Fleet Maintenance Manager

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SUMMARY

The Manager of Fleet Maintenance is responsible for managing Westlake’s Rail Car assets, including specification, maintenance, repair and compliance.  The manager must be knowledgeable with applicable FRA, Transport Canada, and AAR regulations. Provides leadership, company interface, and technical expertise on emerging regulatory and design issues. Leads a team of internal and external subject matter experts and manages relationships with 3rd party providers of maintenance services and regulatory compliance.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develops and implements enterprise-wide strategy to align with overall business strategy to source highest quality logistics solutions at competitive pricing to grow the Westlake Franchise.

• Fleet Assets
  • Provide specifications and design input for all new railcar construction projects.
  • Provide specifications for leased rail equipment
  • Plans and executes preventive maintenance and regulatory requirement activities for fleet of >15,000 rail cars.
• Supplier Management
  • Qualifies, selects, and negotiates pricing with all 3rd party repair shop contractors.
  • Conducts periodic environmental and security audits of contract repair shops.
  • Investigate non-conformances of outside rail repair facilities.
  • Coordinates the auditing of rail car repair shops against QAP

• Develop and deploy strategies to align with WLK business and support objectives.
  • Distribution analysis and optimization
  • Supports Fleet sizing and maintenance activities
  • Evaluation of IT logistics tracking and maintenance solutions to support business
• Safety and Compliance
  • Lead and develop team safety culture
  • Ensure compliance to all federal, state, and local regulations regarding rail and barge assets.
  • Represents Westlake in all regulatory and compliance issues with transportation authorities, such as DOT, FRA, Transportation Security Administration, Transport Canada
  • Provides guidance to plants on applicable transportation regulatory issues, such as car marking and special permits
• Process improvement
  • Initiates projects to reduce risks in the transportation of hazardous materials
  • Identify opportunities to increase performance and reduce costs
  • Manages process change to implement process improvements.
• Project Management
  • Participates in capital project scopes for logistics activities, including revenue and expense forecasting for return on investment analysis.
  • Participates as needed in due diligence activities
• Complaint and Corrective Actions
  • Leads complaint resolution process with suppliers
  • Identifies and implements long term corrective actions for process improvement
• Represents Westlake in industry groups such as the Chlorine Institute, & AAR Tank Car Committee.
• Any additional responsibilities or tasks as assigned.
• Comply with all Company policies and procedures.
• Fully supports Company goals of continuous improvement and operational excellence at strategic and tactical levels including reviewing area of responsibility for improvement opportunities to initiate projects or communicate ideas to management as well as active participation on project teams

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree or higher preferred.
• 10 years of progressive professional achievement, including 10 years of direct experience involving fleet maintenance and compliance or similar.
• Candidate must possess organizational leadership skills. 
• Must be able to obtain Transportation Worker Identification Credential from Department of Homeland Security.
• Must have specific knowledge of transportation requirements for chlorine.
• Must have knowledge of American Association of Railroads and Federal Railroad Administration regulations and application to rail transportation.
• Positive and energetic leadership skills.
• Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in verbal and written communications.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to all organizational levels.
• Experience in utilizing Microsoft Office applications, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• Working knowledge of materials and structural concepts for rail and barge equipment and coatings.
• Understanding of applicable transportation regulations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk and climb; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and infrequently lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.   The employee must frequently make minor decisions with limited information, general decisions in the absence of specific directions, and perform activities requiring sustained concentration.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is sometimes moderate when working in an office, however, some of the work may be required in the operating units which mandates usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.  During active remediation additional requirements may include fit testing for respiratory equipment, chemical suits, face shields, etc. May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs.  Moderate travel (20-40%) may be required in the performance of duties.

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