Category/Area of Expertise: Strategy
Job Requisition: 506192
Address: USA-ME-Scarborough-145 Pleasant Hill Rd
Store Code: ADUSA Dist L&D-Executive (5168518)
Position Summary The Supply Chain Strategy Lead provides advanced analytical expertise to support ADUSA's distribution and transportation network design, optimization, and modernization initiatives, while playing a key role in shaping the long-term direction of the organization's supply chain strategy.
This role leverages optimization tools, large datasets, and analytical techniques to develop data-driven insights, inform network investment decisions, and drive alignment on strategic priorities. Partnering closely with cross-functional leadership, the Lead translates complex operational data into forward-looking recommendations that balance cost, service, capacity, and risk while supporting enterprise growth objectives.
Blending network modeling, scenario analysis, and financial evaluation, this role contributes to high-impact strategic initiatives and supports end-to-end program execution. The Lead delivers actionable insights and strategic recommendations to senior and executive leadership, helping guide decision-making, prioritize investments, and ensure successful implementation of network optimization and transformation efforts.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities: Strategic Analysis & Supply Chain Network Optimization- Translate ambiguous business problems into actionable insights using a combination of optimization models, scenario analysis, and strategic frameworks.
- Evaluate trade-offs across cost, service, inventory, and capacity through scenario modeling and cost-benefit analysis.
- Apply structured methodologies (e.g., process mapping, root cause analysis, optimization techniques) to support enterprise decision-making.
- Develop scorecards, dashboards, and define and measure KPIs to monitor network performance and track initiative success.
- Design and execute scenario analyses to evaluate trade-offs related to demand variability, labor and asset capacity, network changes, and service-level commitments. Provide recommendations that balance cost, service, and operational risk.
Network Modeling & Tool Development- Develop and enhance optimization models and analytical tools to support network design, routing, and inventory positioning.
- Support the formulation and application of optimization models (e.g., linear programming, mixed-integer programming) to evaluate network scenarios and trade-offs.
- Leverage large datasets and advanced analytics to inform network decisions.
- Support development and refinement of optimization models (LP, MILP, heuristics) for network design problems.
- Support scenario flexibility and analytics through structured data pipelines and modeling best practices.
Initiative & Program Execution- Support end-to-end execution of network design and optimization initiatives, from concept through implementation.
- Develop and manage workplans, milestones, and cross-functional coordination while identifying risks, dependencies, and mitigation strategies to maintain overall program health.
- Establish governance frameworks to support structured decision-making and accountability.
Capacity Planning & Engineering Support- Analyze network capacity constraints and evaluate facility expansions or network changes.
- Assess feasibility of network strategies using both engineering principles and financial considerations.
- Provide recommendations to improve throughput, utilization, and operational efficiency.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication- Present complex analytical findings and strategic recommendations to executive leadership in a clear, structured, and compelling manner.
- Partner with cross-functional teams (Operations, Transportation, Finance, Real Estate, Engineering, etc.) to ensure alignment and feasibility of recommendations.
- Translate technical outputs into actionable business cases that support investment decisions.
Qualifications: Education- Minimum: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Business, or a related field.
- Preferred: Master's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
Experience- 8-10+ years of experience in supply chain / network strategy, supply chain network design, operations, and/or process execution in grocery retail or related industry
- 3+ years of consulting industry experience preferred
- Experience with optimization, analytics, or technical modeling environments.
- Demonstrated experience with financial modeling, business case development, and scenario analysis, including trade-offs across cost, service, and capacity.
- Experience working on large, cross-functional Supply Chain programs, requiring leading without authority and partnership with operations, engineering, finance, IT, etc.
- Demonstrated experience developing and delivering compelling narratives for executive-level presentations and insights
Knowledge- Strong understanding of Supply Chain network design and flows, transportation routing, optimization models (objective functions, constraints), inventory optimization, simulation, and supply chain trade-offs
- Advanced understanding of end-to-end supply chain network design, capacity planning, and operational feasibility assessment.
- Working knowledge of optimization and analytics tools (Python, R, SQL, etc.)
- Understanding of financial modeling and trade-off analysis
- Project management and process improvement methodologies (Lean, PMP concepts)
Skills and Abilities Skills- Passion & Curiosity
- Comfortable with ambiguity and project-based work.
- Strong analytical, quantitative, and modeling skills.
- Ability to translate complex technical data into actionable recommendations.
- Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills.
- Advanced communication and presentation skills for executive and cross-functional audiences.
Abilities- Conceptual thinker able to identify patterns, dependencies, and constraints across complex networks.
- Ability to influence decision-making across multiple functions without direct authority.
- Capacity to work autonomously while managing multiple priorities and initiatives.
- Innovates to improve processes, operational efficiency, and network performance.
Other Requirements: - Travel may be required (10-20%) to support site evaluations and project implementation.
- Operates with moderate supervision; expected to exercise independent judgment in analysis and recommendations.
- Must maintain a high level of credibility with operations, engineering, and executive leadership.
