Transportation Business Associate

Full job description

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers — large and small — package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People • Customers • Trust

Position Summary: The Transportation Business Associate position is an 18-month rotational assignment for recent college graduates and/or early career, high potential internal/external candidates that seek cross-functional development. The goal is to develop candidates into future leaders in PCA’s supply chain.

Dimensions: The Transportation Business Associate will rotate through at least five assignments in Corporate functional departments, Corporate Transportation, BCT Trucking, Mill Shipping and Box Plant Shipping to develop a broad perspective of the various links in the supply chain and overall PCA business acumen, culture, etc.

Principle Accountabilities:

• Connect with Mentors within each assignment through regular communications and meaningful development within each assignment.
• Rotate through five+ assignments throughout various locations and departments
• Maintain general communications with the Manager of Learning and Development and complete periodic check-ins as prescribed.
• Work on assignments and/or projects under the direction of the designated Mentor in each assignment.
• Learn how the various functions interact together both internally and externally to create a high functioning supply chain.
• Identify areas for improvement and present data and/or hypothesis accordingly.
• Collaborate with other Transportation and Supply Chain stakeholders to broaden knowledge of PCA and its suppliers.
• Develop skills throughout each assignment that will benefit the candidate and PCA in future roles.
• Know and follow policies and procedures of the company, share information that would benefit other members of the team and find ways to improve the delivery of service to our customers.
• Strive to continually strengthen PCA’s business philosophy of meeting needs and exceeding expectation for customers specifically supporting PCA’s Commitment to Service which involves doing what’s right for our customers, focusing on strategies that add value and support growth, and keeping the promises that we make.
• Work with the Vice President of Transportation and the Mentors to develop a career path beyond the rotational assignment.

Decision Making: Within each assignment, the Associate will be trained to take on meaningful assignments and will make decisions in accordance with each assignment and under the direction of the respective Mentors.

Interactions:

• Report and interact with the GM-BCT, Director-Transportation, Sr Manager-Transportation, “as assigned” at Mills and box plants with dotted lines to Mentors during each assignment.
• Periodically connect with the Manager of Learning and Development, and other corporate managers as appropriate.
• Communicate and build working relationships with internal and external customers, suppliers, other functional managers and systems during each assignment, as well as develop life skills for business success.

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with Transportation, Supply Chain, Business Administration or Industrial Engineering required
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to network and build relationships with individuals of various experiences and professional levels both within and outside of the company.
• Proficiency in Systems and tools (analytics, communications, presentation, database) necessary for success. Examples may include but are not limited to Microsoft Office suites, Transportation Management Systems (TMS), various business Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
• Ability to learn quickly and put new knowledge into practice.
• Solid written and verbal communication skills.
• Leadership pursuits during academic life (project team leads, campus govt, athletics, clubs, outside job, etc.)
• Previous work experience as a member of a team, or a strong understanding of the importance of open communication and information sharing between team members.
• Formal recommendation into the program from PCA manager, employer (present or past), educator or other community leader.
• Acceptance into the program by Vice President-Transportation, Human Resources-Director and Manager of Learning and Development.
• Must be able to travel as necessary and possess valid documents for travel via air and car.