Data Scientist, Operations Research

Cardinal Health, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 95,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision coverage

401k savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Cardinal Health, Inc. is seeking a Data Scientist, Operations Research Analyst to join the DS2 team.

You will apply DS/OR methods to pharmaceutical supply chain challenges, forecast demand, and build optimization and simulation models to improve performance across distribution, warehousing, and transportation. You will work with cross-functional teams to identify root causes, develop actionable insights, and communicate recommendations with clear business impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field or equivalent experience.
• MS/MBA with focus in Data Science, OR, IE, or Statistics preferred.
• Experience applying DS/OR techniques to logistics and supply chain problems preferred.
• Experience with SQL and databases preferred.
• Experience with data analysis tools such as R, Python, SQL, Alteryx, Tableau, and SAS preferred.
• Experience with optimization/simulation software like AnyLogic or CPLEX preferred.

Responsibilities

• Listen to clients and clearly define business problems.
• Perform exploratory analysis to identify root causes and test hypotheses.
• Develop predictive models to forecast future volumes and capacity needs.
• Develop segmentation models and design supply chain to support differentiated services.
• Build optimization/simulation models to recommend capacity investments and process changes.
• Develop prescriptive models using 3rd party software and custom models.
• Summarize financial and operational impact of recommendations.
• Collaborate with Data Engineers to create data models for analyses.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to travel

Team collaboration

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field

MS/MBA with focus in Data Science, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, or Statistics

Tools

SQL

R

Python

Alteryx

Tableau

SAS

AnyLogic

CPLEX

Job description

What Data Science contributes to Cardinal Health

The Data and Analytics Function oversees the analytics life-cycle in order to identify, analyze and present relevant insights that drive business decisions and anticipate opportunities to achieve a competitive advantage. This function manages analytic data platforms, the access, design and implementation of reporting/business intelligence solutions, and the application of advanced quantitative modeling. Data Science applies base, scientific methodologies from various disciplines, techniques and tools that extracts knowledge and insight from data to solve complex business problems on large data sets, integrating multiple systems.

Department/Team Overview

We are looking for a Data Scientist, Operations Research Analyst to join our Decision Science Solutions (DS2) team. Our mission is to improve our pharmaceutical supply chain’s performance to better service our pharmacy customers, so that they can focus on their patients. The DS2 team consists of Supply Chain Data Scientists, Operations Research Analysts, Data Analysts, and Data Engineers. We work cross-functionally to solve problems leveraging a variety of skillsets and perspectives to achieve the best outcomes. We perform analyses, recommend solutions, and build products to enable better decision making in the following areas:

• Distribution center network design and capacity planning
• Facility layout and design; warehouse capacity and utilization
• Warehouse process improvement
• Labor management and automation
• Inventory management: stocking strategies and replenishment policies
• Transportation planning: first mile, middle mile, and final mile
• Sales and operations planning (resource management in response to demand changes)

Responsibilities

As a Data Scientist in Supply Chain Operations, you will apply your knowledge of business processes, systems, data, and analytical tools to explore and identify root causes of problems. You will forecast future demand, build optimization and simulation models, and communicate actionable insights. You will work with cross-functional project teams to ideate, develop, and recommend solutions. Specific responsibilities are to:

• Listen to clients and ask questions to clearly define business problems.
• Perform exploratory analysis to determine root causes of problems and confirm/disprove hypotheses.
• Develop predictive models to forecast future volumes that will drive capacity/resource needs.
• Develop customer and product segmentation models and design our supply chain to support differentiated services.
• Build optimization and simulation models to recommend capacity investments, resource plans, policy changes, and process changes to improve supply chain performance.
• Develop prescriptive models using 3rd party optimization/simulation software and custom-build models.
• Recommend solutions. Summarize the financial and operational impact of the recommendation and pros/cons of alternatives considered.
• Work with Data Engineers to create data models for analyses.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of experience, preferred
• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field, or equivalent work experience, preferred
• MS/MBA with focus in Data Science, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, or Statistics preferred
• Demonstrated ability to apply Data Science and Operations Research techniques to logistics and supply chain management problems preferred
• Experience with Structured Query Language (SQL) and working with databases preferred
• Experience with data analysis tools such as R, Python, SQL, Alteryx, Tableau, and SAS preferred
• Experience with Strategic Network Design, Simulation (e.g., AnyLogic), or Mathematical Programming (e.g., CPLEX) software preferred
• Ability to work as part of a team as the key analytical resource
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to explain quantitative analysis in simple business terms
• Intellectual curiosity, humility, genuine respect and desire to help others
• Bias for action and passion for driving change
• Ability to travel up to 5%

What is expected of you and others at this level

• Applies comprehensive knowledge and a thorough understanding of concepts, principles, and technical capabilities to perform varied tasks and projects
• May contribute to the development of policies and procedures
• Works on complex projects of large scope
• Develops technical solutions to a wide range of difficult problems
• Solutions are innovative and consistent with organization objectives
• Completes work; independently receives general guidance on new projects
• Work reviewed for purpose of meeting objectives
• May act as a mentor to less experienced colleagues

Anticipated salary range:

$94,900 - $122,000

Bonus eligible: No

Benefits

Cardinal Health offers a wide variety of benefits and programs to support health and well-being.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Paid time off plan
• Health savings account (HSA)
• 401k savings plan
• Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Work-Life resources
• Paid parental leave
• Healthy lifestyle programs

Application window anticipated to close: 11/2/2026

Candidates who are back-to-work, people with disabilities, without a college degree, and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Cardinal Health supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day. Cardinal Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, creed, status with regard to public assistance, genetic status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.