Strategic Operations Analyst

Job Overview

The Strategic Operations Analyst provides data driven insights, analytical support, and strategic recommendations to optimize the company's operational processes. The role focuses on identifying operational inefficiencies, assessing business performance, and recommending strategic changes to improve overall operational effectiveness and alignment with company goals. The analyst collaborates across departments to ensure operational strategies are effectively executed and support the long term growth and success of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Data Analysis & Performance Monitoring
  • Analyze key operational data, including production, supply chain, sales, and customer service metrics, to monitor performance and identify areas for improvement.
  • Develop and maintain dashboards to track operational performance, providing actionable insights to senior leadership.
  • Regularly report on key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational outcomes, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
  • Use advanced analytics techniques to identify trends, issues, and opportunities within business operations.
  • Conduct root cause analysis to diagnose operational problems and recommend data driven solutions.
• Strategic Planning & Execution Support
  • Assist in the development and implementation of strategic operational initiatives that align with business objectives.
  • Provide analytical support for the creation of operational plans and strategies, ensuring they are data driven and measurable.
  • Support the execution of company wide operational strategies, ensuring they are effectively integrated into day to day operations.
  • Help translate high level business goals into actionable operational strategies that drive long term organizational success.
  • Collaborate with senior leadership to assess the progress of strategic initiatives and suggest adjustments to improve outcomes.
• Process Improvement & Optimization
  • Identify inefficiencies in existing business processes and collaborate with cross functional teams to propose improvements.
  • Utilize process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.) to drive operational excellence across the organization.
  • Conduct time and motion studies, process mapping, and workflow analysis to uncover opportunities for process simplification and optimization.
  • Work with business units to implement process changes, ensuring they are scalable and aligned with strategic goals.
  • Measure the effectiveness of process improvements and adjust strategies based on performance data.
• Cross Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with various departments, including finance, marketing, operations, and HR, to understand their operational challenges and recommend solutions.
  • Collaborate with department leaders to ensure that operational processes are aligned with broader company goals and objectives.
  • Lead or participate in cross functional teams to improve efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
  • Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure the successful adoption and execution of operational strategies.
• Business Intelligence & Reporting
  • Develop and maintain reports that summarize business performance, focusing on areas such as operational efficiency, financial performance, and resource utilization.
  • Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify industry trends and benchmarks that inform strategic decisions.
  • Present findings and recommendations to senior management, highlighting opportunities for cost reduction, performance enhancement, and process optimization.
  • Ensure that reporting systems are efficient and provide real time data to decision makers.
• Project Management & Initiative Implementation
  • Manage or support the execution of key operational projects, from planning to implementation, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.
  • Coordinate resources, monitor project progress, and address potential risks or delays.
  • Maintain clear communication with stakeholders and provide regular project status updates to leadership.
  • Track the success of operational projects and report on the impact of strategic initiatives.
• Financial Analysis & Budgeting
  • Assist in financial modeling and budgeting to evaluate the cost effectiveness of operational strategies and initiatives.
  • Support cost reduction initiatives by identifying areas of inefficiency or overspending within operations.
  • Monitor operational costs, report on budget performance, and propose strategies to optimize resource allocation.
  • Analyze the financial impact of operational decisions and ensure that strategies are aligned with the company's financial goals.
• Change Management & Adoption
  • Support change management efforts as new processes, technologies, or strategies are implemented across the organization.
  • Develop training materials and conduct workshops to help teams adapt to new operational procedures.
  • Address challenges associated with process changes, ensuring smooth transitions and minimizing disruption to operations.
  • Monitor the success of changes and gather feedback to continuously improve future implementations.
• Risk Management & Compliance
  • Assess operational risks and develop strategies to mitigate potential disruptions, ensuring business continuity.
  • Monitor compliance with industry regulations and internal policies, ensuring that all operations are conducted within legal and ethical frameworks.
  • Identify and address operational vulnerabilities that could lead to inefficiencies, regulatory issues, or operational failures.
  • Develop contingency plans for critical operational processes and ensure that teams are prepared for any potential disruptions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Data Analytics, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in operations analysis, business strategy, or a similar analytical role with a focus on optimizing business operations.
• Strong understanding of business operations, performance metrics, and process improvement methodologies.
• Proficient in data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, Tableau, Power BI) and business intelligence software.
• Experience in financial analysis and budgeting processes, including cost benefit analysis and ROI evaluations.
• Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills, with the ability to analyze complex data and provide actionable recommendations.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present findings to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Project management experience with the ability to coordinate multiple initiatives and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or Agile methodologies is a plus.

Preferred Skills

• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or a related field.
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma or similar process improvement methodologies.
• Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle).
• Familiarity with project management software (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello).
• Knowledge of industry specific operations (e.g., manufacturing, logistics, retail, healthcare).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Successful implementation of operational strategies and initiatives that lead to measurable improvements in efficiency, productivity, or profitability.
• Achievement of cost saving targets or improved resource utilization through process optimization efforts.
• Timeliness and effectiveness of strategic project execution, with clear, measurable results.
• Improvement in key operational metrics, such as cycle time, lead time, customer satisfaction, or error rates.
• Positive feedback from cross functional teams and senior leadership on the impact of strategic operations analysis.