Rail Operations Manager: Strategy & Safety Lead

Eastman; Kingsport (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays and time off

Career growth programs

Job summary

Eastman is seeking a Rail Operations Manager in Kingsport, Tennessee to lead a critical logistics function supporting NAR operations. You will strategize, execute, and continuously improve rail transportation, balancing near-term execution with long-term plans, while guiding a high-performing team.

You will collaborate with Supply Chain, Procurement, AMS, Manufacturing, and Customer Service to ensure reliable movement of goods, maintain safety, and drive operational KPIs across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of relevant industry experience, including leadership responsibilities.
• Experience managing complex operations with ERP systems (SAP or similar).
• APICS, Lean Six Sigma, CPIM, or similar certifications are a plus.
• Strong analytical, communication, and decision‑making skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive operational excellence, safety, and compliance; support crisis and incident management.
• Lead, supervise, and develop the rail operations team (8-9 direct reports).
• Serve as first escalation point for service issues and travel as needed.
• Partner with Logistics Business Managers to align initiatives and plans.
• Translate procurement and logistics strategies into KPIs and action plans.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

SAP

Analytical skills

Decision making

Communication

Team development

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

MS Office

SAP ERP

Job description

Eastman is seeking a Rail Operations Manager in Kingsport, Tennessee to lead a critical logistics function supporting NAR operations. You will strategize, execute, and continuously improve rail transportation, balancing near-term execution with long-term plans, while guiding a high-performing team.

You will collaborate with Supply Chain, Procurement, AMS, Manufacturing, and Customer Service to ensure reliable movement of goods, maintain safety, and drive operational KPIs across multiple sites.