Vice President of Logistics
Fontus Blue
Operations
Baltimore, MD, USA
The Vice President of Logistics is responsible for the end-to-end strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of bulk liquid hazardous materials transportation across North America. This role oversees a complex, safety-critical network supporting more than 80,000 deliveries annually across a rapidly growing business. The VP will lead fleet, carrier, and rail optimization, drive measurable improvements in safety and service performance (FMCSA, OTTR), implement and scale Transportation Management Systems (TMS), and ensure full regulatory compliance across DOT, FMCSA, and environmental requirements.
This role is a critical executive leadership position, partnering closely with Operations, Supply Chain, EH&S, Commercial, and Finance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and execute a scalable logistics strategy aligned with business growth, capacity expansion, and customer service objectives.
- Serve as executive owner of transportation performance, cost management, risk mitigation, and service reliability.
- Build and lead a high-performing logistics organization, including fleet management, dispatch, carrier management, and rail logistics teams.
- Establish KPIs, dashboards, and operating cadence to support executive-level decision making.
Transportation Operations (Bulk Liquid & HazMat)
- Oversee bulk liquid hazardous materials transportation via truck, third-party carriers, and rail, ensuring safe, compliant, and cost-effective movement.
- Accountable for execution of more than 80,000 deliveries per year, with strong OTTR/OTTIF (OnTime to Request, & In-Full) performance.
- Optimize routing, load planning, density, and asset utilization across a geographically diverse network.
- Lead and manage 4 PL provider carrier qualification, contracting, performance management, and contingency planning.
Safety, Compliance & FMCSA Performance
- Own DOT and FMCSA compliance strategy, including audits, roadside inspections, safety fitness reviews, and corrective action programs.
- Drive continuous improvement in FMCSA scores (CSA BASICs), prevent violations, and strengthen safety culture.
- Partner with EH&S to ensure full compliance with hazmat transportation, tank specifications, placarding, training, and emergency response readiness.
- Champion elimination of incidents, near-misses, spills, and preventable accidents.
Service Performance & OTTR Improvement
- Lead initiatives to measurably improve OTTR, delivery precision, and customer satisfaction.
- Implement root-cause analysis and corrective actions across dispatch, carrier performance, plant interfaces, and customer interfaces.
- Align logistics execution with commercial commitments, demand variability, and seasonal peaks.
Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
- Lead the implementation, and optimization of Transportation Management Systems (TMS).
- Ensure systems support load planning, tendering, tracking, visibility, billing, analytics, and compliance reporting.
- Drive user adoption, process standardization, and continuous improvement leveraging TMS data and automation.
Rail Freight Optimization
- Own rail transportation strategy for bulk liquid chemicals, including private fleet and common carrier rail.
- Optimize railcar utilization, cycle times, storage/demurrage reduction, lane selection, and network flows.
- Manage rail carrier relationships, contracts, and service performance.
- Integrate rail strategy with plant production planning and inventory management.
Financial & Cost Management
- Full P&L accountability for transportation spend.
- Identify and deliver year-over-year logistics cost savings through network optimization, mode shifting, carrier strategy, and productivity improvements.
- Develop and manage transportation budgets, forecasts, and capital planning for fleet, railcars, and systems.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
Required
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in logistics, transportation, or supply chain, with significant bulk liquid hazmat experience.
- Executive-level experience managing high-volume transportation networks (50k+ deliveries/year).
- Demonstrated success improving FMCSA/CSA scores, audit outcomes, and safety performance.
- Proven track record of improving OTTR and service reliability in complex operations.
- Hands-on leadership of TMS selection and implementation in an enterprise environment.
- Experience managing 4PL providers overseeing procurement and freight payment auditing.
- Strong experience with rail freight optimization for bulk liquids or chemicals.
- Deep knowledge of DOT, FMCSA, and hazardous materials transportation regulations.
- Strong executive communication, cross-functional leadership, and change management skills.
- The ability to travel 30-50%
Preferred
- Experience in chemical manufacturing, water treatment, industrial chemicals, or related process industries.
- Experience managing both private fleet and third-party carrier models.
- MBA or advanced degree in Supply Chain, Operations, or Business.
- Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement background.
Key Success Metrics
- FMCSA CSA score improvement and audit outcomes
- OTTR performance and delivery reliability
- Transportation cost per Ton/gallon, cost/mile & cost/Ton-mile
- Incident, spill, and preventable accident reduction
- TMS adoption, data quality, and automation benefits
- Railcar utilization, cycle time, and demurrage reduction
- Customer satisfaction and service level achievement
USALCO is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. As a general policy, USALCO does not offer employment visa sponsorships upon hire or in the future.
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