Head of Data Science for Supply Chain Network Design

Target; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 168,000 - 356,000; Full time

Job summary

Target in Minneapolis seeks a Director of Data Sciences – Network Planning and Design to lead a team of data scientists and operations researchers building optimization, simulation, and forecasting models that shape the network's long‑term architecture.

You will translate business questions into quantitative decision frameworks, partner across Supply Chain, Finance, and Technology, and communicate insights to senior leaders.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics or relevant industry experience.
• 10 plus years of experience leading and developing teams of applied data scientists and operations research scientists in optimization, simulation and advanced analytics
• 5 plus years of experience in mathematical optimization, simulation, forecasting, machine learning, statistical modeling and network modeling/planning
• Extensive experience in supply chain, logistics, retail, transportation, manufacturing or other large‑scale network environments strongly preferred
• Highly proficient in Python, Scala, Java, SQL or R programming
• Significant demonstrated expertise in optimization theory (deterministic/stochastic), dynamic programming, linear algebra, probability and statistics
• Experience in statistical inference and deploying machine learning models at scale
• Experience translating complex analytical work into strategic recommendations and influencing senior leaders within and across global teams
• Strong problem‑framing and communication skills, with the ability to operate effectively across technical and executive audiences

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high‑performing team of data scientists and operations research practitioners
• Set the analytical vision and roadmap for Network Planning & Design, translating strategic business questions into quantitative decision frameworks
• Serve as a thought leader in advanced analytics and supply chain network design, connecting technical work to business strategy
• Partner across Supply Chain, Finance, Technology, Stores, and other teams to ensure analytical capabilities address Target’s most important network decisions
• Influence VP+ leaders by clearly communicating recommendations, trade‑offs, uncertainty, and business impact
• Lead the development of optimization, simulation, forecasting, digital twin, and machine learning capabilities supporting Target’s long‑term network strategy
• Apply operations research and advanced analytics to decisions including network footprint, capacity planning, inventory placement, product flow, automation, transportation, and reverse logistics
• Ensure models accurately represent real‑world constraints, uncertainty, and operating dynamics while remaining scalable and actionable
• Establish strong practices for scenario analysis, sensitivity testing, model validation, and decision support
• Build reusable analytical capabilities that enable faster and more consistent strategic decision‑making
• Partner with Engineering, Product, and Technology teams to transform analytical models into scalable decision-support tools and products
• Advance the use of modern optimization solvers, cloud computing, machine learning, and AI where they improve model performance or decision quality
• Establish strong practices for model governance, reproducibility, testing, documentation, and auditability
• Champion experimentation and emerging methods that advance Target’s network planning capabilities

Skills

Python/Scala/Java/SQL/R

Optimization theory

Statistical modeling / ML deployment

Leadership & team building

Education

PhD or MS in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics or relevant industry experience

Job description

Target in Minneapolis seeks a Director of Data Sciences – Network Planning and Design to lead a team of data scientists and operations researchers building optimization, simulation, and forecasting models that shape the network's long‑term architecture.

You will translate business questions into quantitative decision frameworks, partner across Supply Chain, Finance, and Technology, and communicate insights to senior leaders.