Lead Operations Research Scientist

About Target As a Fortune 50 company with more than 400,000 team members worldwide, Target is an iconic brand and one of America's leading retailers. Joining Target means promoting a culture of mutual care and respect and striving to make the most meaningful and positive impact. Becoming a Target team member means joining a community that values diverse voices and lifts each other up. Here, we believe your unique perspective is important, and you'll build relationships by being authentic and respectful. About the Team Supply Chain Network Optimization (SCNO) is a global team and part of Integrated Operations Planning & Network steering within Global Supply Chain and Logistics. We are at the forefront of defining and enabling an efficient, reliable and best in class supply chain. This team uses a wide variety of engineering and advanced applied mathematical techniques (5Why’s, ML, AI, OR, MILP, DES,) techniques to study and solve niche problems in supply chain across the entire value chain (Purchasing, transportation, Multi echelon inventory, last mile and process optimization) to enable the best guest experience and profitable growth for Target. About the Role As a Lead Operations Research Scientist in SCNO, you will tackle complex supply chain challenges, develop a deep understanding of problem complexity, and drive cutting-edge solutions. This role requires strong experience working with large data sets, advanced programming skills, and a solid foundation in statistics, probability theory, machine learning, AI, simulations, and operations research. You will be expected to work effectively on high-visibility problems that come with inherent risks, roadblocks, and constraints, while collaborating closely with cross-functional stakeholders. You will also be accountable for planning and delivering team projects, ensuring alignment across teams, and driving measurable impact. Key responsibilities include: Actively engaging with cross-functional stakeholders to understand and frame business problems. Building a deep understanding of problem complexity, addressing both breadth and depth. Finding, gathering, analyzing, and processing large data sets efficiently by developing robust and scalable programs. Developing and applying advanced operations research techniques, AI, and machine learning to solve business challenges. Running complex simulations, conducting scenario analyses, and employing optimization methods. Planning and developing project charters with clearly defined milestones and success metrics. Ensuring cross-functional alignment, removing blockers, and accelerating project delivery. Communicating insights effectively through clear and concise data storytelling to influence decision-making. Core responsibilities of this job are described within this job description. Job duties may change at any time due to business needs About You 8+ years of professional experience with a bachelor’s or master’s degree (5+ years for a PhD) in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science or a related field. 4+ years of experience with programming in Python, PySpark, R, SQL and open-source data science tools. 4+ years of experience applying advanced data science and operations research techniques. Hands on experience with AI and machine learning, including working with large language models and modern ML frameworks. Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to address business challenges creatively. Skilled in cleaning, transforming, and analyzing large datasets to generate insights. Passionate about continuous learning and empirical research, with excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Retail and supply chain experience is a plus. Team-oriented with the ability to collaborate effectively across locations and time zones. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Why Work with Us at Target? Work on advanced analytics and data science projects that directly impact Target’s global supply chain, including inventory and capacity planning, transportation efficiency, and purchasing strategies. We support your professional growth through learning and development opportunities, powering you take courses in Data Science, Supply Chain, Operations Research, and other subjects. We value diversity and inclusion, fostering an environment that contributes to positive customer experiences. We offer flexible work schedules and arrangements, allowing team members to succeed both at work and in their personal lives in a hybrid setting. Useful Links to Learn More About Target and Our Benefits Life at Target: Benefits: