Operations Manager

Recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Fortune Magazine and Great Place to Work , Sasser prides itself on supporting an employee-driven, opportunity-based culture that empowers, recognizes, and rewards its employees. From highly competitive benefits to exciting employee events to organic, grassroots philanthropy and volunteerism, Sasser is an awesome place to begin and grow your career. We are a transportation asset services and management company with roots dating to 1928. Sasser's subsidiary units are leaders in providing commercial- and industrial-focused rail, automotive, and containerized shipping solutions, including asset leasing, fleet administration management, asset repair and maintenance, and innovative technology services.

Sasser family of companies includes subsidiaries Chicago Freight Car Leasing, Union Leasing, CF Rail Services, Express 4x4 Truck Rental, and Falcon Lease. To learn more about what makes Sasser special, visit

This role supports our CF Rail Services team. Delivering the highest-quality railcar repairs quickly and safely with uncompromising customer service, CF Rail Services is a leading railcar repair and maintenance provider offering quality repair work for railroads, private car owners, lessors, contracts agents, and shippers across North America.


The Operations Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day operational performance of a directing railcar repair operations. The Operations Manager is accountable for leading and managing railcar repair events via direct contact with customer base while ensuring a positive financial return on tasks performed. In addition to the financial responsibility, this position will ensure safety; quality and environmental responsibilities are realized. This role is responsible in staff development, succession planning, and motivating site personnel to achieve all strategic business objectives. This position will be accountable for the leadership of skilled labor employees and will have a high level of interaction with all employees including upper management, safety, human resources, quality, corporate representatives, customers, and vendors. This position requires the ability to maintain a high degree of communication with assigned skilled labor workforce.

Responsibilities

• Set an example and conduct activities consistent with the core values of CF Rail Services contributing to a positive environment for communication, empowerment, and continuous improvement.
• Lead all employees in the safety initiatives and adhere to all railcar safety procedures.
• Responsible for managing all financial aspects of repair operation to ensure profitability results meet or exceed strategic business objectives.
• Staff, develop and motivate site personnel ensuring that operations are performed efficiently and maximize growth opportunities to produce high performing teams.
• Ensure that the facility meets and operates within all applicable local, state, and federal regulations in safety, environmental, labor, and transportation.
• Coordinates repair activities to meet the quality requirements of customers, CFRS and all regulatory agencies.
• Promote the repair facility and Change for the Better within the community through involvement and support of projects that enhance the living standards of the community.
• Coordinate and provide support to the Director of Network of Sales with bids and quotes for railcar repairs.
• Interacts with customers to ensure satisfaction, manage customer expectations, and set agreed upon production goals.
• Manages all aspects of personnel including hiring, recognition, goal setting, coaching, development, performance improvement, and termination.
• Ensures site assets are maintained proactively to prevent operational downtime.
• Create location budget annually, track weekly performance measures verse budget expectations.
• Creates an operational environment that promotes respect, communication, and employee development.
• Manage railcar flow to ensure throughput expectations are met.
• Maintain an adequate quantity of all necessary material and supplies required to operate the repair facility in keeping with safety, quality, productivity, cost, and economic earnings.
• Establish plant wide goals and develop plans for continuous improvement in the areas of safety, quality, cost, throughput, and economic return.
• Attend training, in-service, conferences, and meetings as necessary to understand current car repair standards.
• Wear PPE in appropriate areas.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) or equivalent; of ten years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education or experience.

Hard Skills

• Strong knowledge of computer applications including, but not limited to:
  
  • Microsoft Office suite.
  • CFRS systems to manage accurate work team time accounting.
• Intermediate Finance and Accounting training (KPI's, income statements, budgeting, margin, NOC, etc.).
• Leadership training, including but not limited to, communication, interview skills, performance management, etc.
• Lean Sigma training.
• AAR Basic Auditor Training.
• Participate in internal/external training, TBD by management.
• Must have the knowledge and thorough understanding of enterprise structure and operations and how they are inter-related and the knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the main competitors.
• Ability to work flexible hours.

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to use creative/innovative approaches and effective judgment to identify, define, and resolve complex problems as well as assess the viability and impact of potential solutions from different perspectives.
• Problem-solving skills such that others seek help to solve multi-disciplinary problems and the team-building skills necessary to exercise influence in accomplishing group objectives by achieving consensus and support.
• The ability to identify targets and milestones and set up systems for information flow and plan where other disciplines must be considered or incorporated is required.
• Ability to use diverse approaches and make decisions in the absence of a definitive framework or where few precedents exist, deal with pressure and conflict, and effectively communicate the organization's goals and objectives.
• In addition, the decision-making skills necessary to make technical and/or business decisions, based on an understanding of risk, which impact the operation or results of a major project and the communication skills necessary to communicate complex or sensitive information and listen to others and assimilate their input and views is required.
• Ability to influence both content and direction of discussions, establish a disciplined network that extends throughout the enterprise, lead external meetings, and strongly influence the business plan.
• Strong preparation/ present skills, management briefs, formulate technical strategy with management approval, and conduct training.
• Aptitude to adapt to changing business environments by redirecting strategies and/or services, demonstrate business vision in identifying opportunities for the company, take a strategic view of expenditure and controls cost effectiveness, and recognize value.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute operational strategies, assist in the development of new projects, assist in conducting analyses of potential acquisitions, and to build effective internal and external customer/supplier relationships.
• Ability to develop new techniques or approaches, advise and guide others, and focus on efforts to maximize profits and returns while meeting safety and environmental objectives.
• Excellent oral and written communication and strong organizational skills.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Work will be performed outdoors and indoors, on and around heavy equipment.

Work assignments involve standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching, climbing, crawling, and crouching in strained and awkward positions for prolonged periods of time at various heights up to 20 feet. Uses hands, legs, and arms to climb vertical ladders to staging or suspended platforms. Lifts, carries, and sets up equipment and components that weigh up to 50 lbs. Employee must be medically certified to wear a respirator, as well as be able to wear respirators for prolonged periods of time.

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The Company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.