Director, Data Analytics – Inventory Operations

Jobtailor; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Seattle seeks a Senior Leader to unify Inventory Operations Data Analytics, align roadmaps, and define a trusted data platform for decision-makers.

You will manage a 10–15 person team, drive automated reporting, enable self-serve analytics, and collaborate across Merchandising and Tech partners to minimize surprises and improve inventory outcomes.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant experience, with 3+ years leading teams.
• Experience leading analytics/BI and data engineering functions.
• Proven ability to build high-performing teams and manage change.
• Fluent in BI tools and data engineering fundamentals.
• Strong executive communication and storytelling skills.
• Strong root-cause analysis and impact demonstration.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration and influence.
• Experience managing mixed teams of ICs and managers.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in CS/Analytics/SC/Business or related field.
• Retail or supply chain experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of analytics teams into one org with shared roadmap.
• Define a unified data strategy for Inventory Operations and trusted data pipelines.
• Oversee a team of 10–15 including managers and individual contributors.
• Balance leadership with execution to deliver high-quality work.
• Manage weekly and monthly business reviews for inventory data.
• Identify root causes through analytics and drive scalable fixes.
• Reduce manual reporting by building automated, self-serve data products.
• Represent Inventory Operations in cross-functional forums with Merchandising and Technology partners.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment.
• Ensure the team has tools, resources and information needed.

Skills

Team leadership

Data analytics

Data storytelling

Executive communication

Collaboration

Change management

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional influence

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Tableau

Looker

SQL

Python

ETL/ELT

Cloud data warehousing

Data pipelines

Job description

• Lead the integration of the Inventory Operations Data Analytics teams into one organization with a shared roadmap, shared prioritization process, and clear ownership and expectations.
• Build and defend a unified data strategy for Inventory Operations: the pipelines and architecture that make data trustworthy, and the reporting and visualization layer that makes it usable by decision-makers who are not analysts.
• Lead a combined organization of 10-15 team members, including a Manager of Data Analytics and individual contributors.
• Balance team leadership with execution to deliver high-quality results while hiring, developing, and retaining a high-performing team.
• Manage the weekly and monthly business review process for inventory data, including the metrics, the follow-up mechanism, and the discipline to keep it decision-focused rather than a status readout.
• Identify root causes through analytics and either drive the fix directly or work through the accountable partner to make the improvement repeatable and scalable, rather than a one-time solve.
• Reduce manual reporting load across the combined team by pushing toward automated, self-serve data products, and be explicit with your team and stakeholders about where AI and automation change how work gets done.
• Represent Inventory Operations data capability in cross-functional forums with Merchandising and Technology partners and escalate risks and tradeoffs to leadership before they become surprises.
• Establish a positive work environment conducive to collaboration and teamwork.
• Ensure team has the tools, resources, and information they need to be successful.
• Strategize with leadership to overcome potential stumbling blocks and resistance.

Requirements

• 8+ years of relevant experience with 3+ years leading teams, including direct leadership of both analytics/BI and data engineering functions, or demonstrated fluency in managing both.
• A track record of building highly functioning teams and leading through change
• Working fluency in both technical languages: BI and visualization tools (Tableau, Looker, or similar) and data engineering fundamentals (SQL, Python, ETL/ELT, cloud data warehousing, pipeline architecture).
• Outstanding executive communication and storytelling skills, with the judgment to know when a data engineering constraint needs to be translated into business terms for a non-technical audience.
• Strong analytic and root-cause skills paired with the ability to demonstrate the value of a solution, not just diagnose the problem.
• A history of building trust across functions and strong collaboration and influence skills.
• Comfort holding teams accountable to a shared standard and setting clear expectations across the team.
• Experience leading a mixed structure, some direct reports who are individual contributors and at least one who is a people manager, and a clear point of view on when a discipline needs its own management layer versus when it doesn't.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Analytics, Supply Chain/Logistics, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Retail or supply chain experience strongly preferred, given the operational stakes of inventory decisions on customer experience.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in leading data analytics and engineering teams, with a focus on building trust, collaboration, and high-performance standards. Proficient in developing data strategies that enhance decision-making through effective reporting and visualization.