Job Summary:

Leads strategic sourcing initiatives and procurement category management in U.S. transportation and logistics for assigned categories, which may include some or all of the following: Rail, Railcar Leases, Bulk Truck, Bulk Terminals, Barge.

Job Responsibilities:

• Serve as company expert in the assigned logistics categories. Leverage in-depth understanding of transportation markets within the area of procurement responsibility, including but not limited to market structure, global and national factors driving the supply/demand balance, main players, short- and long-term market trends, and technology developments.

• Provide periodic market updates to leadership.

• Work cross functionally with Supply Chain and Operations to understand the transportation and logistics requirements.

• Develop Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) in compliance with legal, technical, SHE and supply chain requirements, to competitively source transportation and other logistics services.

• Negotiate, implement, and manage contracts, ensuring adherence to all company policies, directives, and sustainability targets related to purchases from outside vendors.

• Understand vendor capabilities, identify opportunities for alternative sources and arrangements, and make recommendations to reduce cost and risk, and optimize working capital.

• Serve as primary point of contact to develop and manage relationships with key carriers / service providers to drive continuous improvement.

• Establish, collect and analyze metrics to track vendor performance, and conduct periodic performance and business review meetings with key service providers.

• Track and report monthly realized cost savings and cost avoidance from procurement initiatives and actions.

• Serve as an escalation point for correcting systemic vendor performance issues as well as incidental urgent issues within the managed logistics spend categories.  

• Work to streamline invoice audit and pay process. Address any systemic invoicing issues.

• Support development of new business opportunities by providing the business with quotes, freight cost estimates and reliable logistics solutions for customers, inbound raw materials and special projects.

• Participate in logistics budget development and forecasting.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Economics or related field and/or combination of education and related experience.

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Logistics or Purchasing is required.

• Analytical skills: Will be working with multiple vendors to determine best options and will need to evaluate and compare multiple pricing components, service elements, and economic factors.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications including PowerPoint, Word, Excel.

• Knowledge of the chemicals industry, or related industrial manufacturing environment, and associated modes of transportation.

• Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills (written and verbal).

• Ability to travel as required to vendors, other sites, etc.

• Excellent skills in: problem solving, facilitation, negotiation, multi-tasking, project management.

• Strong advocate for safety, driving a safety culture in a positive manner.

• Must maintain high ethical standards. 

• Ability to work collaboratively and demonstrate effective listening skills.

• Attention to detail will be critical to making sure all issues are addressed effectively.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience utilizing SAP and/or Ariba.

• Experience in barge and/or packaged truck modes of transportation.

• Experience in both logistics operations and procurement of freight rates.