Rail Transportation Manager

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world. Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 18,000 people globally.

This position is responsible for transportation operational performance and rail pricing in support of LDC’s processing plants, terminals, and trading desks. The Rail Transportation Manager leads day‑to‑day execution including rail movements, service reliability, and cost performance, ensuring shipments are executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with commercial priorities. The role owns rail rate management, pricing analysis, and carrier negotiations, while providing leadership, prioritization, and escalation management for the transportation team. This position partners closely with the Logistics & Assets Manager to ensure transportation execution aligns with fleet availability, compliance standards, and broader cost objectives.

 

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead transportation operational performance, directing day‑to‑day execution of rail movements and service delivery to support of plants, terminals, and trading desks.
• Identify and address service performance and issue resolution, including missed service recovery, disruption response, embargo management, and escalation coordination.
• Lead rail pricing negotiations and commercial decision‑making, supported by rate analysis, benchmarking, tariff monitoring, and pricing strategies aligned with volume, service, and cost objectives.
• Provide leadership and governance for the transportation team, setting execution priorities, monitoring KPIs, and ensuring consistent processes, controls, and decision‑making across transportation operations.

 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Maintain routine coordination with rail carriers to support day‑to‑day communications, operating updates, and information flow related to service plans and execution status.
• Oversee rail rate negotiations by preparing analyses, tracking negotiation status, documenting outcomes, and ensuring agreed pricing is accurately reflected in systems and contracts.
• Assist with carrier performance reviews by compiling service metrics, trend analysis, and supporting materials for leadership discussions.
• Support transportation planning, budgeting, and forecasting activities by providing execution data, historical performance insights, and pricing inputs.
• Oversee daily logistical activities at plants and coordinates with delivering rail carriers, traders and processing facilities.
• Manages ancillary charges including penalties, demurrage, diversion charges and other related fees while working to minimize.
• Oversees freight spend related activities including invoicing, tracking, quoting and reporting, giving guidance and instruction to team members. 
• Coordinates transportation requirements with operations and commercial teams while identifying capacity concerns and forecasts. 
• Attend and participate in conferences, visit supplier head offices, LDC assets and other travel as required to support team/individual/LDC objectives.
• Perform other duties and projects assigned in support of evolving business needs.    

Education/Professional Certifications/Licenses

Basic qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree

Preferred qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree specializing in agriculture, transportation, or logistics preferred
• Advanced training in leadership, rail transportation or supply chain is helpful

 

Experience

Basic qualifications:

• Five years minimum in a logistics, transportation or related role

Preferred qualifications:

• Five years or more experience at an agribusiness firm, railroad or shipper handling railcar volume
• Experience in a trading environment is helpful

 

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (including any physical demands)

Basic qualifications:

• Must have an extensive knowledge of the U.S. rail transportation systems, relationships with major transportation providers and a good working knowledge of grain trading and transportation
• Knowledge of rules and regulations for shippers and receivers (e.g., Surface Transportation Board, Federal Railroad Authority, HazMat, Department of Transportation, Food and Drug Administration), including awareness of nonperformance issues and penalties
• Knowledge of railroad logistics specifically and vessel logistics preferably
• Knowledge of demurrage/despatch concepts helpful
• Familiarity with current commodity transportation issues
• Proficiency with MS Excel, transportation software systems, database administration and online systems/websites
• Knowledge/ability to set up accruals for freight, costs, demurrage, etc.
• Must have good negotiating skills and understand how to leverage opportunities
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Suite and Power BI

Employee Supervision

• 0-2 direct reports
• Assists Director of Transportation with supervising the transportation team when needed

 

Decision Making/Accountability

• This position has significant responsibility and accountability.  Involved in decisions that can account for millions of dollars of freight services that support the daily trading desks.  Handles day-to-day oversight of thousands of railcars at once.  Must adjust to transportation disruptions (e.g. weather-related problems, embargoes, etc.) with creative and most optimal solutions.  Assesses variables and consults with traders/management to agree upon solutions to logistical problems.

What We Offer

We provide a dynamic and stimulating international environment, which will stretch and develop your abilities and channel your skills and expertise with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the largest and most solid private companies in the world.

- Comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental and vision care coverage, flexible spending account plans, employee assistance program, life insurance and disability coverage

- 401k with Company Match

- Family Friendly Benefits including childbirth and parental leave, fertility and family building benefits

- Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays

- Flexible work available (not applicable to all roles)

Diversity & Inclusion

LDC is driven by a set of shared values and high ethical standards, with diversity and inclusion being part of our DNA. LDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, equity and inclusion.

LDC encourages diversity, supports local communities and environmental initiatives. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Equal employment opportunity (EEO)

Louis Dreyfus 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.

Sustainability

Sustainable value is at the heart of our purpose as a company.

We are passionate about creating fair and sustainable value, both for our business and for other value chain stakeholders: our people, our business partners, the communities we touch and the environment around us