Vehicle Logistics Rail Specialist

Job Description:

Role Summary:

• With support of management, directly responsible for tracking, measuring and improving carrier performance (primarily rail carrier)
• Organize, prepare, communicate and present data related to carrier performance (carrier scorecards) as well as other reports and conduct carrier performance reviews on a regular cadence. 
• With support of management, develop and communicate carrier improvement plans and meetings.
• Provide ongoing analyses of delivery performance, transportation costs, and other key metrics.
• Support planning team in bid activities (requirements, technical evaluation, etc.)
• Directly responsible to develop and calculate monthly vendor forecast based on Production Plans and inbound shipments and provided volume forecasts in support of overall vehicle logistics organizational performance targets.
• Operational support to Ports for rail carrier delays, rail equipment shortages and other network constraints
• Monitor supply chain from railcar departure to rail ramp arrival to rail ramp departure and “final mile” truck delivery to dealerships (including measurement and monitoring of rail transit times)
• Minimize rail head dwell times by management of truck away carriers and rail head operations and track, address and minimize rail head aging
• Monitor and ensure availability of empty railcars for loading – relationship management with rail carriers
• Supports overall Vehicle Logistics Operations team with daily activities that are not specific to rail distribution

Role Responsibilities:

Railroad Network Specific (60%)

• Responsible for shipping velocity, dwell, and all railhead services/activities
• Familiarity with all railroad and rail ramp contractual agreements
• Ensuring availability of empty rail car supply for loading (domestic) and communicating any discrepancies
• Communicate needs with and provide rail car forecasts with TTX (Railcar pooling)
• Liaison with international colleagues to support import and export rail operations.
• Tracking the shipment of railcars from the Mexican factories to US domestic port locations
• Tracking the shipment of railcars from domestic locations to rail heads
• Monitors the processing time from railcar offload to truck away for all railheads and ensure that all railhead processors are meeting or exceeding contractual and customer expectations.
• Contact railhead operators to resolve service issues as necessary.
• Forecast monthly wholesale rail delivery totals to Vehicle Logistics colleagues and brand customers.
• Monitor, understand and report delays and impacts to rail transit as a result of weather, congestion, maintenance work, derailments, embargoes, etc.
• Familiarity with storage parameters in each railhead and managing the inventory flow in order to minimize storage costs
• Monitor, measure and ensure performance for truck carriers, in conjunction with rail carriers, are meeting or exceeding their contractual responsibilities.
• Manage exceptions and customer priorities; resolve field inquiries as related to rail vehicle order status updates.
• Assist strategy and planning team with the growth and development of the VWGoA railroad distribution network to address future domestic sales capacity requirements.
• Participate in and act as the VW representative in industry meetings such as TIPT, Reload, and MUAR; work to improve railcar forecasting accuracy.
• Perform operational compliance audits of railhead locations as needed.
• Review, audit and pay rail related invoices as needed.
• Provide volume forecasts to rail vendors in support of operational target and capacity reliability.

Operational Support (20%)

• Resolve daily inaccuracies in PVP’s Supertool
• Correct dealer inventory/reporting issues
• Make certain data integrity is upheld in vendor IT systems
• Analyze & correct shipment holds on port arrivals
•  Serve as liaison between corporate stakeholders (field, IT, distribution, finance, etc.) and railroad & rail head operations
•  Look for continuous process improvement opportunities and make suggestions to management
• Monitor daily and respond to e-mails initiated through Traffic and Transportation mailbox (dealer inquiries)
• Ensure that damaged or stolen vehicles are properly reported, accounted for and repaired, recovered or disposed of following VWGoA policy and procedure.
• Assist Group Accounting as necessary (vehicle shipment verification; correction of dealer invoicing, etc.)

Support Development and implementation of VWGoA Logistics strategic plans (10%)

• Gather, update and improve requirements for vehicle logistics vendor contracts to support Vehicle Logistics and planning team.
• Ensure requirements and processes are documented and communicated.
• Identify and support development of new vendor partners.
• Support Vehicle Logistics planning team with bid activities (requirements, technical evaluation, etc.).
• Monitor industry standards, trends, developments that are important to or that may affect vehicle logistics performance.
• Participate in Industry Trade and Action groups.

Special Projects (10%)

• Participate & support Special Vehicle Logistics Projects as assigned by management to support business needs.

Qualifications:

Years of Experience:

• 3-5 years of experience

Education - Required:

• Bachelor’ Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or related field

Education  - Desired:

• Masters Degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management or related field

Skills:

• Customer service mindset
• Results oriented and driven to perform
• Team focused – “One Team” mindset
• Analytical and conceptual thinking – using logic & reason, as well as tactical & strategic thinking to develop short and long term logistics solutions
• Ability to manage and analyze data from various sources, determine opportunities for improvements, propose recommendations and present findings to management
• Vendor performance management – direct contact with vendors regarding performance 
• Ability to influence & negotiate with vendors to manage and improve performance
• Accountability for & reflection upon organizational and personal results

Specialized Skills - Required:

• Advanced computer skills (MS Office Suite)
• Data Analytics (i.e. Business Objects, Power BI, Tableau or similar)
• Data & analytics driven
•  Detail, task & performance oriented
• Advanced communication skills – interpersonal, presentation & written
• Highly organized – ability to manage and complete multiple assignments / projects concurrently

Specialized Skills - Desired:

• Automotive transport experience
• Freight transport experience
• Familiarity with Rail transportation, rail networks and rail head operations

Work Flexibility:

• 10% of travel 

Volkswagen Group of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, color, gender identity/expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.

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