Labor Planning and Optimization Analyst

About Target

As a Fortune 50 company with more than 400000 team members worldwide Target is an iconic brand and one of Americas leading retailers. Our purpose is to help all families discover the joy of everyday life. We invest in the places we collectively live work and play - fostering a culture of care growth and innovation.

Within Targets Operations and Supply Chain organization were focused on building an agile efficient and people-first network that powers our ability to deliver an exceptional guest experience every day.

About the Role

As a Labor Planning & Optimization Analyst you will contribute to the design analysis and continuous improvement of labor planning and forecasting models that enable efficient staffing across Targets fulfillment and distribution sites. You will collaborate with site leaders and cross-functional partners to provide insights interpret data trends and help drive operational and hiring decisions that enhance productivity and service levels.

This role offers exposure to both analytical modeling and strategic decision-making providing an excellent platform to develop advanced technical and business skills within Targets fast-paced supply chain environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and maintenance of labor optimization and forecasting models to drive workforce planning decisions.
• Perform data extraction transformation and analysis using Python and SQL to identify patterns and opportunities.
• Partner with senior analysts site leaders HR and finance teams to align staffing forecasts with operational goals.
• Build and update dashboards and reports that summarize site performance and labor utilization.
• Translate analytical findings into actionable insights and clearly communicate results to non-technical stakeholders.
• Support testing and implementation of new optimization tools or model enhancements.
• Assist in scenario analysis to support hiring strategies workload distribution and process improvement initiatives.
• Work in flexible shift timings to drive regular interactions with field teams and sites in the US including meetings with field teams that will extend till 1 AM IST.
• Coordinated communication and engagement with senior leadership (SOD/GVP) from the MPLS team across site and HQ.

Core Technical Skills

• Programming & Data Tools: Python (Pandas NumPy) SQL R (optional) and BI tools such as Tableau or Power BI.
• Analytical Techniques: Forecasting regression analysis simulation and optimization concepts.
• Data Management: Data cleaning transformation and database querying.
• Visualization & Reporting: Ability to build clear and effective dashboards and performance metrics.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors degree Data Analytics Operations Research Statistics or a related field.
• 24 years of experience in analytics workforce planning or operations research.
• Supply chain and Warehouse knowledge
• Hands-on experience with Python and SQL for data analysis and reporting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex datasets.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work across functions and with on-site partners.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in labor modeling logistics or supply chain analytics.
• Familiarity with optimization or forecasting tools and techniques.
• Exposure to retail or distribution environments is a plus.

Core Behaviors

• Collaborative: Works effectively with cross-functional teams and supports senior analysts in executing strategic initiatives.
• Analytical Thinker: Approaches business challenges with data-driven rigor and curiosity.
• Adaptable: Thrives in a dynamic environment and adjusts quickly to shifting priorities.
• Communicative: Presents analytical insights in a clear concise and actionable manner.