Manager, Portfolio Management

Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Chicago, IL, GATX Corporation (NYSE: GATX) is an industry leader with 125+ years of success—success that is powered by our people. We are proud of our high-performance culture, hard-working and enthusiastic management team, and beautiful office space in the Willis Tower.

At GATX, we hire the best and offer our employees a dynamic, energetic, collaborative environment to enable them to make an impact from day one. Enjoy the perks and benefits of a global company with the close-knit culture and community of a much smaller one. In the same way we strive to empower our customers to propel the world forward, we are dedicated to providing our people with the tools and resources they need to advance in their careers.

The Manager, Fleet Assignments and Renewals will actively manage multiple freight car fleets that serve key rail markets within GATX Rail’s portfolio. Specifically, the goal of the position is to maximize the economic returns of the involved car types. Tactically, this entails working with the North American Sales organization on identifying and structuring lease transactions (for both assignments and renewals), as well as assessing opportunities for incremental railcar investment and divestiture. In addition, the position is heavily involved in end-of-lease negotiations required to reach settlements pertaining to contractual lessee liability. They will also be responsible for fleet management activities pertaining to their specific fleets and support of broader strategic initiatives.

Qualified candidates who are currently Wells Fargo Rail employees will be given priority consideration over other external applicants.

Manage the overall assignment process and all individual transactions involving car types for which the incumbent has designated responsibility. 

• These transactions involve the placement of existing cars on lease by responding to and quoting existing car inquiries from account managers. 
• The incumbent identifies the proper equipment, investigates the mechanical and economic feasibility if alteration is needed, negotiates rate, term, and payment responsibility for other items (such as rail car alteration or preparation cost, railroad freight expenses, and others). 
• These tasks require an understanding of customer equipment specifications and delivery requirements, as well as an understanding of car types, commodities, components, and applicable GATX standards and industry regulatory requirements.

Manage the overall renewal process involving car types for which the incumbent has designated responsibility. 

• These transactions address expiring leases by negotiating a new lease rate, term, and other conditions with the same customer. 
• The incumbent sets the target lease rate and term within Fleet Management guidelines, and also suggests structures to add value – i.e.  seek early renewals, package groups of expirations/ assignments together, etc.
• The incumbent will need to maintain an understanding of current market conditions, customer trends and fleet requirements, and potential release and remarketing expenses.

Manage the overall release process, and all individual transactions, for each product code/fleet for which the incumbent has responsibility. 

• These transactions involve cars that customers elect not to renew, which will soon re-enter the idle fleet. 
• This requires an assessment of the car’s future marketability and working with the Fleet Order Execution and Operations Teams to ensure that the proper repairs are performed to minimize maintenance expenditures. 
• The incumbent will develop and implement tactics to optimize existing fleet availability, and define the optimal number of “ready cars” for each product code/fleet, based on projected demand, probable releases and current idle cars.  In addition, the incumbent works with Sales, Operations and the Legal departments as needed to enforce the end-of-lease contractual provisions pertaining to car condition and cost responsibility.

Develop tactics and manage the implementation of strategic initiatives intended to maximize existing fleet returns and profitable growth, within specific car types (whether managed by this individual, or not) and the entire fleet when necessary.  

• Work with Structured Transactions, Sales, Strategic Growth, others to target car owners, (may be shippers, railroads, financial owners, etc.) for the purchase of existing assets to either be leased back, or redeployed to other customers.
• Stimulate interest in the available fleet with Sales and their customers by communicating availability, market conditions and creative deal suggestions.
• Provide input towards or lead investment analysis to develop recommendations regarding asset purchases, divestitures and other types of transactions.
• Support formulation of long- and short-term revenue forecasts

Develop pricing guidelines for renewals and assignments, and remarketing assumptions to guide car investment

• Support management reporting of idle car availability, assignment and renewal pricing effectiveness, etc.
• On larger transactions, be an advocate and deal team contributor who develops rationale surrounding equipment related matters that pertain to the considered investment.

• Bachelor’s degree with focus in business or engineering, an MBA is preferred
• 4-7 years of experience (rail industry or equipment leasing) preferred.
• Entry-level knowledge of rail cars, their users, and their markets is required.
• Understanding of basic principles of finance is required.
• Basic knowledge of lease structuring and accounting, other deal experience a significant plus
• Travel requirements are flexible and will evolve as the individual defines his or her approach to the role. Travel may be a significant part of the job and might be as frequent as 5 to 10 times per year.

This is a hybrid position that will require the employee to work in the office at least 3 days a week throughout the year.