Manager, Bulk Distribution Services

Morton Salt is an iconic company with a strong heritage and a bright future. Since 1848, we have been improving lives and enhancing everyday moments – at home, at work and virtually everywhere in between. We help unlock the flavors in food, make roads and sidewalks safer, improve the water in baths, pools, and homes, and keep businesses and industries running. We are a dedicated team who constantly strives to do better together, and we are passionate about building a sustainable future for our company, the communities in which we operate, and the world around us. By joining our team, you will contribute to producing and delivering every form of salt that enhances everyday life.

Job Summary

The Manager, Bulk Distribution Services, plays a critical role within the Supply Chain function, with end-to-end responsibility for the companys stockpile and barge distribution programs and strategy. The role manages the supply chain from mine and supply source relationships, through development and execution of barge supply plans, transportation and terminal operations, stockpile management, and final delivery to customers.

The jobholder is responsible for developing and optimizing the barge supply plan and distribution network; managing barge shipments, stockpile operations; and negotiating and managing relationships and contracts with barge providers, terminal operators, and carriers. The role is also responsible for strategically expanding and strengthening the distribution network by identifying new stockpile opportunities, evaluating their feasibility and economics, and developing and executing plans to establish and grow the network.

The jobholder is accountable for critical service and operational execution, environmental requirements at the stockpile level, and key performance indicators (KPIs) supporting network performance and customer service. The jobholder is the primary point of contact for all disciplines within the organizations Supply Chain when it comes to Stockpile and Barge operations.

The jobholder will work with cross-functional teams, Supply Chain, Operations, Sales & Marketing, Finance to resolve service issues, identify opportunities to improve cost, efficiency and service to Customers.

Duties and Responsibilities

- Responsible for the development and management of the companys overall Barge bulk program and strategy within their respective region.

- Responsible for the day-to-day barge shipment execution activities, including order and barge management, tracking and invoicing.

- Provide barge tracking to ensure efficiency of barge loading and unloading and demurrage.

- Identify and analyze new barge stockpile opportunities.

- Work closely with the mine to ensure production and loading barges targets are being met.

- Develop barge supply for all barge stockpiles as well as direct customer shipments and ensure it aligns with customer needs, mine loading capabilities, environmental concerns and mitigate costs by doing so as well.

- Monitor daily and forecasted orders in conjunction with monitoring inventory levels to ensure the barge plan meets the business needs.

- Work closely with the mine and the sales and marketing team to timely respond to forecast changes, sales spikes, volumes, and trends on a real time basis and continually review barge optimization and secure trucking capacity.

- Ensure safe, secure and protected storage, proper care and maintenance of the storage facilities, routine site inspections, inventory, proper maintenance and environmental requirements of facilities owned or leased by Morton Salt.

- Responsible for the delivery of the approved Morton Salt, Inc. budget for Bulk Distribution Services which equates to approximately $12M.

- Responsible for the delivery of the approved Morton Salt, Inc. budget for Barge Freight that equates to approximately $34M.

- Manage all barge negotiations pertaining to freight.

- Investigate and resolve product quality and service issues.

- Responsible for monitoring/reporting transactional and contractual expenses and development of cost data.

- Trend analysis and cost savings/efficiency improvement opportunities to review with finance and management monthly.

- Ensure alignment of Logistic services to support Morton Salt, Inc. business goals and objectives.

- The jobholder is responsible for all issues, special handling, activity coordination, performance monitoring and project management for bulk distribution services.

- Ensure that all stockpiles are operating in accordance with Morton Salt Inc. Stockpile Operations Manual.

- Ensure operational documents and control procedures are in place and current.

- Manage stockpile compliance with environmental regulations in areas such as air quality, waste, clean water, and pollution.

- Responsible for Stockpile Management, capacity planning, systems, rate negotiations, preparation & execution of agreements, service levels and performance reporting.

- Responsible for the collection of monthly 3PL metric data and the evaluation of performance against KPIs.

- Facilitates Annual Business Reviews with all 3PL and barge partners.

- Review freight and bills that do not match with freight expense shown as the expected cost. Make corrections as required. Approve for payment and perform root cause analysis.

- Review and monitor & report on supplier performance, car efficiency and cost performance by use of operational and cost metrics.

- Lead negotiations with carriers to obtain competitive rates, mitigate price increases and ensure carrier capacity requirements.

- Assist with entry of rates into TMS, and SAP system accurately and on-time.

- Perform annual optimization working with Sales & Marketing to determine cost efficient sourcing and lowest cost carrier, utilizing carrier capacity/performance history and customer delivery requirements.

- Monitor daily customer open orders, shipment error corrections, create route guides and dispatch carriers at a site or group of sites as needed.

- Coordinate solutions to daily transportation/logistics operational issues with carriers, working with internal and external personnel to ensure seamless on-time deliveries, while exceeding customer expectations and KPIs/performance metrics.

- Ensure Transportation requirements are met by validating carriers are capable of delivering in accordance with agreed-upon capacity and customer delivery requirements.

- Obtain signed copies of Bills of Lading for Proof of Delivery Inquiries.

- Assist in providing information for freight invoice discrepancies and freight claim issues.

- Review actual costs vs budget by performing analysis and forecasting as required.

- Prepare stockpile, inbound and outbound freight budget based on negotiated rates and terms.

- Manage the stockpile receipts and intercompany invoicing.

- Interface independently with internal and external customers at all levels, including senior leadership.

- Responsible for continuous improvement between Morton Salt, Inc., bulk stockpiles and barge carriers in costs and service with the intent of accurately streamlining communications and driving best practices, building strong strategic relationships with current and potential partners.

- Collaborate with other internal functions to enable flexible and cost-effective supply plans to meet and exceed internal and external expectations (IE: Seasonal Inventory builds and outbound activity).

- Commitment to the professional development of individual business skills, knowledge and industry expertise as a Supply Chain/Logistics Leader.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Preferred

- Bachelors degree in business, Supply Chain or Logistics

- Minimum of 3 years working with barges or waterways

- Environmental management experience

- Project Management experience

- Previous SAP experience and knowledge

Required

- 5+ years of experience in Supply Chain Logistics, preferably in the area of distribution directly associated with the bulk industry

- Experience with internet-based load management (track and trace) software.

- Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills

- Excellent problem solving and analytical skills

- Ability to prioritize and multi-task

- Must work well under pressure

- Superior interpersonal skills to communicate internally and externally at all levels.

- Able to work independently as well as across functional or matrix team structures.

- Strong analysis/problem solving skills and independent decision making with a commitment to resolution

- Dependability, flexibility and strong work ethic

- Strong track record for execution and follow through when managing critical deadlines

- Ability to fairly represent the needs of the business

- Proficient in Microsoft Office Programs including Excel, Word and PowerPoint

The base salary range for this role is $95,000-165,000k. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as education, experience, skillset, and/or location.

At Morton Salt, we work best when we work as a team, when we treat one another with dignity and respect, and value the unique contributions of others. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, national origin, sex, religion, color, disability, marital status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.