Director of Business Analytics

KSI•Cedar Rapids, IA

4d•$100,000 - $130,000•Onsite

About The Position

A well-established, locally-owned transportation company in Eastern Iowa is seeking a strategic, hands-on leader to build and lead its Business Analytics function. This is a newly created leadership position responsible for shaping how analytics, information, technology, and business insight support better decision-making across the organization. Rather than inheriting an established department, you'll have the opportunity to build one. We're looking for someone who enjoys solving business problems, asking thoughtful questions, connecting information across the organization, and building practical solutions that create measurable business impact. This isn't a role focused on producing reports—it's a leadership role focused on helping the organization make better decisions and build a stronger business.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in business analytics, operational analytics, finance, logistics, supply chain, transportation, or related business functions.
Experience leveraging multiple business systems, data sources, and reporting environments to support operational and strategic decision-making.
Demonstrated ability to translate business questions into analytical solutions that drive measurable business outcomes.
Strong analytical thinking, business acumen, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to communicate complex information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to influence across departments and lead cross-functional initiatives.
Experience with business intelligence and visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, Looker, or similar platforms.

Nice To Haves

Transportation, trucking, logistics, manufacturing, supply chain, or another operationally intensive industry.
Experience building analytics capabilities, KPIs, reporting, or business intelligence functions from the ground up.
Experience identifying opportunities for operational improvement, process optimization, cost reduction, and profitability enhancement through analytics.
Experience working with ERP systems, Transportation Management Systems (TMS), fleet management systems, or similar enterprise platforms.
Experience with SQL, databases, automation, AI, or predictive analytics.
Experience working in entrepreneurial, privately held, or growth-oriented organizations.

Responsibilities

Establish and lead a best-in-class Business Analytics function that supports the company's long-term growth.
Develop and lead a scalable Business Analytics function that grows with the organization.
Work at the intersection of data, people, and processes to improve visibility, accountability, and business performance.
Equip Executive and Operations Leadership with trusted insights so they can spend more time working on the business rather than in the business.
Establish a consistent cadence of accountability by delivering timely, reliable information that celebrates success, identifies opportunities, and supports informed decision-making.
Provide Operations Leadership with the insights they need to make confident, high-quality business decisions.
Identify trends, opportunities, and risks impacting business performance.
Develop analytical models that improve network performance, fleet operations, pricing strategy, fuel performance, and long-term growth.
Translate business questions into analytical initiatives with measurable outcomes.
Turn complex information into practical, actionable recommendations that support decision-making.
Help build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-informed leadership.
Evaluate current systems, processes, and technology while creating a roadmap for future analytics, automation, and business intelligence capabilities.