Summit Search Group is proud to partner with O&T Farms on the recruitment of their next Rail & Transload Manager.

O&T Farms is a growing, innovative agricultural company with a strong North American footprint. As they continue to expand, they are seeking a strategic and hands-on logistics leader to optimize and scale their rail and transload network.

This is a high-impact role offering the opportunity to build, manage, and evolve a complex transportation network while working closely with internal teams and external partners across Canada and the United States.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Rail & Transload Manager will be responsible for the strategic development, execution, and optimization of O&T Farms’ North American rail and transload network. This role is highly external-facing, owning key third-party relationships and ensuring the network operates as a seamless extension of the organization.

The successful candidate will bring a strong mix of logistics strategy, relationship management, and operational execution, with the ability to scale systems to support future growth.

Key Responsibilities

Rail Network Strategy & Execution

• Manage and optimize the leased railcar fleet, including capacity, utilization, maintenance, and storage
• Develop and execute rail routing strategies across Canada and the U.S.
• Negotiate rail rates and service agreements with Class 1 railways and shortlines
• Monitor performance metrics including cycle times, dwell, demurrage, and car utilization
• Develop contingency routing plans and surge capacity strategies

Transloader Network Management

• Own and manage all transloader relationships across North America
• Negotiate contracts and service agreements with transloader partners
• Identify and onboard new transloaders to strengthen network resilience
• Oversee last-mile trucking agreements and rate negotiations
• Conduct regular site visits to ensure operational standards and compliance
• Drive improvements in delivery timelines, accuracy, and inventory reconciliation
• Lead investigations into customer issues, non-conformances, and service disruptions

Freight Market Intelligence

• Analyze rail and truck freight markets across North America
• Provide insights to support long-term network planning and cost optimization

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sales to align network design with demand and geographic growth
• Work with Quality Assurance to ensure compliance with internal and third-party standards
• Coordinate with Logistics to ensure alignment between production and transportation
• Provide regular reporting on network performance and key metrics

Scalability & Growth

• Design and implement scalable logistics systems to support 2–3x growth
• Identify future expansion opportunities across the transload network
• Develop long-term railcar fleet expansion strategies aligned with business growth

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in rail, logistics, transportation, or supply chain management
• Strong understanding of rail networks, transloading, and freight economics
• Experience managing third-party logistics providers and vendor relationships
• Proven ability to negotiate contracts and manage service agreements
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and drive decisions
• Experience working cross-functionally in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment
• Willingness and ability to travel for site visits across North America

Why This Opportunity

• Opportunity to build and scale a North American logistics network
• High level of ownership and autonomy in a strategic role
• Work closely with leadership and play a key role in company growth
• Join a collaborative, entrepreneurial organization with strong momentum

If you are a logistics professional who thrives on building relationships, optimizing networks, and driving operational excellence, this is an outstanding opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

For more information, or to submit your resume, please contact Gail Eckert at Summit Search Group: gail.eckert@summitsearchgroup.com

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