Operations Specialist II, Rail

Basic Function

Supply Chain is a customer-focused Center of Excellence providing industry-leading service while delivering differential value to the business, today and into the future.  We separate our Supply Chain functions into several areas; these include logistics, customer fulfillment, services, trade compliance, and support for business processes and systems. 

As a member of our dynamic Supply Chain team, you will play a critical role in helping us supply our products to a global customer base. In this individual contributor role, you will act as the subject matter expert (SME) and first-line resource for the Level I Modal Specialist. In addition, you will be responsible for managing LyondellBasell’s  loaded hopper car and empty/loaded tank car operations and inventories to meet customer needs and manufacturing requirements while providing LyondellBasell a competitive advantage in asset utilization and cost management. During a typical day, you will monitor railcar movements and collaborate on traffic plans with Manufacturing, Plant Logistics, and the railroads.

This position reports to the Rail Commercial Manager and is located at our North American Headquarters in Downtown Houston. The position offers a competitive base salary, bonus, 401K matching, generous benefits package, pension plan, parking subsidy and employee discounts.
 

Roles & Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to the Level I Modal Specialist to resolve railcar related challenges. 
• Manage loaded hopper car and empty/loaded tank car movements in support of North America Manufacturing operations and business units. 
• Act as a main point of contact for Account Specialists, Inventory Planners, Sales, Plant Logistics Specialists, Operations Planners, Manufacturing, Logistics Commercial, and third party Logistics Service Providers concerning all  railcar requests. 
• Accountable for railcar movements within the railroad network, including closely monitoring availability of railcars at manufacturing facilities, transit times, and railroad performance to meet manufacturing needs.
• Monitor transit times and update LyondellBasell systems as transit times change.
• Proactively review loaded hopper car inventories in Storage in Transit (SIT) yards  to ensure it is within the contractual limits. 
• Proactively communicate rail traffic disruptions, including, but not limited to weather events, railroad embargos and railcars damaged in transit, to affected internal stakeholders. 
• File financial claims with the railroads for railcars that have been damaged in transit.
• Develop and modify rail reports for communicating status of rail related situations to internal stakeholders.  
• Divert railcars to/from plants and outside storage or other plants to maintain inventories within targets.
• Provide economic, financial, and process data necessary to understand and improve rail logistics performance.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the tools used, including, but not limited to Bourque, external railroad websites, and related tools. Develop and lead trainings on Bourque tool for users within Supply Chain. 
• Manage service performance with Bourque Logistics related to adequately support internal stakeholder needs.  
• Operate with a solution-oriented mindset with regard to process improvements; Lead change implementation for extended system improvements or other railcar logistics projects. 
• Model LyondellBasell core competencies with internal and external customers/suppliers.

Min. Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have at least 6 years’ relevant, industry related experience.
• The ideal candidate will have working experience in logistics operations, logistics commercial, or manufacturing areas.
• A Bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred. Will consider candidates with a High School Diploma that have at least 10 years’ relevant experience in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree.
• Must demonstrate effective communication skills, both oral and written.
• Willingness to work flexible work schedule, when necessary.
• High initiative and ability to work independently.

Preferred Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have knowledge of knowledge of railroad and railcar operations.
• The ideal candidate will have knowledge of all modes of transportation in areas of pricing and service offerings. 
• Able to maintain professionalism and prioritize responsibilities in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Composed in time-sensitive situations, comfortable delivering difficult news.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and familiar with extended tools.
   

Competencies