Sr. Transportation Business Analyst
ReturnPro
Job Description
The Senior Transportation Business Analyst serves as the analytical backbone of Transportation and Supply Chain, translating complex freight, operational, and commercial data into clear insights, root‑cause diagnoses, and actionable recommendations. This role is responsible for identifying cost leakage, performance gaps, and optimization opportunities across parcel, freight, inbound logistics, and network strategy, connecting data across systems to support smarter, faster decision‑making. This is not a reporting role; it is a decision‑support and problem‑solving role.
This role ensures Transportation and Supply Chain decisions are driven by facts, not assumptions. By connecting freight, operational, and commercial data, the Sr. Transportation Business Analyst helps protect margin, improve service, and enable scalable growth.
Key Responsibilities This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the teammate occupying this position. The selected candidate may perform other related duties assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the business. Transportation & Supply Chain Analytics Analyze parcel, LTL, FTL, and intermodal transportation data to identify cost drivers, trends, anomalies, and performance issues Proactively surface issues related to cost per unit, DIM impacts, accessorial charges, claims, service failures, and lane degradation Monitor transportation KPIs and explain variances with clear root‑cause analysis Cross‑Functional Data Integration Connect and reconcile data across multiple systems including TMS, parcel invoice data, internal platforms (e.g., R1), WMS, finance systems, and operational data sources Bridge freight data with operational performance, facility behavior, and commercial decisions Partner with Operations, Finance, Sales, and Technology teams to ensure consistent and reliable data interpretation Root Cause Analysis & Problem Solving Translate “what happened” into “why it happened” and “what we should do next” Identify structural vs. tactical issues (e.g., packaging design, SOP changes, lane strategy, volume shifts) Quantify financial impact, operational risk, and potential upside of proposed actions Reporting & Dashboards Design and maintain executive‑ready dashboards and scorecards for transportation and supply chain leadership Automate recurring reporting while continuously refining KPIs to ensure relevance and clarity Eliminate low‑value or redundant reporting in favor of insight‑driven views AI‑Enabled Insights & Advanced Analysis Leverage AI and advanced analytics to identify patterns, anomalies, and exceptions in transportation and operational data Develop AI‑supported narrative summaries that explain performance changes, risks, and opportunities Support scenario modeling and “what‑if” analysis to guide strategic decisions Freight Quoting & Decision Support Support freight and parcel quoting by analyzing historical lane data, cost structures, and assumptions Validate expected costs and margins for new business or changes in volume Provide data‑driven input to transportation leadership without owning carrier negotiations or commercial commitments Stakeholder Partnership Serve as a trusted analytical partner to Transportation leadership (Parcel, Freight, Network Strategy) Collaborate closely with Procurement, Finance, Operations, and Sales to align data, assumptions, and outcomes Present findings and recommendations clearly to senior leadership and cross‑functional teams Success Measures Reduction in transportation cost variance and unplanned overruns Cost savings identified and realized through data‑driven insights Faster detection of performance issues and anomalies Improved accuracy and confidence in freight quoting and forecasting Adoption of analytical recommendations by leadership and operations Fewer “surprise” issues related to transportation spend and performance Qualifications 5+ years of experience in transportation analytics, supply chain analytics, or business analytics in a logistics‑heavy environment Strong understanding of parcel, LTL, FTL, and inbound logistics cost structures Proven ability to perform root‑cause analysis and translate data into actionable insights Advanced Excel / spreadsheet skills and experience with BI tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Looker, or similar) Experience working with TMS, invoice audit data, and operational systems Strong business judgment and ability to challenge assumptions respectfully and constructively Key Competencies Analytical and systems thinker Curious, proactive problem‑solver Comfortable operating with ambiguity Able to influence without authority Clear communicator who can translate complexity into clarity Trusted partner with high integrity and accountability #J-18808-Ljbffr