Rail Logistics Leader - Chemical Manufacturing

The Logistics Leader for Rail is responsible for negotiating contracts with railroads, lessors, and third-party service providers, as well as managing overall fleet. Ensure product is delivered on time, a low cost, and free of exceptions.     Duties and Responsibilities:   Develop strategy, implement, and execute bids and auctions with logistics service providers including contraction negotiation strategy and execution.  Drive Freight and Distribution productivity; lead and engage on project teams for key productivity initiatives.  Work closely with finance, site logistics leaders, vendors, commercial leaders, supply chain planning, procurement, and operations to identify productivity, cost reduction, and continuous improvement opportunities.  Review sales and purchasing demands for rail car shipping destinations, determine average rail cycle times, and make recommendations to change the rail car fleet size and locations.  Provide fleet management and planning to ensure timely supply of rail car fleet. Develop metrics and recommendations to optimize the utilization of rail car fleet. Track, expedite, manage, and optimize service cost components.  Interpret sales forecast from commercial into demand along with maintaining appropriate safety-stocks fleet numbers.  Calibrate optimal fleet size based off forecasts and improved efficiencies of fleet management.  Assist in the review and implementation of new technology (Yard Management Systems and Tracking Tools) for integration of visibility and metric tracking for the logistics team and other stakeholders. In conjunction with finance, develop budget and forecast for rail leases, rail maintenance, rail freight and railcar casualty values because of scrapping. Negotiate leases, agreements and manage rail car fleet. Negotiate inbound/outbound rail freight contracts.  Lead continuous improvement opportunities for current processes within the role to foster further simplification, visibility, and efficiency. Root cause resolutions - identify constraints, root causes, developing solutions, implementation, and tracking. Lead the repairs and maintenance of rail fleet.  Proactively and efficiently escalate critical business issues to teams and leadership and facilitate the problem identification, alternatives, and decision-making process with the stakeholders.    Basic Qualifications:   Bachelor’s degree in supply chain/logistics management, business administration, or related field. Supplier/ vendor relationship management experience. 7+ years of experience with demonstrated success in a number of logistics, supply chain, and/or manufacturing roles    Additional Qualifications:   Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint   Excellent leadership and verbal and written communication skills  SAP experience a plus  Strong financial and business acumen  Demonstrated analytical skills  Some travel is required   Procurement experience preferred Must be highly self-motivated and customer-centric