Director Operations Research - Last Mile Demand Forecasting and Capacity Management

Target • Minneapolis, MN

16d • $168,000 - $303,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Operations Research will develop optimization models and algorithms to improve last mile delivery operations at Target. This role involves overseeing the development of mathematical techniques to solve strategic initiatives for Target’s Supply Chain, including improving routing optimization, network configuration, and scheduling to reduce variable costs. The position also contributes to the development, implementation, and maintenance of machine learning components for forecasting and scheduling, and creates metrics to quantify improvements. The role involves leading Last Mile Data ML systems that create business value, potentially powered by LLMs, classical machine learning, or deep learning models, designed as scalable, reliable, production-grade applications.

The Director of Operations Research will oversee the creation and development of demand forecasting and capacity management by building key components to evaluate demand and manage last mile capacity for speed and cost. The goal is to develop more efficient and precise tools that are directly available to business team users, enabling quick responses to guest needs at scale with accuracy. The role requires designing, developing, deploying, and maintaining machine learning algorithms for the last mile business, working closely with applied data scientists, operational research scientists, Product, engineering, and last mile operations. Collaboration with Product and business partners to define product roadmaps, build consensus, and communicate with senior leadership is essential. The role also involves driving best practices with a focus on emerging technologies, authoring project documents, vision statements, and roadmaps, developing a world-class team through coaching and feedback, and creating an atmosphere of teamwork. Managing resource allocation and defining team vision and goals are key responsibilities, along with enhancing demand forecasting and capacity management at Target, impacting business by improving guest service and reducing compute costs. Coordination of analysis, troubleshooting, and resolution of software issues is also part of the role.

Requirements

• PhD or MS in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics or relevant industry experience
• 7 plus years of experience leading, developing and mentoring teams of applied data scientists and operations research scientists
• 5 plus years of experience in building optimization models and algorithms at scale
• Highly proficient in Python, Scala or Java programming
• Deep understanding of data structures, design principals and algorithms
• Ability to test and measure algorithms and models
• Significant demonstrated expertise in optimization theory (deterministic/stochastic), dynamic programming, linear algebra, probability and statistics
• Experience in statistical inference, machine learning and deploying machine learning models with large-scale business impact in commercial setting
• Experience working with large event-driven distributed systems and multi-threaded applications
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to clearly tell data driven stories through appropriate visualizations, graphs and narratives
• Constant learner mentality that stays on the leading edge of supply chain optimization, network planning, operations research, AI, ML, etc.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the creation and development of the demand forecasting and capacity management by building the key components which allow us to evaluate the demand and manage the last mile capacity for speed and cost.
• Design, develop, deploy and maintain machine learning algorithms for our last mile business.
• Collaborate with Product and business partners to define product roadmaps that fit in our ecosystem and solve last mile challenges at scale
• Build consensus and communicate with senior level leadership
• Drive best practices with a focus on emerging technologies and author various project related documents, vision statements and roadmap
• Develop a world-class team providing development, coaching, motivation and feedback to team members
• Create an atmosphere of teamwork and collaboration communicating day-to-day decisions, priorities and relevant project information
• Manage resource allocation as well as define and communicate overall vision and goals for the team
• Enhance the way demand forecasting and capacity is conducted at Target
• Impact our business by improving our ability to serve our Guests and by directly reducing compute cost through more efficient algorithms
• Coordinate the analysis, troubleshooting and resolution of issues in our software

Benefits

• comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more
• 401(k)
• employee discount
• short term disability
• long term disability
• paid sick leave
• paid national holidays
• paid vacation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director