Senior Power BI Analyst — Supply Chain Analytics (Contract)

IS International; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

IS International is seeking a Power BI Business Analyst Contractor to support supply chain analytics across S&OP, manufacturing, and operations. The contractor will translate complex business requirements into scalable dashboards that improve visibility and decision-making.

The role combines advanced Power BI development, business analysis, and data modeling. You will own the end-to-end BI lifecycle—from requirements and KPI definition to deployment, documentation, and user enablement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in BI, analytics, or related field with Power BI experience.
• Advanced proficiency in Power BI Desktop and Service.
• Strong DAX and data modeling skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, publish, and maintain BI dashboards.
• Translate business questions into KPI definitions and data specs.
• Collaborate with supply chain and leadership teams.
• Ensure data governance and data quality.
• Provide user enablement and long-term support.

Skills

Power BI

DAX

Data modeling

SQL

Excel

Stakeholder mgmt

Requirements gathering

BI governance

KPI definition

Education

Bachelors degree

Tools

Power BI Desktop

Power BI Service

Power Query

SQL

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly capable Supply Chain Business Analyst Contractor to lead business analysis and support the development of a supplier forecast model. The contractor will rapidly learn complex supply chain processes, translate business needs into clear model requirements, and build practical, accurate, and user-friendly Excel-based solutions that improve supplier demand visibility and planning decisions.

The ideal candidate is a fast learner with strong logical reasoning, structured problem-solving skills, and advanced Microsoft Excel expertise. This individual will own the end-to-end analytical lifecycle, from requirements gathering and business-rule definition through model design, VBA automation, validation, documentation, user enablement, and ongoing support.

Key Responsibilities

Business Analysis & Stakeholder Partnership

• Partner with supply chain, sourcing, procurement, planning, logistics, manufacturing, operations, and leadership teams to understand supplier forecasting needs.

• Translate business questions into clear functional requirements, business rules, data specifications, calculation logic, and model outputs.

• Facilitate requirement-gathering sessions, map current and future-state processes, document assumptions and exceptions, and align stakeholders on definitions and expected outcomes.

• Communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences and serve as the bridge between business stakeholders, data owners, and solution developers.

Supplier Forecast Model Development

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain an Excel-based supplier forecast model that is reliable, scalable, and easy to use.

• Create intuitive model outputs and charts that help users quickly understand supplier demand, timing, trends, exceptions, risks, and required actions.

• Develop forecast logic across customer demand, project schedules, product configuration, material requirements, supplier allocation, lead times, and planning horizons.

• Build effective filtering, scenario analysis, data refresh, navigation, input controls, and self-service capabilities while maintaining a consistent user experience.

• Optimize model performance, calculation speed, refresh reliability, usability, maintainability, and user adoption.

Data Analysis, Integration & Governance

• Design scalable, reusable, and well-structured data models that can support changing supplier forecast requirements.

• Integrate, cleanse, reconcile, and transform data from ERP, planning, manufacturing, operational, Excel, SharePoint, database, and other approved sources.

• Use advanced Excel formulas, Power Query, VBA macros, PivotTables, and established data-modeling practices to prepare reliable forecast datasets and outputs.

• Ensure data accuracy, consistent business logic, transparent assumptions, traceability, appropriate access controls, and adherence to data governance standards.

• Establish robust validation, reconciliation, exception-handling, and quality-control processes to build trust in forecast outputs.

Model Sustainability & Support

• Own the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of the supplier forecast model after initial deployment.

• Document data sources, transformations, formulas, VBA code, business rules, assumptions, refresh processes, dependencies, version control, and support procedures.

• Diagnose and resolve data, calculation, macro, refresh, performance, and usability issues in partnership with business and technical teams.

• Create reusable standards, templates, controls, and development practices that reduce dependency on individual developers.

• Train business users and designated support resources on model usage, forecast interpretation, data refresh, and basic troubleshooting.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Information Systems, Analytics, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

• Demonstrated experience in business analysis, supply chain analytics, forecasting, data modeling, or a related field, with substantial hands-on Microsoft Excel experience.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including VBA macros, complex formulas, charts, PivotTables, data validation, structured tables, and performance optimization.

• Strong logical reasoning and the ability to convert complex business rules into reliable calculations, formulas, and automation logic.

• Strong data-modeling and analytical skills, including relationships, data granularity, scenario logic, reusable model structures, and performance-conscious design.

• Proven ability to use Excel VBA macros to automate repeatable processes, improve data quality, and reduce manual effort.

• Working knowledge of Power Query, SQL, and data integration concepts.

• Demonstrated ability to gather requirements, challenge assumptions constructively, analyze complex data, identify gaps, and present findings in a clear and decision-oriented manner.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced contractor environment.

Supply Chain Knowledge

The candidate should understand core supply chain concepts and have practical exposure to several of the following:

• Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), demand planning, and integrated planning processes

• Supplier forecasting, supply planning, backlog, capacity, and constraint visibility

• Bill of Material structures, material requirements, inventory availability, shortages, and working capital

• Manufacturing and project schedules, production plans, throughput, schedule adherence, and quality

• Procurement, supplier allocation, supplier capacity, performance, lead times, cost, and purchase-order visibility

• Logistics, transportation, regional lead times, delivery performance, and order fulfillment

• Forecast accuracy, scenario analysis, exception management, KPI governance, and root-cause analysis

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting a global or multi-region supply chain organization.

• Experience with ERP and planning platforms such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar systems.

• Familiarity with Power BI, Power Automate, Microsoft Fabric, Azure data services, or Python.

• Experience developing supplier forecast models, planning tools, or management reporting for leadership reviews.

• Experience establishing model-development standards, documentation, testing, change control, version management, and user-adoption practices.

• APICS or ASCM certification, training, or equivalent practical supply chain experience.

Engagement Deliverables & Success Measures

• Deliver a clear, scalable, and validated supplier forecast model using supply chain, project, product, and supplier data.

• Establish trusted business-rule definitions, assumptions, forecast logic, and transparent calculations aligned with business owners.

• Create reusable model structures that support future forecast requirements without unnecessary redevelopment.

• Use Excel VBA macros, formulas, PivotTables, and Power Query to improve automation, refresh reliability, data quality, and forecast-cycle speed.

• Provide business insights that help leaders identify supplier risks, demand changes, capacity constraints, priorities, and actions.

• Complete business, technical, code, and user documentation to support long-term ownership and continuity.

• Enable internal users to operate, understand, troubleshoot, and sustain the supplier forecast model after the engagement.