The Liner, Air, Freight Forwarding Business Solutions Specialist is the liaison between Logistics Procurement, Operational Execution teams, Supply Chain Deliver, Supply Chain Planning, and the global liner, air carriers, and freight forwarders. This position is responsible for the support of high-level systemic issues to resolution, resolves escalated performance issues, and supports any new procurement plans. Drives productivity (cost reduction/avoidance) thru projects to achieve optimized cost to serve while maintaining necessary service levels.

Have a broad insight into ocean shipping sourcing and use that knowledge to bring value and opportunities to Celanese. Collaborate closely with the Operational Execution, Supply Chain Planning, and Supply Chain Deliver functions to maintain alignment and considering the global/regional/local needs and from a corporate perspective as well as individual business needs/strategies.

Essential Job Functions:

• Develop a working knowledge of containerized ocean, LCL, Isotank and freight forwarding internationally to ensure Global Logistics goals and service objectives are achieved.  It requires a working knowledge of supply chain operations and more specifically the process flow regarding export / import international logistics services.
• Lead and collaborate with Supply Chain Planning and Supply Chain Deliver functions in alignment with the business needs/strategy in analyzing logistical problems and to develop alternatives or new solutions.
• Support regional procurement teams to implement global RFQ’s for Liner mode.
• Works on establishing new ways to reduce and/or eliminate costs to streamline and optimize the supply chain by conducting in-depth evaluations of carriers that ensures achieving the liner and FF objectives and strategies.
• Maintains critical strategic supplier relationships to continually dialogue and develop “leading edge” ideas to further advance and create long term competitive advantage for the businesses. continuously develop as the subject matter expert for the liner industry as well as Freight Forwarding to ensure our internal client’s goals and service objectives are achieved. Acts as a consultant relative to market dynamics, capability of the suppliers, business drivers as well as industry best practices.  
• Bring innovative solutions thru new market / suppliers to provide lower cost, improve overall supply chain, and work take out.
• Coordinate with Sourcing Manager to consolidate, prepare and circulate commentaries and setting up a communications channel on the Liner shipping market such as cost trends, routes, fleet / equipment supply / capacity.

Business Solutions

• Understands ocean containerized shipping, air and freight forwarding to enhance and provide market updates and recommendations to S&OP and Celanese competitive position in the marketplace.
• Develop and lead projects to streamline supply chain operations and to find work take out.
• Collaborate with the sourcing managers to negotiate and identify innovative solutions that support supplier consolidation, improved service, delivery, cost, and lead times.

Supplier Management

• Handles any escalated service issues that arise with various carriers that is beyond the scope of Supply Chain Deliver.
• Can serve as the carrier advocate in determining cause of service problems.
• Makes strategic recommendations/decisions on the continued use of carriers if service deteriorates.
• Support scheduled regular carrier reviews (e.g. Quarterly Business Reviews) with service providers to discuss performance and new opportunities.

Technical Skills:

• Knowledge of the particular modes (daily operations, carriers, service lanes, quality and service standards, negotiation techniques, and follow-through, etc.)
• Knowledge of product specifications and appropriate method of shipment.
• Knowledge of how carriers operate and ability to judge their performance.

Necessary Functional Skills:

• Analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to deal with cultural differences and regional issues
• Knowledge of sourcing/purchasing methods and negotiation skills.

• Strong communication and negotiation skills, both verbal and written.
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Excellent relationship building skills, both internally and externally.
• Good judgment and decision-making skills.
• Detail oriented and proactive to ensure maximum value captured.
• Financial and Business Acumen: interpreting and applying the understanding of key financial indicators to make better decisions.
• Tech savvy:  ability to navigate the technical needs of SAP, TMS, & other technical transportation solutions.
• Cultivates innovation:  Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Understanding and execution of escalation procedures to appropriate stakeholders in managing the supplier relationship.
• Project Management skills to drive timely and cost-effective results on corporate initiatives and projects.
• Crisis Response support by mode to provide expertise and prompt resolution to market issues as they arise.