Forecasting Analyst/Senior Analyst

Here in Booker we are Transforming our Supply Chain. We are looking for talented and driven Analyst/Senior Analyst to join our  Supply Chain Transformation. You will be responsible for transforming our supply chain systems to be fit for the future. You will ensure that goods are forecasted and ordered optimally, prioritising[SB1]  availability, end-to-end efficiency, and minimizing food waste. As an Analyst/Senior Analyst, you will play a crucial role in developing the Sales-Based Forecasting and Ordering algorithms that control this process.

This is a rare and  exciting opportunity to join Booker’s Supply Chain Transformation team at the start of a journey to build brand-new systems from the ground up. There is huge opportunity to deliver truly transformational change across one of the UK’s most dynamic supply chains.

• Design algorithms to generate sales forecasts across our wholesale business
• Build process flows for collaborative management of promotional forecasts
• Identify and root cause issues with our forecasting algorithms, highlighting the biggest opportunities for improvements and proposing solutions.
• Develop an understanding of Booker's existing supply chain systems to aid in the design process and build comparison metrics for new models.
• Build proposed design solutions as proofs of concept and build a simulator to help simulate  performance benefits before transitioning to production-quality solutions.
• Compare outputs of our forecasting algorithms, root causing differences between versions and recommending if algorithms should be implemented.
• Measure the costs and benefits associated with your work throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring all changes deliver a return on investment.
• Engage with the wider group including Tesco Supply Chain transformation and technology teams to understand their approaches to similar problems and learn from their experiences.
• Collaborate closely with Booker Information Systems team and third-party engineering teams to build the solutions you design.
• Deliver changes in line with the project roadmap, ensuring stakeholders are engaged at all points and taking responsibility for resolving or escalating any risks to schedule and delivery.
• Innovate pragmatic solutions using your own ideas.

• Analytical Skills: Ability to collect, analyse, and interpret data to uncover insights that drive business improvements.
• Numerical Skills: Experience with statistics or data science is desirable.
• Problem-Solving: Skill in identifying the root causes of complex issues and developing effective, practical solutions.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage and collaborate with other teams, particularly in simplifying technical complexity.
• Technical Skills: Programming skills (primarily SQL and Python) are desirable but experience in any coding language and an aptitude to learn technical skills quickly is essential. Experience with databricks also desirable.
• Strong Business Acumen: Understanding of supply chain and retail/wholesale operations, along with risk management, to drive business improvements.

Additional Skills/Responsibilities for Senior Analysts:

• Experience: A minimum of two years’ experience in an analytical role, preferably building forecasting or ordering algorithms
• Responsibility: Ability to correctly identify priorities, manage time efficiently, and work independently.
• Project management: Ability to structure a project plan, including; creating roadmaps, identifying critical paths, creating RACIs and identifying risks
• Proactive Communication: Communicate progress and concerns to key stakeholders, presenting options to resolve any issues.
• Role Model: Support peers in their development and be a role model of what a great analyst looks like.
• Initiative: Demonstrates strong initiative by proactively identifying potential issues and independently developing effective, practical solutions.