Senior Logistics Specialist- Vessel Operations

Summary

As a Senior Logistics Specialist with Ocean Freight Operations at CHS, you play a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless and efficient transportation of agricultural products via vessel. Your expertise in logistics and supply chain management enables you to coordinate and optimize vessel schedules, ensuring timely deliveries and minimizing costs. You work closely with internal teams, external partners, and regulatory bodies to navigate the complexities of ocean transport, maintaining high standards of safety and compliance. Your proactive problem-solving skills and attention to detail contribute to the overall success of CHS's logistics operations, supporting the company's mission to connect farmers with global markets.  This is a hybrid position and can expect to be in the office about 3 days per week, subject to change. 

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day logistics activities required for the transportation of products by vessel end to end.
• Work with terminals, sales staff and other stakeholders on transportation schedules/dispatch tender loads to ensure timely and accurate execution of logistics movements via CHS contracted freight.
• Calculation and negotiation of vessel laytime at each loading and discharging port.
• Manage service expectations and monitor vessel and statuses daily to ensure contracts are executed timely and appropriately, and manage risks.
• Independently analyze current transportation operations practices to resolve process and cost improvement opportunities.
• Manage carrier and broker relationships and build long term partnerships.
• Monitor carrier/fleet performance/KPI’s and take corrective action to reverse negative trends and maintain required service levels.
• Update transportation websites and maintain databases for contracts, freight rates, and estimates, insurance information, customer information, etc.
• Oversee freight related AR/AP & execution of payments to ensure accurate financial processing.
• Deliver value goals by using knowledge of the transportation industry to make recommendations to strengthen customer and carrier/fleet relations through continuous improvement.
• Adhere to all global trade compliance rules and regulations.
• Maintain and promote a strong safety culture and follow all safety policies, procedures, and regulations. Identify and communicate workplace hazards and correct or seek assistance in correcting unsafe actions or conditions.
• Perform other responsibilities as needed or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (required)

• High School diploma or GED
• 4+ years of experience in Supply Chain and Procurement and/or Transportation and Logistics

Additional Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Business, Systems Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, or related field
• Experience in Transportation and/or Distribution
• Proficient in MS Office suite
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Understanding of standard shipping practices, vessels and barges, preferred
• Experience working with logistics tools preferred
• Pre-employment screening is based on the job requirements and industry guidelines and may or may not be required for the position. If required, selected candidates must pass pre-employment screenings to include all or a combination of drug, criminal, motor vehicle check, physical requirements and FMSCA Clearinghouse.