Barge Operations and Logistics Supervisor (Alaska Railroad)

Barge Operations & Logistics Supervisor

This position is based in Seattle, Washington. PURPOSE OF POSITION: Based in Seattle, Washington and reports to Barge Operations and Logistics Lead Supervisor. Assists with successfully interchanging rail traffic in Seattle from connecting railroads. Supervises weekly loading and unloading traffic to/from Alaska Rail Marine Services (ARMS) barges, including management of contract lashing employees and operating barge slewing equipment. Operates barge slewing equipment in a proficient manner for year-round operation. This position manages direct customer relationships, along with connecting Class 1 US railroads, transload agents, barge owners and their service/maintenance providers, and ARRC Anchorage-based Marketing & Sales staff. Responsible for end-to-end railcar tracking and oversight from origin point, coordinating freight movement and barge activities to meet customer needs. Provides backup for Manager, Rail Marine Operations and all related duties.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensures seamless communication and coordination for all activities related to weekly barge departure and weekly barge arrival. This involves relationship building and coordination with all connected parties and contractors. Develops operations plans in a timely manner and can independently make decisions that best benefit the customer.
• Operates barge slewing equipment during weekly loading and unloading operations. This assembly consists of a control point on a floating dock serving as a connection point between rail tracks on the barge and on ARRC property, along with five steel cables connected to winches on land. Operator maneuvers barge using controls connected to the winches in order to line up rail tracks on the barge with those on the floating dock.
• Provides direction and works with Class 1 train crews to ensure safe switching operations during barge loading and unloading. Supervises contract lashing employees during barge operations and communicates work plan and staffing needs. Coordinates efficient delivery of Alaska-bound traffic from BNSF and UP railroads. This includes physical inventory duties on BNSF and UP property and understanding flow of traffic through Seattle for both connecting railroads.Relies heavily on ability and willingness to forge and maintain relationships with customers and connected parties in Alaska as well as the lower 48.
• Ensures correct descriptions and contract numbers, and correct delivery and routing information is captured and entered in for use by various departments, customers and connecting carriers to ensure proper documentation flow for determining accurate charges. Prepares accurate and appropriate paperwork, assists customers with corrections, and makes necessary system adjustments to correct mistakes made in customer paperwork, ARRC paperwork/EDI and paperwork/EDI generated by other railroads.
• Provides back-up of slip operation and over Seattle operation for Manager, Rail-Marine operations. This back-up includes landing and securing barge arrivals to mooring dolphins on a 24/7 basis.
• Prepares customer reports of car locations and arrival information for various customers, and daily written arrival/departure information regarding barge locations. Enters and ensures the final manifest-train reports into the OIS system are complete and accurate.. This includes any special handling instructions and over-dimensional shipments, plus a separate detailed voyage summary for use by various departments, customers and connecting carriers. Produces and ensures the accuracy of reports required by different regulatory agencies, regarding the movement of hazardous materials.
• Monitors the location of ARRC-owned or leased equipment in interchange service to ensure efficient car utilization and ensure customer requirements are satisfied. Coordinates the movements and placements of ARRC-owned or leased equipment in the lower 48 for the purpose of obtaining necessary repairs and maintenance. Supplies the /delivery routing instructions to and necessary EDI to lower 48 railroads, and to the shops and leasing vendors.
• Contacts customers to communicate and coordinate the written load plans and rules. Secures the correct information and makes sure that the customers have the necessary documents. Advises shippers/customers of proper load securing requirements, clearances and special handling requests.
• Works with other marketing staff to provide support for business contract negotiations and ongoing logistics service. Communicates with customers, ARRC staff and management on a regular basis to facilitate efficient operations, and good customer service. Follows up with customers to implement planning, scheduling, safety communication, etc for both current and new operations/customers. Works with customers/vendors to understand their business practices and discover new business/cost savings opportunities and communicates this information to ARRC marketing staff and management. Establishes an ARRC marketing presence in community organizations as a representative of the ARRC as appropriate, collaborating with the Manager, Rail-Marine Operations, the Anchorage marketing staff and Corporate Affairs.
• May be required to participate in Incident Command exercises and activities. May be required to operate a company vehicle.

FACTOR 1: Technical and Operational Knowledge Must have two years working knowledge of rail transportation systems and/or the logistics industry, and preferably with a Class 1 US railroad.. Must have a working knowledge of car tracing systems and railroad nomenclature, tariffs and contracts as well as waybills, bills of lading and manifests. Familiarity with maritime work preferred.

FACTOR 2: Analytical Skills and Impact Must be able to think quickly and respond to various service issues, including analyzing weekly barge space utilization. Must be able to learn and summarize various railcar loads by type of equipment, commodity and weight, including special instructions and placement of hazardous commodities. Understands railcar movement and general map of major Class 1 US railroads. Can speak with general understanding of railcar interchange, car characteristics.

FACTOR 3: Supervision and Control At least one year of supervisory experience. This position oversees and directs the work of UP switch crews, contract lashers, and marine contract employees while they are working on ARRC property. The Barge Operations & Logistics Supervisor must'set the example' while anyone is on property.

FACTOR 4: Communication Relationship building is key to this role and includes possible communications outside of typical working hours. Candidates must be comfortable liaising with customers, other stakeholders, and ARRC staff based in Anchorage. Must obtain understanding of network and flow of operations for ARRC, BNSF, and UP. Required to follow proper radio procedures during barge operations, with willingness and capability to order a halt to operations when necessary.

FACTOR 5: Working Conditions Works in a railroad and marine field environment with work out of an office as well. Candidates must be willing to accept an 'on call' schedule as needed for unforeseen planning events. This position is based on Harbor Island in the Seattle, Washington metropolitan area. During barge operations, the floating dock and barge slewing equipment will be utilized.