Supply Chain Analyst Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

We are hiring for an entry-level supply chain analyst in the supply chain department of our company. Responsibilities include coordination and reporting on supply and demand for all products, sourcing costs of new materials/products, and frequently interacting with employees from across the organization to keep everyone informed on current requirements. Your daily tasks will include analyzing daily data to identify any upcoming issues in supply or demand for products, sourcing materials/products, communicating with vendors to ensure they can provide what is needed, maintaining relationships with employees across the company in order to stay up-to-date on production needs and requirements, and preparing regular reports on findings and updates to management.

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Analyze and direct the allocation of materials, supplies, and products
• Evaluate market dynamics and insights to improve and forecast operational performance
• Develop business relationships with suppliers and clients
• Design strategies to minimize the cost or time required to store and transport goods
• Review logistical systems, and identify and recommend areas for improvement

Education and experience

This position requires a bachelor’s degree in business, systems engineering, or supply chain management.

Required skills and qualifications

• Robust data and information analysis abilities
• Aptitude for counting and inventory management
• Managerial and business management skills
• Organizational, communications, and problem-solving skills
• Keen attention to detail

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field
• At least one year of experience in a supply chain role or relevant position
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to work effectively with others in a team environment
• Experience with computers and software, including Microsoft Excel and Outlook

Major responsibilities

• Analyzes route schedules or load plans, historical activity and customer trends in order to provide recommendations for improvements to routing efficiency and solution effectiveness
• Support the design and implementation of a developed supply chain solution
• Identify cost savings opportunities for the customer
• Handle reoccurring analysis and tasks driving continuous cost savings initiatives
• Examine current processes and implement or recommend improvements to drive out waste
• Proactively monitor and manage key performance indicators and execute root cause analysis utilizing TM operating systems
• Interact with customers in resolving problems and coordinating implementations
• Develop and distribute weekly customer metrics and develop customer performance reports
• Meet customer deadlines and develop metrics dashboards that highlight customer specific analytics
• Applies network changes and synchronizes execution with TM system
• Maps and documents standard operating processes
• Applies tactical processes daily within the established business rules
• Use discretion and independent judgment to answer customer requests and propose solutions
• Work with internal subject matter expert to resolve problems and support implementations
• Follow processes that are set by engineering and help implement any process changes and transportation design changes
• Other projects and tasks as assigned by supervisor

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required, Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 1 year of inventory/auditing/transportation experience preferred
• Fundamental understanding of transportation, supply chain and logistics
• Ability to learn and operate various inventory and transportation management systems, in addition to extension applications
• Ability to follow processes and procedures
• Data Analysis skills required
• Strong problem solving and time management skills required
• Must have strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and multi task required
• Ability to follows process and standard procedures
• Experience analyzing large sets of data preferred
• Advanced computer skills including Excel and Outlook required
• Regular, predictable, full attendance is an essential function of the job
• Willingness to travel as necessary, work the hours necessary to accomplish the job duties, work at the specific location required, complete Penske employment application, submit to a background investigation (to include past employment, education, and criminal history) and drug screening

Physical requirements

• The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals

Responsibilities

• Receive and record all non-Purchase Order (“PO”) freight invoices, distribute to the appropriate approvers, and monitor to enable a timely response (either approval and payment or initiate a dispute) to vendors and carriers
• Monitor and report invoices from companies who are not approved vendors and handle as directed by management
• Handle or re-direct inquiries and billing exceptions from Accounting to appropriate parties in Logistics
• Respond to logistics vendor inquiries for payment status
• Monitor payables aging for major logistics and processing vendors and facilitate resolution
• Prepare management reports and information regarding invoice activity, spend, and exceptions, or other key indicators
• Work with manager to develop an invoice management process and provide recommendations to improve reporting, processes, and procedures to improve the accuracy and velocity of invoice approvals

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or at least two (2) years of relevant logistics or accounts payable experience
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills, capable of working within a diverse, cross-functional, internal, and external team across different time zones
• Strong planning, time management, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills with a strong results orientation
• Ability to travel periodically to other Cliffs facilities
• Organized, detail-oriented administrative skills, i.e., record keeping, filing, etc.
• Understanding of logistics and transportation management

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or Accounting
• Computer skills – MO Office Products, including, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Experience in CC legacy systems, On Base, etc. would be a plus
• Self-motivation, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Demonstrated work ethic

Position responsibilities

• Provide feedback to Corporate and Branch Operations regarding process improvement and product storage issues
• Oversee supply chain/inventory control/velocity team to guide progress on velocity code planning/sizing/slotting
• Analyze product movement data
• Respond to all communications regarding current velocity projects and status of new catalog item slotting
• Contribute to the planning of overall facility layout and design
• Ensure various reports and code changes are in line with all corporate supply chain/inventory control/velocity procedures

Minimum requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent. Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 5+ years warehouse experience preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Detail-oriented and ability to multitask
• Experience with Microsoft SQL or Access
• Ability to analyze data and make recommendations for process improvement