Lead Industrial Engineer - Supply Chain Operations

Target • Minneapolis, MN

1d

About The Position

As a Lead Industrial Engineer in Supply Chain Operations, you will act as a technical leader responsible for enhancing business performance through the deployment of Engineered Labor Standards, maintenance of the Labor Management System, and application of Industrial Engineering governance to support process improvements. You will combine operational knowledge with engineering methodologies—including quantitative analysis, time and motion studies, Engineered Labor Standards, Lean principles, Six Sigma, productivity performance results, and field leader insights—to translate process improvements into measurable business results.

A key focus is leading deployment of Engineered Labor Standards and the Labor Management System across multiple supply chain facilities. This includes validating time studies, mapping XYZ coordinates, testing vehicle speeds, configuring labor standards in the Labor Management System, leading onsite team training, and supporting adoption of new leader and operational routines through change management. You will also maintain labor standards in the system.

You will identify opportunities to reduce operating costs, eliminate waste, and improve productivity, while providing engineering guidance, mentorship, and subject matter expertise to operational leaders, engineering teams, and cross-functional partners. You will support the development, implementation, and sustainment of Engineered Labor Standards, preferred work methods, productivity performance, and the Labor Management System.

The role requires being within commuting distance of a Target Supply Chain facility and a major airport hub. Travel is approximately 80% and/or the role may be based in an office within a Target Supply Chain facility up to four days per week. The position may be considered for a remote or hybrid arrangement based on Target's needs. Remote work is full-time from home or another non-Target location and may involve travel to headquarters up to four times a year. Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work may be performed remotely or onsite depending on role, team, and daily tasks. Work duties may not be performed outside the country of the primary work location unless otherwise prescribed by Target.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 3 years of experience as an Industrial Engineer within distribution, fulfillment, manufacturing, logistics, or retail operations; direct field operations experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience using process observation, elemental time analysis, work sampling, cycle time data, and related techniques to understand current-state performance and quantify process loss.
• Experience designing and maintaining Engineered Labor Standards and configuring them into a Labor Management System or platform; direct experience deploying Engineered Labor Standards to supply chain facilities is preferred.
• Ability to develop and validate causal hypotheses using quantitative analysis and direct observation.
• Proficiency in structured problem-solving, including 8-step problem solving, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Standardized Work, Visual Management, root cause analysis, and waste identification.
• Ability to analyze process performance and variation using descriptive statistics, segmentation, Pareto analysis, distributions, trend analysis, correlation where appropriate, and before-and-after performance comparisons.
• Project management skills, including scoping, problem statements, goal definition, benefit identification, implementation planning, and timeline management.
• Ability to collaborate and build strong relationships across teams and in cross-functional teams.
• Ability to influence others and advocate for change.
• Strong interpersonal communication, time management, presentation, and organizational skills; ability to handle changing priorities and use good judgment in stressful situations.
• Ability to access all areas of distribution facilities, including mezzanine platforms.
• Enjoys detailed work and communicating updates to leaders at various levels.
• Must be located within commuting distance of a Target Supply Chain facility and a major airport hub.
• Ability to travel approximately 80% of the time and/or work in an office within a Target Supply Chain facility up to 4 days a week.

Nice To Haves

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or demonstrated equivalent capability.
• Experience with DMAIC, A3, or 8-step structured problem solving.
• Experience analyzing high-volume transactional or operational data.
• Experience with work measurement, labor standards, and engineered labor-management systems.
• Experience scaling large-scale changes across multiple facilities.
• Analytical rigor: follows evidence to the causal mechanism rather than accepting the first plausible explanation.
• Systems thinking: understands upstream and downstream consequences and avoids optimizing one metric at the expense of total-system performance.
• Experimental mindset: frames assumptions as hypotheses, defines evidence before testing, and revises or stops solutions that data do not support.

Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment of Engineered Labor Standards and the Labor Management System across multiple supply chain facilities.
• Validate time studies, map XYZ coordinates, conduct vehicle speed testing, and configure labor standards in the Labor Management System.
• Lead onsite team training and support adoption of new leader and operational routines through change management.
• Maintain and update labor standards within the Labor Management System.
• Identify process improvement opportunities that reduce operating costs, eliminate waste, and improve productivity.
• Apply quantitative analysis, time and motion studies, Lean principles, Six Sigma, productivity performance results, and field leader insights to deliver measurable business results.
• Provide engineering guidance, mentorship, and subject matter expertise to operational leaders, engineering teams, and cross-functional business partners.
• Support the development, implementation, and sustainment of Engineered Labor Standards, preferred work methods, productivity performance, and the Labor Management System.

Benefits

• Eligible team members and their dependents may receive comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, and 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