Rail Logistics & Distribution Manager

Join the team at Ostara to help build a sustainable future. Position: Rail Logistics & Distribution Manager Location: Saint Louis, MO Job Id: 169 # of Openings: 1 About Ostara Ostara is passionate about changing the way the Ag and T&O industry thinks about crop nutrition. Our mission is, "Feeding the World While Protecting It." We believe that passionate people can make a real difference and we are building a culture around serving customers while protecting the environment through innovation, efficiency, nimbleness, honesty, compliance, and a sense of urgency to make a positive difference and create real value. Ostara’s CG P2X fertilizers are the first granular phosphate fertilizers to release nutrients in response to plant demand. Using Crop Driven Release™, CG P2X is proven to increase yields, enhance soil health and significantly reduce phosphate tie‑up and runoff, thereby improving food security while protecting local waterways from nutrient pollution. Position Summary The Rail Logistics & Distribution Manager is responsible for leading and executing Ostara’s finished goods distribution network with primary accountability for railcar fleet management, rail and truck transportation execution, warehouse and 3PL capacity strategy, and delivered-cost performance. This role is both strategic and hands‑on, owning the day‑to‑day performance of the rail, trucking, and warehouse network while building the processes, systems, and visibility needed to scale efficiently. The role ensures finished goods move from production facility to end customer safely, reliably, and cost effectively across domestic and international markets. This includes ownership of railcar utilization, trucking coordination, carrier and warehouse partner performance, demurrage and other transportation‑related costs, and continuous improvement initiatives. The successful candidate is a self‑starter with an owner’s mindset, comfortable operating in ambiguity, solving problems directly, and building a disciplined, scalable logistics function. Essential Functions Rail Fleet & Transportation Management Own the performance of the railcar fleet, including availability, utilization, cycle time, dwell time, maintenance coordination, and lease effectiveness Manage and oversee day‑to‑day rail and trucking execution across shipments, returns, storage, and customer deliveries Coordinate directly with railroads, trucking carriers, railcar lessors, repair providers, terminals, and third‑party logistics partners to resolve delays and improve performance Ensure reliable transportation capacity across rail and truck modes to meet production and customer requirements Minimize demurrage, switching, storage, and other transportation‑related fees through proactive management and escalation Maintain full visibility of railcar and shipment status, billing, documentation, and movement across the network Ensure all regulatory requirements and certifications for domestic and international transportation are met Warehouse & 3PL Network Management Lead the strategy and execution for contracted warehouse and storage capacity across the distribution network (domestic and international) Identify, secure, and optimize third‑party warehouse space to support seasonality, congestion management, and customer service Manage relationships with warehouse, terminal, and storage partners, including service levels, capacity commitments, and performance reviews Evaluate and adjust network footprint based on demand, cost, and service requirements Distribution Economics & Network Performance Own total logistics cost performance for the distribution network, including railcar lease expenses, freight (rail and truck), warehouse costs, demurrage, and transportation-related fees Analyze logistics data to improve delivered cost, service reliability, and asset utilization Develop and manage KPIs including railcar turns, utilization, dwell time, warehouse utilization, on‑time delivery, and cost per shipment Partner with Finance, Sales, and Operations to support margin analysis, accruals, budgeting, and performance reporting Pursue recovery of costs from third parties where applicable Cross‑Functional Execution Partner daily with plant operations, sales, and finance to align production schedules, inventory, shipment timing, and customer commitments Own on‑time delivery performance and customer service reliability across the distribution network Lead issue resolution for transportation, storage, and delivery disruptions Support decisions on inventory positioning, customer sourcing, and network flow strategy Provide operational input on material handling, loading/unloading, and storage practices to improve logistics efficiency Own transportation and distribution planning required to execute the S&OP plan, including railcar allocation, trucking strategy, warehouse positioning, and capacity planning Translate S&OP supply plans into executable transportation and network flow plans, adjusting for real‑time constraints and operational conditions Systems & Data Integration Own overall design, integration, and improvement of logistics systems, including TMS and its integration with ERP and production systems Ensure integration between transportation execution, production planning, inventory management, and financial systems Establish system standards and processes to ensure consistent, accurate logistics data across all operations Establish real‑time visibility of railcar status, shipments, inventory, and cost data across systems Develop dashboards, reporting tools, and data structures to support decision‑making and financial visibility Partner with IT and external vendors to improve system capabilities, automate manual processes, and enhance data accuracy Serve as the accountable owner for logistics system performance, visibility, and reporting outputs Process Improvement & Leadership Build and standardize SOPs, controls, and workflows to reduce manual effort and key‑person dependency Improve forward planning of rail, truck, and warehouse flows to reduce congestion, improve asset utilization, and lower costs Identify and implement process and system improvements to strengthen planning, execution, and visibility Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management for team members, including a Supply Chain Supervisor Foster a responsive, accountable, and service‑oriented logistics function Other duties as assigned Required Skills & Abilities Deep expertise in rail logistics and railcar fleet management Strong understanding of trucking operations and carrier management Experience managing warehouse, terminal, and 3PL storage capacity Strong understanding of international logistics, import/export processes, and related documentation requirements Demonstrated ability to manage transportation providers and hold vendors accountable to performance expectations Strong analytical capability across cost modeling, KPIs, and logistics performance Experience integrating logistics operations across ERP, TMS, and operational systems Ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a fast‑paced environment Strong communication and cross‑functional leadership skills High sense of ownership, urgency, and accountability Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field preferred 7+ years of experience in transportation, logistics, or distribution roles Hands‑on experience managing railcar fleets and rail transportation execution Experience managing trucking operations and multimodal logistics Experience working with third‑party warehouse and storage providers Experience with international logistics, import/export, customs, and cross‑border shipments Experience in manufacturing, fertilizer, agriculture, bulk materials, or asset‑intensive industries Physical Requirements and Work Environment While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk on the phone, speak with the public, hear on the phone, hear in person, and use hands and fingers. This job requires the employee to sit for prolonged periods with minimal exposure to hot and cold temperature extremes that could be encountered at Ostara’s job sites. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. This job requires close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the office environment is usually low. Location and Travel This position is located in St. Louis, MO. Up to 30% travel is expected as needed. (Up to 1 day per week can be remote work from home after training period.) EEO Statement Ostara is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, age, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, parental status, gender identity or national origin. #J-18808-Ljbffr