Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Global Supply Chain Analyst

💰 $75,000 - $110,000

Supply ChainData AnalysisLogisticsOperationsBusiness Intelligence

🎯 Role Definition

The Global Supply Chain Analyst is the analytical backbone of an organization's international supply chain operations. This role is fundamentally about transforming vast amounts of raw data into actionable intelligence to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service levels across the entire end-to-end supply chain. Professionals in this position are expert problem-solvers, using quantitative and qualitative methods to dissect complex processes, from procurement and manufacturing to logistics and final delivery. They are crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in a global market by ensuring the right products are in the right place, at the right time, and at the right cost.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Supply Chain Coordinator or Specialist
  • Logistics Analyst or Coordinator
  • Data Analyst (with a focus on operations)
  • Procurement or Sourcing Assistant

Advancement To:

  • Senior Global Supply Chain Analyst
  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Demand or Supply Planning Manager
  • Logistics Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Business Intelligence Analyst
  • Operations Analyst
  • Procurement or Sourcing Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Analyze and interpret large, complex datasets related to inventory, logistics, and procurement to identify trends, opportunities for improvement, and potential risks.
  • Develop, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as On-Time In-Full (OTIF), inventory turns, freight cost per unit, and forecast accuracy.
  • Design and maintain detailed dashboards and scorecards for management, providing clear visibility into global supply chain performance and highlighting areas requiring attention.
  • Conduct comprehensive root cause analysis on supply chain disruptions, such as shipping delays or stockouts, and recommend effective corrective and preventative actions.
  • Manage and optimize inventory levels across a global network of warehouses and distribution centers to balance service levels with working capital goals.
  • Collaborate closely with demand planning, sales, and marketing teams to refine forecasting models and improve overall forecast accuracy on a global scale.
  • Evaluate and analyze transportation and logistics costs, carrier performance, and route efficiency to identify and implement significant cost-saving initiatives.
  • Model and simulate different supply chain scenarios to support strategic decision-making, such as network design changes or new market entry.
  • Support the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process by providing essential data analysis and insights on supply, demand, and inventory.
  • Identify and spearhead process improvement projects within the supply chain, utilizing methodologies like Lean or Six Sigma to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Work with global suppliers and third-party logistics (3PL) providers to monitor their performance against service level agreements (SLAs) and drive continuous improvement.
  • Perform detailed cost-to-serve analysis to understand the total cost impact of delivering products to different customers and markets.
  • Ensure data integrity across various supply chain systems (ERP, WMS, TMS) and act as a subject matter expert for supply chain data.
  • Prepare and present compelling business cases for strategic supply chain investments, such as new technology or infrastructure, to senior leadership.
  • Assist in the development and execution of supply chain risk mitigation strategies to build resilience against geopolitical, environmental, or economic disruptions.
  • Translate business requirements into technical specifications for the development of new analytical tools, reports, and systems.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer urgent business questions from leadership and cross-functional partners.
  • Contribute to the organization's broader data governance strategy and roadmap by championing data quality and standardization within the supply chain function.
  • Collaborate with IT and business intelligence units to translate complex supply chain data needs into technical and engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies, representing the supply chain's analytical needs within cross-functional project teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced Data Analysis & Modeling: Mastery of Microsoft Excel, including complex formulas, pivot tables, Power Query, and macros for in-depth analysis and scenario modeling.
  • ERP & Supply Chain Systems: Proficiency in using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics 365) and familiarity with Warehouse (WMS) and Transportation (TMS) Management Systems.
  • Database Querying: Strong ability to write and execute SQL queries to extract, manipulate, and analyze data from relational databases.
  • Data Visualization: Expertise in creating clear and impactful dashboards and reports using data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Qlik Sense.
  • Statistical Analysis: Solid understanding of statistical concepts and methods to analyze trends, create forecasts, and validate data hypotheses.
  • Supply Chain Principles: Deep knowledge of end-to-end supply chain concepts, including inventory management, logistics, demand planning, and S&OP.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical Mindset & Problem-Solving: An innate ability to dissect complex problems, see the connections in data, and develop logical, data-driven solutions.
  • Exceptional Communication: The ability to clearly articulate complex findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: A natural aptitude for working effectively with diverse teams across different functions and geographies to achieve common goals.
  • Meticulous Attention to Detail: A sharp eye for accuracy, ensuring the integrity of data and the precision of analysis that drives critical business decisions.
  • Adaptability & Resilience: The capacity to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic global environment, managing ambiguity and shifting priorities with a positive attitude.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • A Bachelor’s degree is considered the standard entry point for this role.

Preferred Education:

  • A Master’s degree (e.g., MBA, MS in Supply Chain Management) or professional certifications such as APICS (CSCP, CPIM) or a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt are highly valued.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics
  • Business Administration (with a concentration in Operations or Analytics)
  • Data Analytics or Data Science
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Economics or Finance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • Typically, professionals in this role have between 2-5 years of direct experience in supply chain, logistics, or a highly analytical business function.

Preferred:

  • Experience within a complex, multi-national organization is a significant advantage, as it provides exposure to the global-scale challenges and nuances inherent in this role. Prior work with large, disparate datasets is also highly sought after.
Explore More Careers