Lead Data Scientist - Supply Chain Network Planning and Design (Operations Research, Optimization, Python)

Target • Minneapolis, MN

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. Target Global Supply Chain and Logistics is evolving at an incredible pace, constantly reimagining how to get the right product to the guest better, faster, and more cost-effectively. The company is becoming more intelligent, automated, and algorithmic in its decision-making to deliver convenience and immediate gratification to guests. Target is seeking exceptional team members who are proactive, creative, independent, innovative, risk-savvy, and comfortable with ambiguity, as well as critical thinkers and creative problem-solvers. As a Lead Data Scientist – Integrated Planning Sciences, you will play a critical role in developing the analytical foundations for Target’s long-range supply chain strategy. This involves designing forecasting, simulation, and optimization models that influence billions of dollars in capital investments and new capabilities. Your approach will enable you to collaborate across Finance, Operations, Merchandising, Properties, and Digital teams to build high-quality models reflecting the complexity of Target’s end-to-end networks. The insights generated will directly support enterprise decision-making and shape the future of Target’s omnichannel operations, offering opportunities to grow influence, build deep supply chain domain expertise, and tackle complex challenges in a cross-functional environment.

Requirements

• PhD or MS in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Applied Math, Physics, Computer Science or related quantitative field
• 5+ years’ experience applying quantitative modeling to large-scale supply chain or operational problems at scale
• Demonstrated proficiency in Python programming and advanced SQL for data preparation, modeling and exploratory analysis
• Experience working with mathematical optimization libraries or solvers (e.g. Gurobi)
• Strong systems thinking skills and ability to reason from first principles
• Proven track record communicating analytical insights to senior or executive audiences
• Ability to operate independently in highly ambiguous, strategic environments
• Demonstrated experience influencing cross-functional stakeholders
• Experience framing or informing enterprise-level supply chain or capital decisions
• Experience leading the design of modeling frameworks, analytical standards, or multi-scenario planning processes

Responsibilities

• Define and structure ambiguous supply chain problems into clear frameworks for decision-making in partnership with Network Design, Flow, and Capacity Planning teams
• Synthesize insights into compelling narratives for executive audiences and guide decision-making at scale
• Influence senior stakeholders across Operations, Finance, Transportation, Strategy and Merchandising
• Design quantitative models that evaluate trade-offs between cost, service, risk, and sustainability
• Develop and compare scenarios, highlighting sensitivities, uncertainties, and financial implications
• Establish standards for model documentation, validation, and version control
• Own, maintain, and continuously enhance strategic planning models to ensure accuracy, scalability, and alignment with evolving business needs
• Partner across Network Design, Flow Planning, Capacity Planning, Operations, Finance, Strategy, and Merchandising teams to maintain a strong pulse on customer needs, priorities, and decision contexts, aligning cross-functionally on assumptions, decisions, and business requirements
• Drive clarity across cross-functional teams regarding constraints, assumptions, and strategic implications
• Mentor and coach data scientists and analysts in structured problem solving, systems thinking, and executive communication
• Design and externalize models as reusable planning tools, enabling broader adoption and self-service analysis by planning teams
• Stay current with industry best practices and emerging methodologies, proactively upskilling to raise the technical and analytical bar for the team
• Elevate modeling and analytical standards within the team

Benefits

• comprehensive health benefits and programs (medical, vision, dental, life insurance)
• 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: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees