attributes:Caring - We care about all team members
    • Collaboration - We succeed as a team
    • Development - We build future leaders
    • Results - We drive to be the best
    • Future - We continually challenge the status quo


What you'll get

Feel free to take advantage of all that American Airlines has to offer:
  • Travel Perks: Ready to explore the world? You, your family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across our global network.
  • Health Benefits: On day one, you'll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well. And that's just the start, we also offer virtual doctor visits, flexible spending accounts and more.
  • Wellness Programs: We want you to be the best version of yourself - that's why our wellness programs provide you with all the right tools, resources and support you need.
  • 401(k) Program: Available upon hire and, depending on the workgroup, employer contributions to your 401(k) program are available after one year.
  • Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include our Employee Assistance Program, pet insurance and discounts on hotels, cars, cruises and more


Are you ready to feel a tremendous sense of pride and satisfaction as you do your part to keep the largest airline in the world running smoothly as we care for people on life's journey? Feel free to be yourself at American.

About American Airlines

US Airways provides international and domestic air transport in the United States. It is owned by the American Airlines Group. US Airways utilizes a fleet of 343 mainline jet aircrafts, along with 278 regional jet and turbo-prop aircrafts operated by contract and subsidiary airlines under the name US Airways Express. It was originally established as All American Aviation.It operates an airline network with 193 destinations in 24 countries in North America, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. It also operates the US Airways Shuttle, a US Airways brand which provides hourly service between Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C.As of October 2013, US Airways employed 32,312 people worldwide and operated 3,028 daily flights.US Airways is a member of Oneworld, and it currently operates along with American Airlines as a result of a merge between the two holding companies of these airliners.US Airways was established in 1973. It operates hubs at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Philadelphia Inte...

American Airlines Careers

Join the dynamic team at American Airlines, a leader in global aviation and an innovator in the airline industry. With a wide range of job opportunities, American Airlines is the perfect place to advance your career, offering roles that cater to a variety of skills and professional interests. Work You’ll Do At American Airlines, you will be part of a team that is dedicated to providing world-class service and shaping the future of travel. Our employees enjoy a culture of collaboration and respect, where diversity and inclusion are celebrated. With American Airlines, you can contribute to a legacy of innovation and leadership in the skies. Transform Your Career American Airlines is not just a company; it's a community where you can grow your career through a robust suite of professional development and diversity training programs. Our leadership is committed to nurturing talent and recognizes the value of each individual’s growth. Join a team that leads with integrity and a passion for progress. At American Airlines, your career trajectory is bolstered by our commitment to innovation and excellence in the aviation industry. Internship Opportunities Kickstart your career with an internship at American Airlines. Gain invaluable industry experience, build your resume, and make connections that will propel your professional life. Our internships offer hands-on experience in a variety of departments, helping you discover your path in the aviation industry. Benefits of Working With Us American Airlines places immense value on the well-being of its team members. Employees enjoy competitive benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, employee discounts, and flexible spending accounts. More than just perks, our benefits are designed to support your life, both at work and at home. Explore Job Opportunities Whether you’re looking to enhance your career in engineering, customer service, or leadership, American Airlines has a position that will match your skills and passions. We are continuously hiring and looking for motivated individuals who are ready to take their careers to new heights. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that align with your skills and interests. We are looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players. SEARCH AMERICAN AIRLINES JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at American Airlines.
Learn more about American Airlines
Size
123,400 employees
Market Cap
$8 billion
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
Net Income
-$8.8 billion
Founded
1930
5 Year Trend
-5.7%
Revenue
$17.3 billion
NASDAQ
AAL
* Ladders Estimates

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